Before 1870 most houses were built without bathrooms, with people washing themselves in front of a fire in their bedroom. And – unless you were particularly wealthy – an indoor toilet was unheard of until at least ten years later!
But as hygiene and cleanliness become more of a concern so having a 'fixed' bathroom became more important. In fact these soon become status symbols with families going to great lengths to make the bathroom environment as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
Ornamental mouldings to the ceiling, cornices, wooden floors, stained glass window panels and fireplace were all widely used. Other items were also used for more decorative purposes – cane chairs, oriental rugs, toiletries, pictures and mirrors with pretty, gathered curtains at the windows.
Towards the end of 19th Century bathrooms become smaller and the cast-iron baths once encased in wood-panelled surrounds, were changed for freestanding tubs with rolled tops and claw or ball feet, which were thought to be more hygienic. For decoration baths also often featured painted or stencilled floral patterns for effect.
Fixed showers were another late-Victorian invention, most of which had a wide, brass showerhead, but some featured 'needle' sprays which projected invigorated streams of water at different parts of the body.
Nowadays, original Victorian baths and basins can still be found in salvage yards and specialist antique shops, however effective reproduction of Victorian styles are available from most bathroom manufacturers.
The Traditional range of mixers and taps from Ideal-Standard is based on a classical design, perfect for a period-look bathroom with the benefit of modern engineering and technology.
The Calvari Shower Bath from Sottini (pictured) is based on an original Victorian shower design. The bath looks like cast iron but is actually a modern material, which is more durable and warm to the touch. Decorated with a white faux marble design, the bath is supported on gilded feet. The shower uses the thermostatic technology to give you a powerful shower whilst looking authentically Victorian.
For a traditional looking shower how about the Trevi Therm Traditional which can be used with a Victorian style fixed shower head with a Victorian style fixed shower head or a handset with flexible hose and slide bar. If you would prefer the exposed pipework loo, there is the Trevi Hathaway which has a fixed shower head and a ceramic lever to control the water. Both of these showers have the modern technology that allows ease of use and safety temperature limiting options.
The Ropetwist bathroom suite (pictured) is decorated with a traditional ornamental moulding typical of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and is shown here in white with Kingston mixers and taps in a light gold finish. The room shown has panelled walls painted in a green eggshell with a light antiquing colourwash. Bathroom suite available from Ideal-Standard.
