Returning to the beloved House Full of Readers,  a 1931 Tudor, we had the joy of transforming the former children’s bathroom into an inviting space where guests and our almost-empty-nester clients can enjoy a long soak with a good book.

Preserving the original vintage tub as the heart of the space, we thoughtfully curated every surrounding detail, from the tile layout and wallpaper pattern to storage solutions and sparkling fixtures, so the space feels fully integrated with the home’s original 1930s design. The project blends historic character with modern functionality, resulting in a refreshed space that feels both timeless and welcoming.

The Challenge: From Fun and Funky to Tudor Timeless 

This bathroom began as a vibrant memorial to the colorful choices often made during the era, featuring pumpkin orange tile with orchid purple accents. Initially, our goal was to reimagine the space to suit our client’s current style and needs, all while preserving its charm and embracing the bold purple and orange tilework. We also wanted to create a lighter, brighter, and more relaxing space that would be the perfect reprieve for out-of-town guests, while also adding practical storage solutions that the bathroom lacked.

But, as often happens with older homes, we discovered an unexpected challenge: A hidden leak deep within the walls, left behind by a 1970s shower addition that had not been properly waterproofed. While we would have loved to preserve more of the original bathroom, our priority was ensuring it would serve our clients for the next 50 years and beyond, so we ultimately made the heartbreaking decision to demo it. 

Though it was a bittersweet moment, it gave us the opportunity to reimagine the space in a way that honored the Tudor era while addressing important structural issues.

The Answer: A Vintage Bath, Reborn

Once the demo was complete, we returned to the drawing board. We took inspiration from the home’s architecture, bathrooms true to the home’s era, and our clients’ desire for a peaceful, airy, and traditional space. We explored several options, including a moody art-deco jungle wallpaper and a soft sky-blue and earthy red tile with taupe-and-cream wallpaper. Ultimately, we chose a dreamy green-and-cream tile scheme paired with wallpaper by UK designer Marthe Armitage that balanced serenity with charm. 

The layout was meticulously curated to incorporate era details for an accurate historic tile recreation, including a cream liner at the top of the wall tile, a reversed color palette on the floor, and careful attention to proportions so the space felt true to the home.

Storage was a major concern in this older bathroom, where the sink offered no cabinetry underneath. The solution was a custom, full-length mirrored medicine cabinet, perfectly sized to fit behind the door and echo built-in storage details commonly found in homes of this vintage.

We sourced sparkling plumbing fixtures from Vintage Bath in Los Altos, combining Waterworks and Watermark pieces to deliver the classic Tudor look while incorporating modern materials, including a hand shower that makes bath time and cleanup for children and pets much easier.

Creating a vintage bath from modern materials is trickier than it looks. From ensuring the thickness of the mud behind the shower tile seamlessly transitioned to the wainscot, to installing the full-length medicine cabinet behind the bathroom door, to selecting sparkling fixtures that combine vintage looks with practical features, this project required careful coordination from every member of the team to pull off this vintage bathroom renovation.

The Results: A New Chapter of Calm 

The final result is a guest bathroom that feels like it could have been original to the 1931 Tudor. The space is fresh, inviting, and purposeful, with a perfect balance of vintage charm and contemporary convenience. From tile to wallpaper to fixtures, every element honors the home’s era while serving the practical needs of today’s guests. While the tub is the sole original piece, this remodel captures the spirit, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance that make this home so special.

One of my favorite elements of this historic bathroom remodel in Palo Alto is the full-length mirrored medicine cabinet. You can never have enough storage in older homes, and with the sink offering no cabinetry underneath, the clients really needed space for bathroom necessities. Many older homes have similarly sized built-in cupboards and cabinets, so this detail feels perfectly true to the space.

As this home approached its 100th birthday, we walked away with peace of mind, knowing it was ready for another 100+ years of use while maintaining all of its personality, charm, and timeless appeal.