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The Lone Star State is sharing its shine with a new star in town. One of our customers remodeled their Texan bathroom and won Best Bath in top 20 of Better Homes & Gardens magazine. 

The entire bathroom was remodeled using all Vintage Tub & Bath products from the medicine cabinet to the clawfoot tub resting on tub coasters on the floor. If we had a Customer of the Year award, the renovators, David and Sharon Morris, would win it hands down.

This vintage style Farmhouse bathroom may look authentic with a sliding wooden door, cast iron clawfoot tub, and double console sink created from old furniture, but through innovative drip-free faucets and a 1.6 GPF toilet, it's far from old and out-dated. The owners were even able to stay within their $15,000 budget by doing the work themselves. 

Looking at their before pictures, these renovators can give anyone inspiration to remodel their dim, crowded bathroom, as this once was.

In words of the renovator himself, David Morris,

"All our friends told us we should submit [our remodeled bathroom] to a magazine. So I filled out the 10-page entry form and sent it in. [We] got a call around February to inform us we had won the Best Bath part of the contest. We won a thousand dollars and a spread in the May Issue of Better Homes and Gardens. The entire bathtub and all the fixtures were purchased through Vintage Tub. How cool is that?

We were also featured on a major network TV special playing around the country. We did all the work ourselves with the exception of the wood floor"

Key points to replicate this bathroom:

• Classic Cast Iron Clawfoot Bathtub
• Double Sink Vanity Bucket to hold towels
• Victorian widespread faucets
• Beveled frameless mirrors
• Two-piece toilet
• Use sconces for lighting
• Warm, welcoming flooring
• Darker wood
• Antique runner adds additional warmth, texture, and color
• Wooden panel walls
• Simple accessories

Think Acrylic Tubs Aren’t Traditional? Think Again.

Acrylic tubs visually emulate traditional cast iron tubs but also offer unique modern features to attract a wider audience. At Vintage Tub & Bath, our manufacturers produce acrylic clawfoot and freestanding tubs that feature the thickness, strength, and durability of traditional cast iron tubs. Azzuri, Whitehaus, and Randolph Morris are some of the industry’s top manufacturers, offering the highest quality products, warranties, and customer satisfaction.

Appealing to modern, time-constrained consumers

• Sometimes a hectic day calls for more than just a warm bath. Some of our acrylic clawfoot tubs come with whirlpool jets and air bubble units that can massage and soothe the stress of the day away.
• The nonporous interior surface does not stain, discolor or retain odors - this makes the tub easier to keep clean.
• Unlike cast iron tubs, acrylic tubs cannot rust or chip.
• Acrylic tubs come in an assortment of lengths. Vintage Tub’s collection includes 54", 60", 66", 67", 70", and 72" tubs.
• Unique faucets or drillings are not required.
• They carry the same high gloss shine as cast iron. 
• Slipper, pedestal, double ended, and classic clawfoot tub styles are all available in acrylic.

Break Your Water Wasting Ways

Daylight savings time may be coming to an end on November 4th, but that doesn’t mean energy savings should end as well. Vintage Tub and Bath wants to invite our customers to help make a difference by "going green" via water conservation. The bonus to saving water is saving both the environment and money. Some states’ water utilities even offer rebates for the purchase of exceptionally efficient electric and water appliances. A quick, one time modification or purchase saves hundreds of gallons a week.

With water running through all our primary products here at Vintage Tub and Bath, we happen to know a thing or two about cutting corners in water usage.

Here’s simple, one time changes that create long-term savings:

1. Place a plastic bottle or bag filled with pebbles and water in the toilet’s water tank. This displaces water and the toilet will use less water with each flush.
2. Re-position the lawn mower blades one level higher. This cuts back on lawn watering through less water evaporation with the longer grass.
3. Plant shrubs and flowers that require less water. Most nurseries should provide a wide selection and assistance.
4. Replace out dated appliances with water efficient appliances meeting these requirements:

· Toilets- The ultra–low flush toilets use less than one and a half gallons to flush compared to the old 5-7 gallon flushers.

· Bathroom Faucets- The maximum flow should not exceed 1.5 gallons per minute.

· Shower Heads- Purchase any that use less than one gallon in 20 seconds.

· Dishwashers- Look for the ENERGY STAR, EnergyGuide, or EnergySense labels. These use half the amount of water as standard dishwashers.

5. FIX the leaky faucets, shower heads, and toilets. Can’t tell if a toilet is leaking? Put a few drops of food coloring in the water tank and see if it bleeds into the bowl without flushing.
6. Can’t afford to replace? Install an aerator on the faucets and shower heads. Low-flow aerators typically cost $5 -$10 for faucets and $8-$50 for shower heads.

See, Going Green isn't so hard after all. It also gives you a reason to remodel.
Breaking our customers' bad water wasting habits is next to concur on Vintage Tub's Green list.

Back To School

Being a recent college graduate; I spent the first two years of my college career trying to maximize space in my dorm room then another two years trying in a small apartment. It is very difficult to find space for all your necessities (especially all your clothes and shoes) So since it is back to school time; I figured a blog post about dorm rooms would be great. In a dorm room you will be equipped with a twin bed, a desk, and a very small closet.

Dorm space is very very small. So your first hurdle is to increase the functionality of the room and maximize the space given to you. Here are a few accessories that will help you do that.

Extra Shelves. You can get these from Pottery Barn and create your own set of drawers. You can choose from shelves, cubbies, and drawers. You can place these extra shelves in your closet. This way you can save your minimal floor space and add extra space for clothes.

Storage Bins. If you dont want extra shelves buy a few of these storage bins to put either under your bed or in your closet. You can also get hanging storage. You can put this on the back of your door or in your closet. With this product you get a mirror, pockets, and pegs all in one.

Another great product is the bath caddy. I found these great ones with suction cups on them. So you can pack all your shower supplies in one easy bucket. I suggest leaving the supplies in there. Just put a small towel down in the closet and place your caddy on this to make sure it dries and doesnt leak onto the floor.

You will also want to choose a small desk lamp and a laptop for your desk. You will want to save as much space as possible on your desk. A laptop will take up much less space than a PC desktop computer.

Egg cartons are also a great investment. They are stackable and dont take up much room. I used to store my books in one and my notebooks and folders in another.

I also suggest this rollable four drawer white cart set. I had one of these and I put it next to my bed. This way I could put pictures and my alarm clock on the top and use the drawers for extra storage.

Don't forget to be creative! Use your dorm room to use your imagination. Use bright colors and lots of pictures to show your personality.

Have a great year!

Charitable Giving Program 2007

As you know throughout this blog we like to periodically update you on our community giving program. Our most recent charitable giving program was the WWII weekend in Reading, PA. This event took place from Friday, June 1st to Sunday, June 3rd, 2007. My company, Vintage Tub & Bath, was a sponsor at this event.

The WWII adult tickets were priced at $16.00, children 6-12 were $7.00 and children 5 and under attended the event for free.

What does the WWII Memorial Reenactment have?

You can see more than 1,000 WWII military and civilian re-enactors and dozens of combat and support units, representing many nations.

See up to 200 military vehicles, from motorcycles to Jeeps to tanks - the biggest gathering in the country. This year the tanks and artillery pieces were fired.

You also get to see live air-shows and home front displays.

It was great to be a sponsor at this event and show our support for the veterans. If you just wish to support by attending the event you can look forward to the 18th annual WWII reenactment from June 6-8th in 2008.

How to Install a Pedestal Sink

While Vintage Tub & Bath always recommends having a professional plumber install any fixtures in your home, we wanted to share these step-by-step directions from Easy2DIY for installing a pedestal sink.

The pedestal sink is broken down into two parts - the base or stand, and the sink. The sink mounts to a bracket on the wall and is set on top of the stand.

1. Make sure the wall is strong enough to bolt the sink into. If it's only drywall or plaster you should consider installing a blocking device under the surface of the wall to support the sink.

2. Freely set the basin in the position you want, propping it up with 2x4's so it's steady. Mark the position on the wall for mounting holes for the sink and the stand.

3. Drill holes corresponding to the marks drawn on the wall. Attach fasteners, then the drain and faucet lines to the sink. Next, attach the water supply lines to the faucet.

4. Now put the sink and stand back into position on the wall, but only bolt the sink into place. Support the sink using 2x4's and remove the stand from the sink.

5. Finish by attaching the drain and water supply lines. Then test for leaks

6. Move the stand into its final position and bolt it to the floor. If the pedestal sink doesn't require floor bolts, use adhesive caulk.

7. To finish, caulk the joint between the sink and wall, and smooth and blend.

Some of these steps can be rather complicated and Easy2DIY doesn't offer specific instructions. Once again, Vintage Tub & Bath recommends having a professional plumber install all fixtures.

Good luck!

Make Your Bathroom Look Larger

Here are a few tips to help make a small bathroom look bigger.

1. Always use lighter colors on the floor and walls. Dark colors close off spaces and make them look smaller than they actually are. Instead, stick with whites, grays, and beiges. If you prefer color use light green or blue accent tiles.

2. Use a pedestal or wall mounted sink. They're a great and attractive way to save space. Just remember with these sinks you'll have little or no counter space.

3. Choose simple solid patterns like glass and wood.

4. Hang a large mirror. I know. Why would you want a large mirror in a small bathroom? Well, they reflect space and make a small bathroom seem roomier. Also, you can try a recessed medicine cabinet. This way you get a mirror and extra storage space in one fixture.

5. Storage saving bathroom accessories are a must for eliminating clutter. Wall hanging storage accessories are a great way to save countertop space and conceal a lot of items in a little space.

6. The more light you have in your room the better. More light gives the illusion of additional space. Make sure you put the windows near the ceiling to avoid using up valuable storage space.

7. Pay attention to the little things. You should use a shower curtain instead of a glass sliding door. You can push the shower curtain over when you're not using it so you can see the wall, giving the illusion of more space.

8. Use your corners wisely. You can find bathroom cabinets and fixtures that fit into angle styles.

9. Clear extra floor space. Avoid protruding objects that stick out onto the bathroom floor. This will disrupt the flow of traffic through the bathroom and make the room look smaller.

10. Use crown molding for the illusion of a higher bathroom ceiling. However, make sure your ceiling and crown molding is painted the same color. This will create a more continuous flow through the room, rather than a choppy broken up feel.

Finding Feet for Your Antique Tub

Recently, we received an email from Jackie Thomas, asking us a question about clawfoot tub feet. Below, we've included Jackie's question, as well as our response. 

Question: 

I just can't tell you how pleased I was to find your blog. The miracle of Google. In fear of boring you, I will make this short and sweet. My son dug this tub up from our old horse property. Right now it's sitting on a cart at the sandblaster awaiting my further instructions. Although the picture makes the tub look very rusted it's not in terrible shape and worthy, I hope, of a total rehab. My question is, how do I know what size and type of feet to buy? It's a jungle out there for the tub-ignorant. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I will heed your learned advice.

Response:

Dear Jackie,

If you can make out the manufacturer's name and any numbers on the bottom of your tub; you can search architectural salvage yards in your area or find salvage yard listings at Salvage Web and Old House Web but this could take a lot of time because claw feet are manufacturer and style specific. 

If you have any of the original feet and are able to send them to us, we can make hand cast reproductions from a silicone bronze, which is stronger than cast iron and won't rust. We will send it to you with a wire-brushed cast bronze finish or for an extra charge, we can plate, prime or paint your feet to your specifications - call us toll-free at 877-868-1369 for more information or to order this service. 

Other great options that fit most tubs are Strom Plumbing Ball & Claw or Lions Paw Tub Legs. Each includes a set of 4 beautifully designed solid brass feet, steel strapping and hardware to form a cradle (29.5" x 15.5") for your tub to rest upon. Either style foot is 9 1/2" tall and tub sits 6" from the floor. Available in a super coated brass or chrome finish that you only need to wipe with a soft cloth to maintain. 

Community Giving Program - Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center

We thought with all the recent blogging about funny news stories and unique toilets we could use this post to give you an update on our Community Giving Program. Last time we blogged about it we donated to the local West Hazleton Fire Department. With that being a huge success our next project was adopting a horse from Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Riding Center.

Monkey Biz

Horses & Horizons is a non-profit organization located in Tamaqua, PA. They are a therapeutic program for children and adults who have a wide variety of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. The therapeutic riding center helps with coordination, balance, posture, attention span, concentration, speech, learning, and the forming of interpersonal relationships.

This program is staffed by volunteers and owners, Harvey and Elaine Smith, who cover all operating expenses through fundraising and donations.

Vintage Tub & Bath recently made a donation to the Adopt-A-Horse Program for this center and was named the proud parent of Monkey Biz, a 26-year-old horse who's been involved in the program since he was four years old.

Looking to get involved? There are many volunteer opportunities and ways to give. This week, July 9th-13th, there is a Horses & Horizons Summer Day Camp and volunteers are needed! You can also donate any amount or even sponsor your own horse. And don't forget to check out Horses & Horizons on Facebook!

How Much is Too Much For A Refurbished Claw Foot Tub?

Sharon from Cleveland Ohio is refurbishing an original claw foot tub. She is having the whole tub resurfaced - the inside, outside, and the clawfoot tub feet, as well as painting the tub aqua. She is being charged $575 for the refurbishing.

Here are a few questions Sharon has, and the answers provided by Allan, our CMO and Senior Plumbing Evangelist.

Q: Aren't all colors equal aside from the standard white? I was told that any color in the green range is more expensive/difficult to deal with. Is that right?
A: I am uncertain if green colors are more expensive than ordinary colors. I have never heard of that before but I am not a paint expert. $575 seems to be a fair price for the job if it's done right and comes with a warranty. We used to give 5-year warranties with our refinished tubs.


Q: I read on another site that you should wax your tub with car wax to seal the surface. Is that right?
A: I would caution against waxing the inside of your tub for obvious safety reasons. The outside can be waxed if you want a deep exterior shine. You want to be very careful with taking care of the interior of your refinished tub. Even using a floor mat with suction cups can pull the refinished paint from the primer when you lift it from the floor of the tub. 

Q: I'm not sure if I should be concerned about the tile under the tub. Will the tile crack under the clawfoot tub feet? It has yet to be purchased and installed- is there anything special we need to do?
A: Tile cracking is a concern and I would recommend clawfoot tub coasters, which will even out the weight distribution of the tub against your floor. The coasters will not guarantee that the tile will not crack, but it will reduce the odds of it happening.

Good luck with your tub refinishing and feel free to send us a picture of the tub when it is all done and installed!