The Dated Bathroom Detail Designers Are Saving (and We’re Here for It)

By now, we don’t have to explain to you what zellige tile is. You’ve seen it in bathroom renovations left and right over the past few years. And while we certainly love the reflective finish and earthy texture that the handmade Moroccan pieces lend to a shower or vanity, if you are tearing out vintage ceramic tile to make way for them, designers say don’t.

Yes, your bathroom walls might currently be a baby blue or pastel pink that you’d assume is nowhere near in style. But actually, more and more designers are saving this kind of vintage tile. Instead they’re swapping out paint colors, window treatments, lighting, and art—and it is totally changing the way we look at retro bathrooms. Here are a few spaces that make a case for leaving those quirky old tiles alone.

Color-Match Your Paint Choice

Allison Pierce wasn’t a fan of the 1930s tile in her primary bathroom at first. But after painting the walls a slightly darker shade of Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue, she came around to it. “It makes the rest of the room feel intentional,” she says. 

Have Fun With Your Window Treatments

Pastel pink tile is begging you to live a little, so keep the sense of playfulness going with patterned roman shades like the ones in this space, designed by Katie Hodges. Our educated guess is that it’s a Peter Dunham fabric.

Bring in Greenery

A few statement plants and some thoughtful artwork can make even miniature bright orange tile circa the 1960s, as seen in this this floral designer’s Oahu home, feel spalike. 

Cover the Walls in a Groovy Wallpaper

When in doubt, embrace the throwback vibe with wallpaper that feels of the era. In this New Jersey home, designer Hollie Velten-Lattrell went full flower power with a floral Josef Frank print that matches the color of the trim tile. 

Tie the Palette Together With Large-Scale Art

Okay, the real reason designer Luke Havekes stuck with this vibrant tile combo was because his client’s home is a rental. But even if they owned the place, we like to think he would have made the same small tweaks, painting the walls Farrow & Ball’s complementary Lulworth Blue and hanging a vintage lacquered screen over the shallow tub to tie in all the yellow. The flecks of gold also happen to shimmer in the sunlight. “The gloss finish on it is a sharp and fun contrast to the original matte glazed tiles and matte paint finish,” says the designer.