Palmerton Victorian

This charming Victorian home, located in the quaint town of Palmerton, belongs to a longtime friend and repeat client of ours – perhaps the best combination! Rewind 15 years ago, we were grateful for the opportunity to remodel their kitchen. Now, all that was left to make their 100 year old home sing was a new principal bathroom. When it came time to measure the space, we noticed that despite all of the natural light sweeping into the room, it still felt a bit sad. Dark cherry cabinets paired with forest green Formica countertops overwhelmed the back room. An ancient, prefabricated shower enclosure had surely seen its last days. A drop in tub crowded the windows and double vanity area.

We focused first on the back room that contained a tub, vanity and storage. As we laid the room out in our software, we noticed how much space we gained when switching to a freestanding tub. The double vanity was able to grow, while still giving enough space to walk between the tub and windows. The wall parallel to the vanity set the stage for storage in the form of an armoire.

When it came to picking finishes, it was necessary for us to take the style and age of the home into consideration. In a situation like this one, we made sure to avoid anything seemingly trendy or manufactured. Starting with the floors, we browsed through natural stone options, looking for something with warmth and character. Perhaps the most timeless stone that checks off these boxes is slate – a material we’ve used plenty in the past and can be installed in a number of interesting ways. We considered different sizes and patterns before agreeing on a 3×12 herringbone with contrasting grout to make each tile pop. From there, we browsed through cabinetry finishes and felt that a medium tone wood grain was essential to keeping the warm feeling flowing throughout the room. However, the client did not want the room to feel too dark, bringing it back to the sad dark room it had been before. So, we found a happy medium between natural walnut on the armoire, mirror and shelves while mixing in a white painted double vanity and white quartz countertop.

The shower is tucked behind most of the natural light and across from the walnut mirror and shelves so it was a no brainer to use a light colored tile for the floor and surrounding walls. A classic 6×6 white glossy subway tile was used on the walls and a Victorian style floret mosaic was used on the floor, both with contrasting grout, this time opposite of the floor color. Polished nickel plumbing fixtures, mirrors and lighting as well as black cabinet hardware closed out this sophisticated design. We were left with a room that was completely refreshed, but at the same time stood true to finishes that have been used for over 100 years and will continue to be used for decades to come.

Awards: LVBA Award Winner, 2020