Tile is a hallmark of Craftsman bathrooms.
The Arts and Crafts Movement that influenced American architectural style from the 1890s through about 1930 was epitomized by Craftsman homes. They emphasized natural, man-made and locally produced materials to produce results that harmonized with their surroundings. Typical Craftsman-influenced home styles included the bungalow and the two-story American Four Square. Craftsman home interiors were no less impressive, with historical Craftsman bathrooms containing tile in large amounts to impart a high-end appearance for their day. Does this Spark an idea?
Fixtures
American Craftsman homes eventually began to emphasize heavy, bright chrome on faucets. Chrome was somewhat new and a bit expensive in the early 1900s. Use of chrome for Craftsman bathroom fixtures negated the need to polish them, though polished brass was used as well. Craftsman bathrooms also featured white enamel for sinks, tubs and toilets. Later Craftsman homes often featured pastel porcelain fixtures in turquoise, peach and lemon.
Floors
Craftsman homes' bathroom floors almost always featured ceramic tile produced by local manufacturers. The ceramic floor tiles' finishes were very glossy and were intended to help cut down on floor cleaning and polishing. Wooden floor Craftsman bathrooms are very rare because wood finishes of the era were ineffective against water.
Walls
Tile was used heavily on Craftsman homes' bathroom walls, though attractive painted beadboard wainscot paneling was used in higher-end Craftsman homes. Wainscot was placed on the lower 3 to 5 feet of the walls. If wainscot or tile wasn't used on Craftsman bathroom walls, then the upper halves of the walls were painted a different color from the lower halves. Glued-on or nailed-on molding separate the two differently colored sections of the walls.
Considerations
The Craftsman style of home architecture and building emphasized simplicity in design for exteriors and interiors. Historical Craftsman bathrooms cast aside the intricate designs often seen in Victorian-era homes and bathrooms. Craftsman bathroom moldings, for example, were straightforward and simple yet very sturdy. Originally, Craftsman bathrooms were designed to impart an aura of cleanliness and sanitation through their heavy use of chrome and white enamel. Later-era Craftsman homes, though, featured more colorful and intricate designs on ceramic floor and wall tiles.
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