Ali and Aaron love their 1936 Spanish home in Cathay Square, a historic area in Los Angeles. However, as much as they appreciated their lavender and black vintage bathroom for its nostalgic qualities, it didn’t have any modern conveniences. The pipes were old, the tiles were cracked and randomly patched, and the walls enclosing the shower and tub made those spaces feel suffocating. They decided to leave the footprint of the original bathroom for simplicity, but to visually enlarge the space by eliminating those non-structural walls.
Ali had taken a photo at a neighborhood open house of an updated bathroom done in a vintage style she loved. It became the inspiration for the black-and-white color scheme and overall design aesthetic in their revamped space.
We purchased tiles at Mission Tile West, and I worked with my installer to design a chic pattern for the walls and floor, adhering as closely as possible to the inspiration photo. I chose black Caesarstone for the top of the vanity and tub deck to anchor the white tile and allow it to pop. A frameless glass wall between the tub and shower, along with a frameless shower door, make the bathroom feel twice as large as the original bathroom, without adding any square footage.
We selected polished chrome with porcelain handles for the tub and sink in order to maintain the vintage look. And Ali found reproduction countertop accessories at Pottery Barn to add to the bathroom’s charm. The American-made vintage reproduction light fixtures came from Rejuvenation in Culver City. In addition, we added two recessed lights to the ceiling: one over the tub, and another in the shower enclosure.The gingerbread mirror frame was once silver; I had painted it glossy black when Ali and Aaron first moved into their home — and it works just as well in the new space. Aaron always loved the sunburst décor piece that hung in the original bathroom, so we replaced it in the same location, with a new towel bar below. Thick white fluffy towels, fresh yellow daisies, and a yellow rubber ducky complete the look for this stunning vintage-inspired remodel.
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