The Master Bath

The evolution of the master bathroom has come a long way since America's early Colonial days. Originally a separate outhouse or "privy" located outside the main dwelling and primary built for function, the bathroom eventually became standard in homes with the invention of indoor plumbing for those who could afford it. Before indoor plumbing, during cold weather folks might use a chamber pot and bathe with a washbowl and pitcher or in a portable tub near the fireplace. By the early 20th century, most homes located in towns or cities had one indoor bathroom to serve the needs of its inhabitants. However, in rural areas many families used outhouses as late as the 1950s.

Usually a sink or two, toilet and bathtub composed the typical residential bathroom in the early to mid-20th century. Tile was used frequently and tubs were often made of cast iron. Bathroom decor and materials evolved further in the 1950s and 1960s when colorful tile patterns on the floors and walls took the place of an all-white or more subdued palette. Pink, mint green, blue and yellow were popular bathroom colors but virtually  all colors of the rainbow can be found in bathrooms of this era.

Today bathrooms have changed considerably with the master bath nearly always containing a shower in addition to or in combination with a bathtub. In general, contemporary bathrooms are much larger in size and many contain the ubiquitous "vanity" holding at least one or more sinks with storage underneath. Bathrooms seem to be trending toward more of a "spa" like feel and appearance.

Our master bath is not very large, but serves us well. It features wood floors, an antique claw-foot tub, and two vintage pedestal sinks in addition to a toilet. We happened to have this Art Deco style vanity painted black and it fit perfectly between the two sinks!

 I love having a window in my bathroom that I can open and let fresh breezes come in. I didn't change much about this bathroom after we moved in except for painting it a pale pink.

In case you were wondering, we have a brass caddy that lays over top of the tub to hold our toiletries,
but I removed it for the photo shoot! 

Our master bedroom (to which the bathroom adjoins) contains some pink undertones and and I loved the look of the light pink with all the white and pops of black. Who would have thought the 1950s pink bathrooms would be back? Ha!

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