Vintage design is again on the rise, sweeping the world with elaborate tiles, heavy fixtures and muted colour schemes.
1910s architecture style
The 1910s are often hailed as the peak of the Art Nouveau style. Art Nouveau was a design movement which flourished between the late 19th and early 20th century across Europe and the U.S.
Spanning across architecture, interior design, jewellery, glass design, illustration and fashion, Art Nouveau was characterized by its use of undulating asymmetrical lines, often inspired by the natural world. Common symbols in Art Nouveau include flower stalks, buds, thorns, vine tendrils, tree branches, and insect wings.
The 6 main characteristics of Art Nouveau Architecture are:
- Organic shapes
- Curving lines
- Arches
- Sensual ornamentation
- Sinuous
- Sculptural
1910 house styles and interior design
1910s style bathrooms have an untouchable elegance created by smooth surfaces, cool colours and clean lines. Neatly placed tile features heavily in 1900s design, both patterned and plain, and is commonly placed on the walls as well as floors.
A mature colour palette is the key to success with a 1910s bathroom remodel – avoid over-indulging in attention grabbing colours and textures. 1910 interior design is defined by tasteful restraint – here is how to apply 1910s interior design principles in a modern bathroom makeover.
1910 house interiors: furniture, decorating and design ideas for 1910 style homes Australia
10. Pedestal basin
A pedestal basin is one of the foundational cores of the quintessential vintage look. They take the form of a single sink, usually standing on one foot. Classic pedestal basins are porcelain white and short – usually situated beneath a mirror. The sanitary look had a huge influence on 1910s bathroom design, with crisp white accents and continuous subway tile taking centre stage.
09. Footed vanity
A natural companion to the pedestal basin, the footed vanity was another common feature of 1910s bathrooms. They provide the storage space sacrificed by a pedestal basin and present unique design opportunities for ornate embellishments or colour accents. Typically, footed vanities would be made from solid wood – either painted or natural – though glass doors were also fairly popular.
08. Vintage bathmats and towels
One easy way to quickly transform your bathroom into a vintage-esq space is to purchase vintage objects and accessories such as towels, bathmats, robes and handtowels. For an authentic 1910s appearance, you should be on the lookout for thick, heavy towels with simple designs and muted colours.
07. Vintage wall-mounted lamps
Brass and other industrial materials featured heavily in much of 1910s interior design, from the kitchen to the bedroom. The bathroom is no exception, with bulky and ornate fixtures such as wall lamps providing a rough industrial accent to the sanitary space. Purchase the wall sconce pictured above here from Etsy for $355.
06. Pendant lights
Another favourite lighting choice for vintage bathrooms was hanging or pendant lights. Pendant lights are easy to customise to the colour scheme, style and theme of your bathroom. They provide a visually stimulating environment which is much more interesting than regular ceiling lights. Pendant lights also allow you the opportunity to introduce a new material into your home. With 1910s bathrooms, this would most commonly be brass.
05. Overhead shower
Vintage-looking fixtures will go a long way in creating the overall 1910s atmosphere. Heavy, dark metals like brass are iconic symbols of early 20th century design, perfect for building the vintage look. A large overhead showerhead like the one pictured above may prove the final piece in your nostalgic puzzle. The best part? They’re relatively affordable. Purchase this gorgeous antique shower here from Funitic.com for $321.
04. Claw-foot tub
The claw foot tub remains the height of luxury when it comes to the 1910s bathroom style. In fact, the 1910s actually marked the beginning of the bathtub’s evolution into a household staple. Previously, bathtubs themselves were status symbols. During the 1910s they became much more common – though of course held their luxurious connotations to this day.
03. Dark colours in contrast
A classic staple of the 1910s design era was the use of dark colours in contrast with lighter colours. Perhaps speaking to the cyclical nature of design, this is not far off the popular contemporary practice of monochrome schemes. The most popular iteration of this trend was the use of black and white, particularly in floor and wall tiles. However, dark blue and deep green were also often featured in 1910s bathroom.
02. Black-and-white patterned tile floor
The most recognisable of all 1910s style, black-and-white patterned floor tile was a symbol of sophistication. The clinical effect it produces communicates a sense of untouchable cleanliness, powerful and imposing. Somewhat reminiscent of a chess board, floors like these speak to a hidden sense of power and authority. Bold bathrooms like these are designed to impress.
01. Half-wall tile feature
Another classic symbol of early 20th century bathroom design is the feature tile placed to the half-way point on the wall. Again communicating luxury and decadence, this strategy is also incredibly practical – protecting your walls from the potential splashes that become quite common if your bath is set near a wall or corner. Traditionally this tile would be a pristine white, deep blue or dark green. An eye-catching feature which can tie the whole bathroom together, this design is a wonderful inclusion in any 1910s bathroom remodel.
