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Vintage Design for a Timeless Bathroom: 6 Tips

Charles Hilton Architect:

Hey y’all! I’m super excited to share some fabulous tips and ideas on how to bring vintage charm into your bathroom. I’ve discovered six incredible ways to make your bathroom feel like a cozy room- not sterile and cold!  Let’s turn your bathroom into warm and stylish retreat. 

1. Vintage (or Vintage Inspired) Lighting 

To set the perfect mood, consider installing vintage-inspired lighting fixtures above your vanity or even on the ceiling. Picture elegant, antique chandeliers or beautiful sconces that put off a soft glow, adding a touch of retro to the room. The gentle ambience is guaranteed to feel like a hug after a long day. 

 

2. Faucets with Classic Finishes 

Jessica Helgerson:

Upgrade your bathroom’s hardware with thoughtfully chosen vintage inspired plumbing fixtures. Classic finishes like polished nickel and un-lacquered brass bring a sense of sophistication and character to the space. I urge you to consider these timeless fixtures as they are elements that set your bathroom apart from the crowd. Investing in these small details will have your bathroom looking like a masterpiece for years to come!

 

3. Ornate Mirrors

Establish Design:

Look for mirrors with ornate frames or unique shapes that can act like art pieces for your vanity. I can attest to the transformative power of vintage mirrors; these time-tested pieces add a layer of intrigue and depth to your space, turning your daily self-care routine into a luxurious experience. 

 

4. Earthy Colored Vintage Rugs

Clouz Houz:

Don’t underestimate the impact of a vintage rug in your bathroom; it’s a designer’s secret weapon to introduce texture and warmth. Look for rugs with fun patterns and earthy tones (washed out dye is the perfect patina) that compliment your bathroom’s color scheme. Experiment with vintage rug styles to see how they instantly elevate your bathroom from ordinary to extraordinary. 

5. Vintage Décor 

Clouz Houz:

When it comes to vintage décor, it’s all about the details that create that nostalgic and personal atmosphere. Baskets made from wicker or metal add a touch of old-world charm, while also being practical storage solutions. Vases filled with fresh flowers are also great for infusing your bathroom with a breath of life. These small yet significant additions are a reflection of your unique taste, and remind us of when every item used  holds great meaning and purpose… and a piece of history! 

 

6. Dresser Turned Vanity

Heidi Caillier Design:

Okay, now onto the best for last: converting a vintage dresser into a vanity! Find dressers with a lot of character that would be perfect for speaking to your space. Customizing the sink area to fit the dresser’s dimensions creates a unique and functional vanity. As many bathrooms nowadays are embracing the trend of incorporating furniture, these timeless pieces can turn a utilitarian space into a personalized retreat. They not only provide ample storage, but also become the focal point. 

***

Elevating your bathroom with vintage touches is a journey worth starting. The rewards of these efforts will extend far beyond aesthetics – they’ll become a cherished part of your home that you’ll fall in love with time and time again. Embrace the warmth, nostalgia, and personality that will allow you to truly unwind and indulge in moments of luxury. Happy designing!

Welcome to the Tumalo guest bathroom vision, a snapshot of what we have created for our vintage-inspired bath. We are so excited to share our progress and ideas with you all. The moodboard showcase a selection of soft pastel hues, intricate patterns, and carefully chosen antique fixtures. Stay tuned as we bring this vision to life and share the renderings to give you a better picture in the next week to come!

 

Shop our LTK to discover all of the items we used as inspiration! Let us know what you want to see next and how we can help source what you need:)

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This was such a strange full-circle moment. I could immediately remember being 30 years old, standing in those rooms with Derrick and trying to figure out what the heck we were doing!! We had ideas. We weren’t afraid of a project. I had loved design long before it became my career. But I didn’t have a process yet.

Now, after 15 years of designing homes for other people, I can see exactly what I was missing: a way to make the decisions as a whole instead of one at a time (and on my own).

That’s probably why The Design Suite feels so personal to me. It’s built for someone who reminds me a lot of myself back then—the homeowner who appreciates beautiful spaces, is happy to execute, but wants an experienced design team to establish the vision and work through the decisions before the orders are placed and the contractor needs answers.

And you don’t have to do it all tomorrow. Having the plan means you can implement it at the pace that makes sense for you. I would’ve loved to have that roadmap in this little Portland house.

If you’re standing in your own version of it right now, wondering where to begin, I’d love to hear about it.
🤎 Send me a message or head to the link in our bio to inquire about The Design Suite.
September always does something to my design brain.
These are 5 things I can’t stop pinning right now as we head into fall. Some were already working into our own home and some are showing up in client projects.

I’m going much deeper on all five in today’s Design Board Pinnings—how I’d actually use them, the ideas I’m saving, pieces I’ve sourced + a few things we’re doing at Sixth Street.

It lands in inboxes later today. Comment ‘LIST’ (or link in bio) and I’ll send you the link to subscribe so you don’t miss it.
Interior designer by day. Reluctant content creator... also by day, apparently.

When I started this business in 2022, I knew I’d be designing homes, meeting with clients, sourcing, problem solving, running a team-all the things I genuinely love.

What I didn’t quite account for was how often I’d have to stand in front of a camera and attempt to form a coherent sentence.

Almost four years in and, unfortunately, this part has not gotten any easier. But sharing our work, my ideas, the things I’m learning and even some of the messier parts of running a small business has become such a big part of what we do.

So here’s a little peek at what normally gets cut from the final edit.

Fellow designers/business owners... please tell me I’m not the only one with 47 takes of a 10-second sentence.