Blondeel #3

Blondeel House, Oak Park - Period Bathroom Re-creation

The last project I'll mention here, is a smaller one and is the last project in an eight year restoration project on our own, Prairie School, house. My wife, Eva and I finally finished putting in a brand new, 1914 bathroom! The old bathroom had been remodeled many times since it was first built, and barely anything original remained. Before we demolished the room down to the framing and re-did all the plumbing, we documented all remaining evidence of what was original in the room. After demolition, the first order of business was to beef up and repair some of the framing. As you can see from the photo (below - where we sistered a new joist), previous plumbers had cut through 85 % of a joist to accommodate a trap for the old tub. This single joist not only helped support a cantilevered portion of the house, but also supported a 300 pound tub (plus water and a bather)!

After careful documentation, we decided to make some changes. For example, instead of reproducing the original shellacked oak floor and moldings and painted plaster walls - we used white hexagon mosaic tiles for the floor, and 3" x 6" subway tiles for the walls up to the wood trim. The new upper walls and ceiling were then painted to match the original color. All the wood trim and the reproduction built-in medicine cabinet are painted, which was more typical for the day. We did strip the paint from the door and re-shellac it.

To replace the glass block window that someone had installed some time in the 1980s, I fabricated a casement window sash to match what was there originally. Although, we didn't reproduce the original configuration of the fixtures (which was rather awkward), we did find a salvaged 1911 claw foot tub in excellent condition. We did take license with the pedestal sink (and faucet), finding a modern one (by Porcher) that was low profile and yet, we felt, would compliment the rest of the room.

Not able to find authentic period fixtures and fittings in satisfactory condition, we are going with reproductions. There are many excellent and accurate reproductions available. The light fixtures and cabinet hardware (which are on order from Rejuvenation Hardware) will be polished nickel. (The brass ones shown in the photos are temporary.) The glass towel bar is from the period (supplied to me by Kelli Kline). The tub faucet, shower and pressure balance system (required by code), as well as the shower enclosure were purchased on-line through Clawfoot Classics. Other room hardware was also bought through Rejuvenation Hardware.

Below are some photos:

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