Historic Bathroom and Kitchen - The Narbonne House

The Narbonne House is an important part of historical Salem, Massachusetts and was considered a normal middle-class home of the 17th and 18th centuries. Though a portion of the house was built in 1675 by Thomas Ives, the house wasn't occupied by a Narbonne family member until 1823.

Below is a photo of the kitchen which "combines a modified 17th century fireplace and oven with late 19th and 20th century paneling and sink."

The photo below shows the tiny second floor bathroom with a toilet from the 1900's.


Source: Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Bathroom Mold

No matter whether your bathroom is new or old, whether you can see it or not, it probably has some amount of mold. Since there is so much moisture in the bathroom, it is easy for mold to grow and thrive. A simple way to prevent mold growth is to keep all areas and surfaces clean and dry including ceilings and walls. Other ways to prevent future mold growth in the bathroom are:

• keep drains clean at all times
• check humidity levels and allow air to circulate when humidity is high
• close shower curtain after use to ensure the entire curtain dries equally
• use a semi-gloss paint on walls
  

To remove existing bathroom mold:

• use a fungicide as opposed to bleach to remove mold as well as its scent
• perform an ozone shock treatment
• clean surfaces with baking soda or vinegar

Source: Home Mold Tips

Customer Gallery - Designer Bathroom

DesThe photo below was sent to us from Las Vegas designer, Tania, and is featured in our customer photo gallery.

The 67 inch acrylic clawfoot bathtub by American Bath Factory is used as a focal point and accompanied by a clawfoot tub faucet and widespread lavatory sink faucet.

Take a look at other views of Tania's bathroom in Las Vegas or some of our other customer submitted photos. If you would like to send us your own, you can by emailing them to emily@vintagetub.com.

5 Reasons To Install A Hookless Shower Curtain

A recent addition to the Vintage Tub and Bath product line is the hookless shower curtain. This shower curtain with matching liner is easy to assemble and has a different look than a traditional shower curtain.

The curtain features patented Flex-On rings that can be easily hooked on to your shower curtain rod. The hookless shower curtain is water repellent and stays in place with magnets. Since it lacks hooks, the curtain adds a clean cut look to your bathroom.

5 Types of Bathtub Drains and Overflows

In addition to supply lines and a faucet, a drain and overflow are essential parts of your bathtub purchase. Types of tub drains available include pop up, lift and turn, tower, chain and stopper, and cable operated. If you purchase a drain that uses a chain and stopper, you may want an overflow cover that will hold the stopper in place while bathing. An overflow cover, such as the one pictured below, is especially useful when you want to accommodate more water in your tub.


If you have little experience installing a tub or the necessary drain and overflow, you may find this video helpful. This video clip from the show, Bathroom Renovations on the DIY Network, shows you how to assemble and install a drain and overflow kit.

Spruce Up Your Garden

With summer on its way out, now is a good time to begin preparing your garden for colder weather. Having a variety of colors and plants can make your garden look the best on the block, even during the colder months. An interesting way to incorporate a new look to your garden, year round, is to use an arbor or a trellis.


Climbing plants like roses, clematis, wisteria, and honeysuckle are ideal for trellises and arbors. Many climbing plants will survive through the winter, allowing you to enjoy them no matter what the season.


Learn more about fine gardening, different types of climbing plants, and what months they thrive.

Vintage Tub and Bath Buying Guides

During the remodeling process, you have a lot of decisions to make and want those decisions to be well informed. Since there are so many different products with different styles, finishes, and sizes, it can be difficult to choose the most suitable one for your home. Whether you are renovating your kitchen or simply repairing a fixture in your bathroom, the Vintage Tub Buying Guides can help.

For example, the Clawfoot Bathtub Buying Guide explains the differences between clawfoot tub styles, the sizes available, and the types of fixtures necessary during installation. The guide also goes into deeper detail weighing the advantages and disadvantages of cast iron clawfoot tubs vs. acrylic clawfoot tubs. The different types of faucet drillings are also discussed. To make sure everything is clear before your decision is made, there are also three informative videos including How to Purchase a Clawfoot Tub, How to Choose Supply Lines, and How to Choose a Drain for a Clawfoot Tub.

All informational guides include: Clawfoot Bathtub, Sink, Toilet, Whirlpool Tub, Kitchen Sink, Bathroom Mirror, Tub Drain, Supply Lines, Tub Faucet, Shower Enclosure, and Fireplace Accessories. If you need information on a product that is not listed, just ask here.

3 Helpful Resources For A Running Toilet

Is your toilet running? Why don't you catch it?

It seems as if my toilet runs at the worst possible moments: when I am trying to sleep, running late for something, or when guests are over. Not only is this annoying, but it can also be expensive. A running toilet can waste two gallons of water per minute. Learning how to fix a running toilet can prevent you from paying for unnecessary water usage, but also save you time and frustration. Here are some resources that I found helpful.

This three-minute video from This Old House will show you where parts are located in your toilet tank and how to troubleshoot the problem.

To learn about different problems and the correct name for each toilet part, read this toilet repair article from Do it Yourself.

If your toilet needs to be replaced, read our toilet buying guide before making a decision on a new toilet.

Sources: This Old House & Do it Yourself

Vintage Phones

If you didn't know, Vintage Tub and Bath offers more than just tubs and bathroom fixtures. On our site, you can find all sorts of home products from ovens to outdoor lighting. We also have vintage style phones from different decades. Take a look for yourself below.

Vintage 1950's Style Pay Phone collects coins but does not require money for use.


Vintage Style Candlestick Phone with rotary dial and push button features.


Vintage 1920's Style Phone

View more vintage style phones.

Vintage Advertisements: Kohler

The first bathroom fixture sold by Kohler was the "enameled cast iron hog scalder/water trough". The product Kohler sold is more commonly known to those of us living in the 21st century as a bathtub. Later, in 1911, Kohler introduced the first built in bathtub.

Below are vintage Kohler advertisements throughout the years.

The first ad, from 1923, discusses the increase in bathrooms per household while promoting Kohler Ware quality enamel and design.


This advertisement from 1924 positions Kohler Enameled Plumbing Ware as attractive, affordable and durable.


The third ad jumps to the 1960's and promotes the "dreamy" Peachblow Dynametric bathtub.


View modern and vintage style Kohler products.

Steps to Replace a Clawfoot Bathtub Faucet

When the time comes to replace your clawfoot tub faucet, you have many options. According to The Facts On Faucets, an article featured in This Old House, a good idea is to replace the old faucet with one of a similar style. This means, if you have a faucet that mounts to the bathtub wall as opposed to the rim or bathroom wall, that style bathtub faucet should be your first choice.


Another factor to consider when replacing a clawfoot bathtub faucet, is the size of the drillings. Drillings are holes drilled into the tub by the manufacturer. The number of drilled holes can vary as well as the distance between the holes. If the measurement results are not standard and you have a unique distance between the drillings, you will want to purchase a faucet with variable centers. The distance between holes is no matter to be concerned about because these tub faucets are equipped with swing arms.


The article Claw Foot Tub Installation: New Plumbing, includes step by step photos and instructions on installing the necessary plumbing for your clawfoot tub. Depending on how much replacement is needed, you may be able to skip some of the beginning steps.

Included when purchasing a new clawfoot bathtub faucet, are installation instructions. Enlisting the help of a plumber is recommended on most instructions to ensure the product warranty is valid. These installation instructions are an example specifically created for a Randolph Morris Wall Mount Tub Faucet with Handshower (with variable centers, as mentioned above). Depending on the type of clawfoot tub faucet you choose, the installation instructions will vary. Installation instructions for the tub faucets can be found before purchase, below the Specifications section at the bottom of each product page.


View different styles of clawfoot bathtub faucets and faucet sets which include a faucet, drain, and supply lines. Also learn how to choose the correct style faucet for your clawfoot bathtub.

Sources: This Old House
DIY

Why You Should Install A Curved Shower Rod

If you've ever taken a shower and been frustrated because the shower curtain is too close, a curved shower rod may be the solution for you. Curved shower rods extend away from the bathtub allowing for more open space in your bathtub or shower. The crescent rod pictured above allows for 25% more space while the double crescent rod pictured below creates up to 5 feet of extra space.


One customer from Muskegon, Michegan submitted a photo of their double curved shower rod and explained " [they] put towels on the inside rod and [the] shower curtain on the outside of the rod and towels are dry for [the] next use".


Another customer from West Palm Beach, Florida told us that "installation was very easy and the rod [added] extra room at shoulder height".

View curved shower curtain rods and shower curtains.