Tongue and Groove in bathroom?

[Nimster]

Hi

We're in the process of doing up our (currently hideous) bathroom. The room in question is in the 1900 part of our house, so I've chosen to go with a Victorian kind of look. We can't afford a cast iron bath etc, but have ordered the next best thing (imho) - a Victoria & Albert freestanding bath which we'll paint to match the walls (maybe......). We've also ordered a square-ish sink and matching loo, and have a shower enclosure that doesn't match at all but what the heck.

The major problem I have now is that, having chosen the fittings, I can't for the life of me think how to do the floor and walls. I was considering tongue and groove to dado height with skirting boards and a ceramic tiled floor. Would that be "right" for a Victorian bathroom? If so, I presume you don't tile over the sink as the tongue and groove will run just above sink height?

Any thoughts very welcome - I've changed my mind so many times I'm starting to confuse myself!

Thanks
Nim

 

[plumbers mate]

My bathroom is tongue and groove all over - including the ceiling - it's a bit of a B****r because I can't fit a shower.

The T&G actually stopped at the top of the bath level behind the bath leaving the back of the adjoining bedroom's lathe and plaster wall on view. As the new bath (1950s) is lower and has been moved round this had to be temp patched over with hard board (a 20 year temp fix so far!)

The wood is very dark - unless you have a very brightly lit room it would be incredibly gloomy.

It's had three layers of paint on since the 1930s and stripping that lot off would be a nightmare.

 

[Nimster]

I'm thinking of painting the t&g an off-white, having a black and white tiled floor (white octagonal tiles with little black inserts), white fittings, then painting the walls fairly dark. It doesn't need to be a bright room as we have a separate shower room that will be shiny and bright once it's been done up.

This kind of idea:

http://www.stanfordvillage.co.za/images/bath.jpg

Hope that works :?

 

[Peter]

I'm thinking of Lincrusta to dado height ........

 

[Jocelyn]

Hi,

Your bathroom idea sounds great. I used MDF tongue and groove to dado height behind the bath, which was the same as yours. The paint finish was Rose of Jericho oil eggshell in Venetian White. This is a slightly grey white colour. A quick wipe over the T&G after a bath kept the water splashes at bay and there was no problem with shrinkage or water staining on the paint.

Have fun

Jocelyn

 

[Nimster]

I hadn't heard of Lincrusta so did a Google - wow - love it. Not sure the pattern will go with what I'm planning, but I love the Art Nouveau design. I might find somewhere else to use it ....... (sure husband will be really pleased that I've found something else that costs substantially more than lining paper :wink: ).

Jocelyn - thanks, I think I'm decided on the T&G now - just got to decide on a colour scheme. I'm currently thinking dark red walls and outside of bath, with paler T&G - possibly cream. No doubt I'll change my mind a few times before it's fitted though!

 

[Penners]

Would that be "right" for a Victorian bathroom?

There are only two relevant criteria here.

Firstly, will your work destroy historic fabric? (It appears not).

Secondly, will you like it? (It appears so).

Never mind whether it's "right" or not! It's your house, for goodness sake! :wink:

 

[CHRIS]

I grew up in a Victorian house and the authentic route is a tin bath infront of the fire on a Sat night with black and white TV and the dog drinking the water!!!!

now thats authentic.

I have just put a new bathroom in my Georgian cottage and went the very modern route but with natural materials and textures, but I like it and thats all that matters. Remember a cheap bathroom fitted well is better than an expensive one fitted badly

 

[Nimster]

Thanks guys. At the moment it's just bare plaster walls. The previous owners have removed any trace of original features from the entire house (including the 18th century cottages at the rear). I know we won't be able to make it authentically Victorian as there's nothing left to work with, but as long as the end result fits with the age of the house I'll be happy.

Chris - I wouldn't dare have the tin bath in front of the fire. Our cat sits in the bird bath in the garden and drinks the water - the last thing I want is to share my bath with it!

 

[Penners]

I grew up in a Victorian house and the authentic route is a tin bath infront of the fire on a Sat night with black and white TV and the dog drinking the water!!!!

now thats authentic.

Would that be authentic Victorian black-and-white TV?

 

[Jocelyn]

I grew up in a Victorian house and the authentic route is a tin bath infront of the fire on a Sat night with black and white TV and the dog drinking the water!!!!

now thats authentic.

Would that be authentic Victorian black-and-white TV?

[

I didn't realise you remembered those black and white TV's!!

Jocelyn[/quote]

 

[Lime]

I grew up in a Victorian house and the authentic route is a tin bath infront of the fire on a Sat night with black and white TV and the dog drinking the water!!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
That brings back memories.
Mind you we didn't have any tv just the radio and mum's iron plugged into the ceiling light socket.
Every time the iron's thermostat switched itself on and off the radio nearly exploded with the interference noise.

 

[Holly Anne]

The Victorians did not spend a lot of time on bathrooms (they were important, functional ) but not something one spoke about in company. So it is down to you. If you want to work around the era do the Bristan tap thing and mahogany everywhere else. Otherwise do what you will!
Holly Anne

 

[CHRIS]

I remember the iron - radio etc in the light socket, cables just dangling all over the place - people would have a fit now if they saw it back then.

I now just have a DAB radio on a long cord into the bathroom - got to move with the times!!!!

 

[Penners]

I didn't realise you remembered those black and white TV's

Listen - I'm so old I can remember when the world was black-and-white.

 

[Ushy M]

Water in t'bath? You were lucky, we kept t'coal in ours.

 

[Penners]

A bath? You were lucky!

Ours were me grandad's old hob-nail boot, wi' t'toe missin'. We shared one teaspoonful of water a week, and after bathin' we 'ad to make us tea wi' it.