Turn back time with a traditional bathroom

By: Martin McAllister
January 19, 2007

Over the past few years, the world has seen massive advances in technological development: from High-Definition televisions to digital photo-frames and interactive games consoles, your lounge and moreover the remainder of your home is never likely to be the same again. The one exception is of course, the bathroom, but nowadays modern technology is even being built into most bathroom furnishings. In fact, it is now possible to purchase a radiator fitted with a LCD television. But do we really need, or indeed want the very latest technologies invading our bathrooms? The bathroom has always been one of the few places in the home where we could find solitude and a place to relax and gather our thoughts.

Whilst there have been obvious developments in newer, modern bathroom designs and features, there have also been many, less obvious developments in the more traditional bathroom styling. Recreating that authentic Roman or Victorian bathroom has never been easier, or cheaper, with the ‘latest’ traditional designs and furnishings. Picking an era to replicate is the best place to start when planning your traditional bathroom. There are designs available that will contribute to the legitimacy of your chosen period; be it Elizabethan, Edwardian or Victorian. However, even if you cannot decide or don’t want to stick to a particular period, you can still achieve some stunning results by mixing and matching eras.

With so much variety on offer, the first and possibly most difficult item to choose is the bath. A traditional bath is likely to become the centre-point of your bathroom design and will contribute most to the overall feel you are trying to create. When choosing your bath, it is highly probable that you will be looking at a Roll Top or Claw Foot bath. Available in a range of styles and materials, Roll Top baths are available from a number of outlets with acrylic and cast-iron tubs being the most popular. However, the choice doesn’t end there: you will still need to select which style of bath to go for. The most common types are single-ended or double-ended Roll Tops, Slipper Baths and Pedestal Baths.

If you are considering a Roll Top bath, choosing the right feet for the bath can make or break the traditional feel you are looking to achieve. There is little point in purchasing a traditional roll top bath if modern feet are used to mount it. Therefore, when purchasing your bath, ensure you invest in a set of Claw feet, or Ball and Claw feet as they are sometimes known. To complete your bath, taps will also be required, with the most authentic style of taps that can be applied to a roll top bath being those that can be mounted on chrome or gold stand pipes. This style of tap hovers over the bath, with the pipes exposed. Ideally, a bath shower mixer tap from your chosen era should be mounted on to the pipes, and this style of tap is available from most online and high street bathroom stores.

Once your bath is in place, it is time to look toward choosing your bathroom suite. The main styles here are High Level and Low Level suites, although it is possible to obtain some excellent traditional close coupled suites. Normally, High or Low Level suites are only available in a traditional style – saving you time trawling through modern or contemporary suites. Exposed pipe-work is preferable, although suites with rope or fluted styling will help add to the authenticity of your finished bathroom.

For the finishing touch, a radiator would be a great option to go for. There are many Edwardian and Victorian styles out there, and although not a must have, they certainly add to the overall feel of a traditional bathroom. Once you have achieved your perfect period bathroom, ensure it stays that way and becomes your own little sanctuary away from the rest of the world. And whatever you do, keep the television out of the bathroom!

Martin McAllister is an online freelance journalist.  He lives in Scotland.

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