Bathroom Renovations - 1940 Style

Late Deco · Apr 2, 2008

Hi There,

I was wondering if anybody might be able to assist me with web site links, references to books, photos etc of what a bathroom in the 1940s would have looked like, as I am currently remodelling my entire bathroom (ie starting from scratch) and would like it to match the home's period (post WWII - 1946).

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Regards,

Late Deco.

Murph351 · Apr 2, 2008

Not pictures of period bathrooms but this company makes retro tiles that are amazing.
http://www.calpot.com/
I used them for tile when we were restoring our old house.

TraditionalFrog · Apr 2, 2008

My great aunt (recently deceased at 95) lived in a period (late 20's-30's) house until around 2000. Her bathroom and kitchen both remained unchanged except for the modern packaging of some hygenical, cleaning and household items she used.

In fact other than the fitted carpeting in the house (save a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen) it was like a trip back in time. I loved visting her, both she and her house were magical! I never though much about it, but I wish I had taken pictures. Ugh!

I'll see if I can find some pictures, but I doubt I have any specifically of the bathroom. If I happen to find one I'll post it.

Brian Sheridan · Apr 2, 2008

Two places to look for hardware and fixtures are:

Restoration Hardware

and

Rejuvenation.com

Rejuv breaks down its catalog by period from Victorian to Modern Age.

Both have high quality items but you'll pay $$$ for it.

Post pics when you are done!

Miss Neecerie · Apr 2, 2008

I have a few 40's magazines with bathroom decor and fixture ads...but they are 41 or so....still want me to scan them?

Miss 1929 · Apr 2, 2008

Color OK!

The all-white bathroom was the norm until 1929 or so, suddenly fixtures became available in colors!
Do you have architectural salvage yards in Oz? You can save a lot of money and get the real thing that way.
There is also a magazine called Old House Interiors that usually has a few bathroom layouts in it.

Decobelle · Apr 3, 2008

Here are some examples from Better Homes & Gardens May, 1948. From what I've studied, I'm not sure they are all that different from what a 1945-46 house would have had, at least not in the US.

47b8da23b3127cceb7412e714cf000000025100JZOG7Zm1Yo

Tom is easily pleased... he just wants his Plate Glass shower stall... and a highball.

47b8da23b3127cceb741219e0c8000000025100JZOG7Zm1Yo

47b8da23b3127cceb741244a4cce00000025100JZOG7Zm1Yo

47b8da23b3127cceb741234f0c5000000026100JZOG7Zm1Yo

Then these are a little older, from a Crane bath fixtures brochure, c.1938-41

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47b8da23b3127cceb7412db80ca000000026100JZOG7Zm1Yo

I love this one with the radio. You don't want to miss a second of that ball game.

47b8da23b3127cceb74124304cb400000026100JZOG7Zm1Yo

47b8da23b3127cceb74125118d3d00000026100JZOG7Zm1Yo

47b8da23b3127cceb74125ae0cb200000026100JZOG7Zm1Yo

Miss 1929 · Apr 3, 2008

Just don't drop the radio in the tub...

jayem · Apr 3, 2008

Oh my, in the first photo... it is a dead resemblance to my first house's bathroom! Even the color scheme, except reversed. The sink and bathtub were that sea green, and the rest of the room was white. Makes sense, since the house was built for my grandparents in 1949.

Flivver · Apr 3, 2008

My parent's house was built in 1941. It still has its original black and white wall and floor tile with white fixtures. All the houses in our neighborhood were built that way.

I remember it was quite the fad in the 1950s to replace the "old fashioned" black and white with tiles and fixtures *in color*. I'm very glad my parents never did that!

Hugh Beaumont · Apr 4, 2008

Here ya go:

http://50sstyle.blogspot.com/search/label/bathroom

I know you want 40's, but this should give you some ideas.

Late Deco · Apr 4, 2008

Miss Neecerie said:
I have a few 40's magazines with bathroom decor and fixture ads...but they are 41 or so....still want me to scan them?

That would be great if you could scan ... much appreciated

Late Deco · Apr 4, 2008

Many thanks for the references & pics

Decobelle said:
Here are some examples from Better Homes & Gardens May, 1948. From what I've studied, I'm not sure they are all that different from what a 1945-46 house would have had, at least not in the US.

Tom is easily pleased... he just wants his Plate Glass shower stall... and a highball.

Then these are a little older, from a Crane bath fixtures brochure, c.1938-41

I love this one with the radio. You don't want to miss a second of that ball game.

Hamilton_Honey · Apr 4, 2008

This might help too

Scan from Better Homes & Gardens, March 1945

kampkatz · Apr 4, 2008

If your area has flea markets drop in to inquire if any vendors specialize in collecting and selling old fixtures. Sometimes you will find exactly what you are looking for and the price might be better than a repro.

cookie · Apr 5, 2008

Decobelle said:
Here are some examples from Better Homes & Gardens May, 1948. From what I've studied, I'm not sure they are all that different from what a 1945-46 house would have had, at least not in the US.

Tom is easily pleased... he just wants his Plate Glass shower stall... and a highball.

Then these are a little older, from a Crane bath fixtures brochure, c.1938-41

I love this one with the radio. You don't want to miss a second of that ball game.

That one with the radio shows you where Kohler etc have gotten their modern designs

Jedburgh OSS · Apr 5, 2008

and a 1950s bathroom

Before my wife and I bought our first house in 1984 we rented a 1950s bedford stone with the original bathroom intact. The colors were black tile work, mauve sink, tub, and toilet, and chrome fixtures and it was in mint condition. The tub had no outer walls or shower-bath only. The toilet tank lid was stamped 1953 along with the code and mold numbers on the inside. I wished I had taken pictures at the time. It sets on the west side of Indy just outside the beltway on US 36 or Rockville Road.

Late Deco · Apr 7, 2008

Hi Decobelle,

Thanks so much for the examples - I was actualy going to go ahead with a glass shower stall (one of the side walls made of glass against the bath tub, glass door and other side wall to be tiled) but was actually worried it might look too modern !!!

After having seen the glass shower stall from the Plate Glass shower stall, I was surprised to see that they had glass shower stalls but relieved as well ..whew !!

I was aware that shower stalls (alcoves) were around in the 30s but these typically had tiled walls (3 sides) with a glass door at front or shower curtain.

(Trying to get those period details can be a labour of love) ... anyway, thanks so much.

Cheers,

Late Deco.

Decobelle said:
Here are some examples from Better Homes & Gardens May, 1948. From what I've studied, I'm not sure they are all that different from what a 1945-46 house would have had, at least not in the US.

Tom is easily pleased... he just wants his Plate Glass shower stall... and a highball.

Then these are a little older, from a Crane bath fixtures brochure, c.1938-41

I love this one with the radio. You don't want to miss a second of that ball game.

Late Deco · Apr 7, 2008

Flivver said:
My parent's house was built in 1941. It still has its original black and white wall and floor tile with white fixtures. All the houses in our neighborhood were built that way.

I remember it was quite the fad in the 1950s to replace the "old fashioned" black and white with tiles and fixtures *in color*. I'm very glad my parents never did that!

Hi Fliver,

I am currently considering black and white tiles as an option and I was wondering what pattern & colours were used for the floor tiles and the sort of pattern / colour scheme used on walls with your parents house.

Cheers,

Late Deco.

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