Previous Product Reports

The Period Bathroom

Looking for old style? You've come to the right list.

In truth, the term "period bathroom" is a misnomer. No one today wants to live with a real historic, period bathroom. What most people want, instead, is a bathroom that has the warm, inviting appeal of traditional design -- along with all the comforts of modern technology and engineering.

To meet the growing demand for period-looking bathrooms, most suppliers of plumbing fixtures and bath hardware now offer a line of so-called nostalgia reproductions. Some of the reproductions are excellent: well designed and well crafted. Others are, frankly, junk. The list below provides a good cross-section of the high-quality period bath products market.

Most of the companies listed provide reproduction items--everything from claw-foot tubs to embossed tile. Also included are a few suppliers of original vintage antique fixturest. But for a more complete survey, click here for a directory of companies that supply architectural antiques.

A-Ball Plumbing Supply
Portland, OR
800-228-0134; Fax: 503-228-0030
http://www.a-ball.com
Mail-order supplier of bathroom fixtures & accessories: porcelain-resurfacing kits, showers, corner & pedestal sinks, kitchen faucets, high- & low-tank toilets, clawfoot tubs, shower curtains & more; registers.

Advent Design International
Ridgewood, NJ
201-444-0426; Fax: 201-444-1601
http://www.adventstone.com
Creator & supplier of hand-carved stone bathtubs, basins & vanities: stock & custom; residential, commercial & institutional.

American Restoration Tile, Inc.
Mabelvale, AR
501-455-1000; Fax: 501-455-1004
http://www.restorationtile.com
Manufacturer of custom ceramic tile for restoration & new construction: mosaics; floor, wall, subway, kitchen & bath tile; custom matching of glazed & unglazed tile; all sizes.

Apex Wine Cellars & Saunas
HQ's Woodinville, WA
888-999-9749; Fax: 800-637-8704
http://www.apexsaunawine.com
Manufacturer of custom wine cellars, wine racking kits & sauna rooms since 1984; local on-site consulting, free CAD designs & in-house installation services; all-heart redwood, western red cedar & mahogany; wine cellar doors, cooling equipment, unique tabletops & flooring; sauna heaters, doors & full modular rooms.

Barclay Products Ltd.
Gurnee, IL
847-244-1234; Fax: 847-244-1259
http://www.barclayproducts.com
Supplier of period bath & kitchen products: vitreous-china pedestal lavatories, toilets, drop-in bowls, clawfoot tubs, shower units & fittings; Victorian & Edwardian styles.

Bathroom Machineries, DEA
Murphys, CA
209-728-2031; Fax: 209-728-2320
http://www.deabath.com
Supplier of Early American & Victorian bathroom fixtures & accessories: antique & reproduction bathroom fixtures; tubs, high-tank toilets, pedestal sinks, original light fixtures, medicine cabinets, mirrors & many one-of-a-kind items; Lydia model reproduction 1910 Pacific low-tank toilet; since 1976.

Baths From The Past/Besco Plumbing
Rockland, MA
800-697-3871; 781-871-8530; Fax: 781-871-8533
http://www.bathsfromthepast.com
Manufacturer & designer of classic- or antique-style kitchen & bath faucets & fittings: custom-designed shower systems; brass, nickel & oil-rubbed finishes; pedestal, copper, brass & fireclay farm sinks; clawfoot tubs, high-tank toilets & accessories.

Crown Point Cabinetry
Claremont, NH
800-999-4994; 603-357-5898; Fax: 800-370-1218
http://www.crown-point.com
Custom fabricator of hand-crafted, period-style cabinetry: for the kitchen, bath & other rooms; Arts & Crafts, Shaker, Victorian & Early American styles; sells directly to homeowners, architects, custom builders & remodelers nationwide; family owned & operated.

Designs in Tile
Mt. Shasta, CA
530-926-2629; Fax: 530-926-6467
http://www.designsintile.com
Manufacturer of custom tile & murals: Victorian, English & American Arts & Crafts styles; Anglo-Japanese, Wm. Morris/DeMorgan, Tropico, Malibu, Catalina, Neogrec, Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau & more; Arts & Crafts wall mural fountains & Hispano-Moresque star fountains; 3x6-in. subway tile/trim & hand-crafted faience tile/trim; 'Oriental rugs' in hand-painted tile; cut-tile geometric (encaustic) flooring; bathroom & wall tile, countertops & fireplace surrounds; ceramic.

DuQuella Tile
Portland, OR
866-218-8221; 503-256-8300; Fax: 503-257-4773
http://www.tiledecorative.com
Designer & fabricator of hand-crafted tube-lined & cuerda seca ceramic tile: Arts & Crafts, Bungalow, Mission, Art Nouveau & Art Deco styles; wall tile for bathrooms, kitchens & fireplaces; decorative, accent & field tile; murals, borders, trim & house numbers; custom glazes & sizes; period-inspired original designs, custom design services & historical reproductions.

Gooseneck Designs
Westminster, MD
410-848-5663; Fax: 410-751-6313
http://www.gooseneckdesigns.com
Manufacturer of ceramics & custom tile: standard tile for interior & exterior applications; for gardens, walls, pool & geyser fountains, cascades & waterfalls; tile mosaics & kitchen & bath tile.

Guerin, P.E.
New York, NY
212-243-5270; Fax: 212-727-2290
http://www.peguerin.com
Manufacturer of handmade period hardware: bathroom fixtures & accessories; furniture, door, bath & builders hardware; Louis XIV, Art Deco & other styles; tables & objets d'art; since 1857; brochure $25.

Hamilton Sinkler
New York, NY
800-900-3326; 212-760-3377; Fax: 212-760-3362
http://www.hamiltonsinkler.com
Manufacturer of solid-bronze & brass hardware: floor & wall registers in many standard & custom sizes; door & bath hardware, mail slots, numerals, pulls, knobs, switch plates & more; many finishes.

House of Antique Hardware
Portland, OR
888-223-2545; Fax: 503-233-1312
www.houseofantiquehardware.com
Supplier of door, window, cabinet, electrical & bath hardware: stair rods & dust corners; brass tube, solid brass & plated steel; original antique & vintage reproductions; Victorian & Arts & Crafts.

Kol Industries
Hanover, PA
717-630-0600; Fax: 717-630-0601
http://www.kolindustries.com
Custom fabricator of millwork: architectural, designer & builder markets; CAD-generated shop drawings, finishing & installation; traditional craftsmanship with modern technology; established 1986. Wood furnishings, bath furniture, kitchens, wine cellars.

Kolson, Inc.
Great Neck, NY
516-487-1224; Fax: 516-487-1231
http://www.kolson.com
Distributor of kitchen & bath fittings & accessories: tubs, toilets, bidets, sinks, faucets & medicine cabinets; outdoor & bath fixtures; cremone bolts; window hardware, transom & decorative door & cabinet hardware; custom & reproduction hardware; cast, forged & wrought iron & glass, porcelain & crystal door & cabinet hardware.

Linkasink
Phoenix, AZ
866-395-8377; 602-418-1725; Fax: 602-971-2668
http://www.linkasink.com
Manufacturer of kitchen, bar & bath sinks: hand-hammered copper, nickel, bronze & cloisonne; mosaic sinks in Venetian glass or tumbled stone.

Mac the Antique Plumber
Sacramento, CA
800-916-BATH; 916-454-4507; Fax: 916-454-4150
http://www.antiqueplumber.com
Manufacturer of bathroom accessories: plumbing supplies; leg tubs, high- & low-tank toilets, faucets, house & door hardware & lighting; bathroom & kitchen sinks; 200-p. catalog $10 (refundable).

Stone Forest
Santa Fe, NM
888-682-2987; Fax: 505-982-2712
http://www.stoneforest.com
Manufacturer, custom fabricator & distributor of hand-crafted stone garden ornament: granite pavers, garden & wall fountains, planters, urns, benches, lanterns, stone tubs & rustic stone & copper sinks; carved natural stone; combines Japanese tradition with contemporary design; stock & custom.

Sunflower Showerhead Co.
Seattle, WA
206-722-1232; Fax: 206-722-1321
www.sunflowershowerhead.com
Importer of traditional showerheads & fittings from Australia: deluge showerheads 8, 10 & 12 in. in dia. & 2-headed shower systems in solid brass; all architectural finishes; installation with custom-arm brackets or off-the-shelf plumbing fittings.

Sunrise Specialty Co.
Oakland, CA
800-444-4280; 510-729-7277; Fax: 800-937-2540
http://www.sunrisespecialty.com
Manufacturer of Classically designed bathroom fixtures: reproduction & antique fixtures; clawfoot tubs, oak-tank toilets, period sinks, showers, fittings, water closets, bathroom hardware & bath accessories.

Susan Hebert Imports
Portland, OR
503-248-1111; Fax: 503-248-0275
http://www.ecobre.com
Supplier of handmade, solid-copper decorative accessories: kitchen & bathroom fixtures; interior lanterns & garden ornament; more than 120 designs; all pieces signed by the artist; historic Arts & Crafts references.

The Bath Works
Columbia, TN
931-381-5711; Fax: 931-381-5711
http://www.thebathworks.com
Manufacturer & importer of rare & antique bathtubs from France, England & America: restored by hand; reproduction & antique/original fixtures, clawfoot & period tubs, faucets, period sinks & toilets, reproduction bathroom hardware, antique bathtub accessories & showers/fittings; custom design services.

Tile Source Inc.
Hilton Head Island, SC
843-689-9151; Fax: 843-689-9161
http://www.tile-source.com
Supplier of Victorian-style decorative tile: true encaustic tile & less costly silk-screened simulations; mural, scenic & kitchen & bathroom tile; flooring & ceramic pavers; London's famous 20-in.-dia. Blue Plaques in frost-proof Staffordshire porcelain.

TileArt, LLC
Madison, WI
608-255-8453; Fax: 608-233-8453
http://www.tileartdesign.com
Supplier of ceramic tile: hand-crafted & subway tile; kitchen & bathroom backsplashes, sinks & countertops; murals & mosaics.

Van Dyke's Restorers
Mitchell, SD
800-787-3355; 60; Fax: 605-796-8888
http://www.vandykes.com
Supplier of hardware, lighting & antique furniture: gate hardware in 6 finishes; brass hardware for renovation; lamp repair; lumber, veneer, wood carvings & moldings; all wholesale prices; bathroom sinks, toilets & bathroom accessories; catalog $1.

Wesaunard, Inc.
Spotsylvania, VA
540-582-6677; Fax: 540-582-5233
http://www.wesaunard.com Importer of towel warmers: hand crafted in England; electric & hydronic; gold, chrome & brass; custom sizes.

Wood Essentials Ltd.
New York, NY
212-717-1112; Fax: 212-717-5235
http://www.woodessentials.com
Manufacturer of hand-crafted medicine cabinets: traditional design, recessed or surface mounted, with beveled mirror & adjustable glass shelves; 2 sizes; finished or unfinished; mahogany, cherry, stained white oak, maple or lacquer white.

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