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NebrGuy1969
Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject: 1950's ranch bathroom |
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I have a 1950's brick ranch w/ walk-out basement. The main floor has a bathroom that I assume is pretty close to original. It has blue tile on the floor, pink tile on the walls and is painted blue above the tile line. It has a linen closet, two sink vanity and the sinks and tub are a matching blue. The toilet has been replaced. It is about 7.5 feet by 9 feet.
I was working to clean out the grout lines so I could regrout it and noticed that the tile above the tub is loose. I pull a couple off and the sheetrock behind it is pretty rotten. I carefully used some silicone to put the tiles back in place for the short term, but I know I need to redo the bathroom pretty soon.
I would really appreciate some ideas on how to modernize the bathroom without losing the integrity of the period. The tub has a shower in it, but there is also a shower in the second bath in the basement. I would love to have something that feels luxorious, but am more concerned with cost and maintaining the period feel.
By the way, I am not fond of the pink and blue and would be open to something completely different if it fits the above criteria. |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 565
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:12 am Post subject: |
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The 50's were great. I own a '55 ranch with a basement with original tile work in both the main and master bath. I use to have a pink boomerang countertop in the basement.....
 ... unfortunately that got yanked when the basement was renovated. Color toilet fixtures were a hot item back then also..... but mine are white - thank you God. 
So you can replace all the blue fixtures with new white fixtures and you can find lavatories with a more retro look. Think more square than oval.
Start your color search at the local Sherwin-Williams store. They have grouped their paint colors into historic families. A great starting place. Yep - they even have Suburban Modern
Use this palette to start your search for tile. Size-wise- keep under 4" x 4". If you go to a real tile showroom - such as the local Dal-tile distributor (you might need a design/construction professional to get you into the showroom), they will be able to direct you to the right tile types for a '50's retro look.
American Olean (a company owned by Dal-tile) has a neat little feature on their website you might use..... its a room renderer and it allows you to play with colors and patterns. There are other resource on the American Olen website for you to explore. Check it out. I send my clients there to play.
Your description of the wall board behind the tile tells me you probably need to do more demo work than you originally anticipated. You might be able to limit that to the tub/shower area. If there is a soffit over the tub..... get rid of it. It does nothing but trap steam and moisture.
If your house has seen little renovation work since its original construction (such as mine), this is the time to add important items such as a real exhaust fan.... something that provide 75 CFM per fixture. (4 fixtures = 300 CFM). Exhaust fans are NOT for odors, but for moisture. You should leave your fan running for a good 30 minutes after a shower. You might also need to upgrade your electrical outlets. They probably are not grounded. Plus you should add a GFI outlet near any source of water (basically all outlets in the bath should be GFI - IMHO).
Take your time and be willing to visit the local bookstore and find a book on 50's design. That will also help you with colors and shapes.
More importantly - have fun with the project. (Think Boomerang) |
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JWmHarmon
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 112
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 7:32 am Post subject: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter A MUST - not an option |
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All - I repeat - ALL bathrooms should be retrofitted with GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) receptacles. For safety reasons, this is a MUST.
You do not have to wait until you remodel. You should do it NOW.
Any electrical appliance used in a bathroom has the potential to electrocute the user if it falls into even the smallest amount of water in the sink or bathtub. Death from electrocution is inexcusable in a bathroom.
The GFCI shuts of the current almost instantly and prevents electrocution should a toddler, a small child or a teenager drop the hair dryer or the corded radio or dad's elecric shaver or any other electrical appliance into the water.
The natural human reaction to dropping something in the water is to retrieve it immediately. Electricity and water don't mix. The attempt to retrieve the appliance can lead to electrocution.
The cost of a GFCI duplex receptacle at a local store is 10 - 15 dollars. The cost of an electrician installing a GFCI is much cheaper that a funeral.
This should be done IMMEDIATELY. Make the arrangements today. You can still do the rest of the remodelling later.
Also, GFCI's should be installed in garages, outdoors, and unfinished basements. They should also be installed anywhere within six feet of any water source such as island sinks, wet bars, ponds, indoor fountains, etc.
I appreciate the fact that you want to keep the style of the bathroom consistent with its original period style. So many people want to eradicate all evidence of historical design elements because it is "so dated."
As pointed out above you will probably have to do a lot of demolition and replace wall board. Expect to find some deterioration in the framing, although you may get lucky and just need to replace the wall board with cement board and new tile.
Whatever you do, it is imperative that you replace that old receptacle with a GFCI for safety reasons.
_________________
When building or manufacturing always ask, "How will we recycle that?" - JWmHarmon |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 565
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:07 am Post subject: |
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Tempering the hysteria........ when you remodel, you can actually ground fault an entire circuit. I did this when we remodeled our basement. One outlet gets wet - the entire line gets shut off. Your electrician can help you.
There probably is only one outlet in your bathroom - so add the GFI yourself.... it's not hard, just throw that circuit breaker off and replace the outlet. (plug in a radio and turn it up..... when you have the right circuit.... the radio shuts off - without saying)
Then, when you go and remodel your bathroom, have your electrician wire the GFI in front of all the other devices and you will be covered.
Until then...... don't stand in the bath water and blow dry your hair. 
BTW - most new blow dryers and so on have internal GFI circuits in their plug..... look for the fat plug (that's the GFI on the plug itself)
On the other side..... I certainly don't want to find out the hard way if the GFI is actually operational.... so care is always advised. |
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timada
Joined: 13 Aug 2008
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| I am trying to redecorate my house in the funky 60’ style. But it seems very hard to find a proper bathroom sink that will fit with the rest of the bathroom suite. Everything I find is too modern and sophisticated. Any ideas? |
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djswan
Joined: 17 Aug 2007
Posts: 839
Location: Montana, USA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:40 am Post subject: |
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There is a salvage yard somewhere that has what you want.
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