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Vintage 1920's Bathroom with Hex Tile and Wood Wainscoting
Over the Thanksgiving week, we stopped by one of our long-time clients' house to do an estimate on a few additional new projects. We finally had a camera with us to take some pictures of the bathroom we renovated a couple years back, complete with wood wainscoting, soft blue and olive gray paint palette, matte hexagonal floor tile with black grout, and white pedestal sink. The bathroom still looks great, as if it was just renovated yesterday!
New Exterior Paint for a Fabulous Tudor Revival
We recently gave this gorgeous Tudor Revival a new exterior paint makeover. The paint color combo for this 1930's era Tudor includes (all Sherwin Williams paint):
Body
Trim
Windows
Door
BEFORE Pictures
AFTER Pictures
To see more exterior work we've done, click HERE to see Exterior work under the Project Photos section.
Should you use salvage or vintage fixtures? Things to consider…
If you talk to most die-hard preservationists, they will tell you the best way to go (and more often than not, the only way to go) is to use true vintage fixtures you find as scrap or salvage. Vintage fixtures, such as lighting, faucets, knobs and handles, toilets, sinks, tubs, etc. can be found in garage sales, salvage yards, classifieds, or even on ebay.
However, before you embark on your renovation project, make sure it is worth what you may end up having to pay for it altogether to have it installed. Although these vintage fixtures are often cheaper than their brand-new counterparts, you may end up paying way more for missing parts that are no longer readily available or need to be special-ordered, or paying more for a trickier installation.
Some tips to help you determine whether it’s worth it:
1. Inspect the items (if possible) to make sure it has all the parts you need to make it work. If there are missing parts, try to see if you can find them at your hardware store and what their costs are, before you commit to it.
2. Take a step further and make sure they will work for modern code requirements. If not, assess what it will cost to get them up to code.
3. Determine “spot-fixing” costs for chips, nicks, scratches, or re-polishing. For example, you may be scoring with a dirt-cheap solid cast-iron claw foot tub, but with all the porcelain chips in it, it may cost way more to get it re-glazed than if you were to buy a brand-new cast iron claw foot tub.
4. If you are using a contractor, make sure he sees the items (or at least the specs) and confirms that he is able to install them for you and if there are additional installation costs. You do not want to assume all fixtures are made equal – and this helps alleviate any obstacles (and unexpected costs) when it comes time to install.
In the end, as long as you LOVE IT and were prepared to pay way more than you anticipated, using salvage or vintage fixtures will be worth it in the long run.
To see samples of Good Home Construction's previous and current projects, click HERE.
However, before you embark on your renovation project, make sure it is worth what you may end up having to pay for it altogether to have it installed. Although these vintage fixtures are often cheaper than their brand-new counterparts, you may end up paying way more for missing parts that are no longer readily available or need to be special-ordered, or paying more for a trickier installation.
Some tips to help you determine whether it’s worth it:
1. Inspect the items (if possible) to make sure it has all the parts you need to make it work. If there are missing parts, try to see if you can find them at your hardware store and what their costs are, before you commit to it.
2. Take a step further and make sure they will work for modern code requirements. If not, assess what it will cost to get them up to code.
3. Determine “spot-fixing” costs for chips, nicks, scratches, or re-polishing. For example, you may be scoring with a dirt-cheap solid cast-iron claw foot tub, but with all the porcelain chips in it, it may cost way more to get it re-glazed than if you were to buy a brand-new cast iron claw foot tub.
4. If you are using a contractor, make sure he sees the items (or at least the specs) and confirms that he is able to install them for you and if there are additional installation costs. You do not want to assume all fixtures are made equal – and this helps alleviate any obstacles (and unexpected costs) when it comes time to install.
In the end, as long as you LOVE IT and were prepared to pay way more than you anticipated, using salvage or vintage fixtures will be worth it in the long run.
To see samples of Good Home Construction's previous and current projects, click HERE.
Is Restoring Being Green?
In today’s culture, it seems that everyone is making a concerted effort to be green. But what does it mean to be truly green? Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to attend an environmentally-focused seminar hosted by Cottages and Bungalows in Old Town Tustin. One of the key things we took away from one of the speakers, Jane Powell (author of Bungalow Kitchens and Bungalow Bathrooms - see below), was that one of the best and true ways to be green is to restore, repurpose and reuse what is already there.
Even though more and more consumers are favoring green building and using eco-centric materials, nonetheless it still takes more energy and waste to make something new. By spending time determining what you can reuse, what can be recycled or repurposed for use, or simply only using “used” materials, you effectively eliminate waste in our landfills and contribute to saving our environment.
Since we are in the business of restoring old homes, by default, we’ve been practicing “green” building for years, as we restore and reuse many of the materials already in place. If you are thinking of a renovation for your house, please take a moment and think about what you can do on your part for our environment. Besides, by being conscious of your efforts, you may find that you’ll get a much more authentic vintage look for your restoration projects.
You can also contact us to see how we can help you be green by restoring your house or reusing materials you already have.
Another Classic 1930's Bungalow Bathroom - Almost Done!
Here are a few before and after pictures of a classic vintage bathroom we've been working on. The bathroom had been renovated sometime in the 1950's (complete with lilac tile and blue fixtures). The homeowner wanted to take it back to the classy white and black look that was more typical of the 1930's era when the house was built. Check back for completed pictures!
A few AFTER pictures
To see more bathrooms we've done, click HERE to see Bathrooms under the Project Photos section.
A few BEFORE pictures
A few AFTER pictures
To see more bathrooms we've done, click HERE to see Bathrooms under the Project Photos section.
Matte or Gloss Hexagonal Tile for 1920’s bathrooms
Thinking about replacing your bathroom floor tile with traditional 1920’s styled hexagonal tile and can’t decide between matte or gloss finish? Here’s our opinion:
The matte is definitely more period-appropriate since back in the 1920’s, the tile had a duller, honed finish. DalTile carries sheets of the matte finish hexagonal tile. However, having both lived with this matte finish tile as well as installing it for many of our clients, it is very difficult to keep clean. Over time, the tile starts to look “dirty” and requires deep scrubbing to get it looking clean again.
The gloss is definitely much easier to keep clean and maintains a high-polished look. We found one local supplier, American Universal Tile Corp in Santa Ana, CA, that keeps these in stock. However, they don’t look as “original” because of its “shininess.” But if you desire a bright, clean floor, this is probably the better way to go.
To see more of Good Home Construction's projects, click HERE to go to the main page and click on the links under the Project Photos section.
The matte is definitely more period-appropriate since back in the 1920’s, the tile had a duller, honed finish. DalTile carries sheets of the matte finish hexagonal tile. However, having both lived with this matte finish tile as well as installing it for many of our clients, it is very difficult to keep clean. Over time, the tile starts to look “dirty” and requires deep scrubbing to get it looking clean again.
The gloss is definitely much easier to keep clean and maintains a high-polished look. We found one local supplier, American Universal Tile Corp in Santa Ana, CA, that keeps these in stock. However, they don’t look as “original” because of its “shininess.” But if you desire a bright, clean floor, this is probably the better way to go.
With White Matte Hex Tile
With White and Black Gloss Hex Tile
To see more of Good Home Construction's projects, click HERE to go to the main page and click on the links under the Project Photos section.
1930's Vintage Sunny Yellow Kitchen - Almost Done!
Here are a few sneak pictures of the work we've been doing to renovate a kitchen with vintage styling in a 1930's era Tudor Revival bungalow. Check back for final pictures after the project has been completed!
Before Pictures
Before Pictures
After Pictures - Almost Done!
To see more kitchens we've done, click HERE to go to Kitchens under the Project Photos section.
Salvage Corner for November 2008
Over the years, we have saved so much good stuff from renovations that our own garage is being used as a warehouse of salvage items. We decided to feature a salvage corner section on our blog, to sell some of these items to local homeowners who could use these for their own restoration projects.
If anything here interests you, please send your contact information and item interested in to info@goodhomeconstruction.com. Local buyers only - who can pick up the items, as we cannot arrange for shipping and delivery.
1920's White Wall-Mounted Corner Sink - This was pulled from one of the units in a 1920's Craftsman triplex. Good condition for its age, no chips or cracks. It needs a deep scrubbing, with something like CLR, to get the crud and rust off. The faucet may be the original, although at the time of demolition, the faucet was not working properly. $75
1920's White Pedestal Sink - This was left in the garage of one of the units in a 1925 California Bungalow duplex. The previous owner had pulled it out and replaced it with a modern 2000's pedestal sink. Good condition for its age, no cracks. There is one or two small chips in the porcelain that could be fixed with Porc-a-Fix enamel. It needs a deep scrubbing, with something like CLR, to get the rust off. $150
1929 Fireplace Radiator - This was pulled from a faux fireplace in a 1929 Spanish Revival bungalow. At the time of demolition, the radiator was not tested to see if it was in working condition or not. Very charming and would fit perfectly in bungalows with faux fireplaces. $100
Check back often to see what's new in our Salvage Corner. To see samples of Good Home Construction's previous and current projects, click HERE.
If anything here interests you, please send your contact information and item interested in to info@goodhomeconstruction.com. Local buyers only - who can pick up the items, as we cannot arrange for shipping and delivery.
1920's White Wall-Mounted Corner Sink - This was pulled from one of the units in a 1920's Craftsman triplex. Good condition for its age, no chips or cracks. It needs a deep scrubbing, with something like CLR, to get the crud and rust off. The faucet may be the original, although at the time of demolition, the faucet was not working properly. $75
1920's White Pedestal Sink - This was left in the garage of one of the units in a 1925 California Bungalow duplex. The previous owner had pulled it out and replaced it with a modern 2000's pedestal sink. Good condition for its age, no cracks. There is one or two small chips in the porcelain that could be fixed with Porc-a-Fix enamel. It needs a deep scrubbing, with something like CLR, to get the rust off. $150
1929 Fireplace Radiator - This was pulled from a faux fireplace in a 1929 Spanish Revival bungalow. At the time of demolition, the radiator was not tested to see if it was in working condition or not. Very charming and would fit perfectly in bungalows with faux fireplaces. $100
Check back often to see what's new in our Salvage Corner. To see samples of Good Home Construction's previous and current projects, click HERE.
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