Vintage Bathroom with a Decidely Modern Twist

We're at the last finishing stretch for this vintage bathroom remodel. We took out a closet from a neighboring bedroom to give this bathroom enough space, and reconfigured the plumbing, to fit a clawfoot bathtub, a stand alone shower and a custom-made dual sink vanity. With its sumptuous grays and soothing natural colored undertones, this bathroom turned out to be a stunner! Check back again for the final pictures.











To see more bathrooms we've done, click HERE to see Kitchens and Bathrooms under the Project Photos section.

Ask the Contractor

Do you live in a vintage home and have a restoration question you would like to ask a contractor? If so, please send it to info@goodhomeconstruction.com.

Here's one question a reader recently submitted to Good Home Construction:

David B.: Hello, I write this morning because my Craftsman home in the West Adams Historic Preservation area of Los Angeles was severely water damaged after a plumbing incident. The house was built in 1907 and has much of the original woodwork, including baseboard and flooring. The water restoration team has told us we will lose our floors and baseboard, all original to the house and no longer available, according to them. Additionally, they need to tear out walls in order to dry the studs and beams. The original wall will have to be replaced with the cheaper drywall, according to the inspector. My question to you is perhaps you know some way original style flooring, baseboards and walls can be replaced. Please help. It will definitely be appreciated. Thank you, David B.

Contractor: For the baseboards, most suppliers no longer carry older styles, but if you could find a local carpenter, perhaps they could custom mill a replica for you. When I get requests for this, I usually custom mill these because 99% of the time suppliers will not carry it. Or try Ganahl Lumber (in Southern California), they do offer custom milling services. For the flooring, same thing, most suppliers no longer carry the type of wood or sizes used back then. If you know what the width and type of wood it is (probably oak), you can search on the internet for any lumber supplier that still carries this in stock, as unfinished planks. Or, if you are lucky, you may find a salvage supplier that has a whole house's worth of these in their inventory, usually saved from demolition. For the walls, I'm assuming they were plaster with lathe? Sometimes I do use drywall too, and then match the texture as close as possible to the original texture on the plaster walls, so it looks almost like the original wall. Otherwise, if you want the plaster and lathe, you could try to locate a local plaster specialist who should know how to do this.

David B.: Thanks so much for your help. Simply knowing places that can custom mill lumber is a great step in the right direction. In addition, your advice on how to approach the repairs will at least provide me a foundation from which to begin the quest for restoration. All the walls were plaster and lathe and the floors are maple. We have a couple of people stopping by this weekend to look. Maybe we will find a contractor capable of doing the job while being sensitive to our needs and the unique character of the home. Thanks again. David B.

1920's Bungalow Bathroom with Custom Vanity

Here's another 1920's styled bathroom we finished for our clients who live in an adorable craftsman bungalow. Like many other bathrooms in these homes, it went through a 1980's/1990's era remodel, with non-descript beige tile.

We installed glossy white subway tile in the shower and all around the walls as wainscoting, black ribbon tile and trim pieces, white hexagonal floor tile, new white toilet, and built a custom wood vanity (modeled after the Kohler Ballard vanity but with straight legs).

Inspiration for the Custom Wood Vanity (Kohler Ballard Vanity):

BEFORE pictures of the bathroom:

AFTER pictures of the bathroom:

To see more bathrooms we've done, click HERE to see Kitchens and Baths under the Project Photos section.

All New Plumbing and Shear Paneling

We recently completed a complete plumbing re-piping and shear paneling project. Although not a very glamorous job, it is truly amazing (not to mention fun) to piece these together to provide a solid infrastructure for our client.

Here are a few snapshots for you plumbing and paneling enthusiasts out there!

To see other samples of Good Home Construction's previous and current projects, click HERE.

Another Great Historic Home Tour in Southern California

For all you old home enthusiasts out there in Southern California, here's another historic home tour in Pasadena, this weekend on Sunday, May 25, 2008.

For more info, click here to go to the Historic Highlands Home Tour page on their website.

Architectural Gem in Los Angeles

A couple months back, we went up to LA to tour Richard Neutra’s VDL II house.

Richard Neutra’s VDL II House was so beautiful in its own simplicity, and is an inspiration for us when we think about mid-century modern building and construction. However, we were disappointed by its current state of disrepair. We wanted to encourage others who appreciate mid-century architecture to donate to its cause for reinstating this masterpiece to its original glory.

Please check out their website to read up on their urgent campaign to save this architectural gem.

Constructing Wood Windows for Bathrooms in Vintage Homes

We recently finished a couple of fun bathroom window projects. These casement windows had privacy glass panes, and were made to open outwards!

For a Spanish Revival home, we built two custom wood casement windows for the client’s upstairs bathroom.

For a Colonial Revival bungalow, we relocated the bathroom window further down and built a custom wood window. We replaced the siding surrounding the new window, built matching wood trim and added a coat of new paint. The new window looks as if it’s always been there.

BEFORE and AFTER pictures of the bathroom window:




To see more windows we've done, click HERE to see Exterior work under the Project Photos section.

1920’s Vintage Bathroom Renovation

This is the second bathroom renovation we’ve done for one of our long-time clients. This time, it’s the main house bathroom, and we took it from a dreaded 1970's/1980’s era bathroom to a lovely 1920’s bathroom with super white subway tile, two tone paint, and hexagonal daisies on the floor. What a charming bathroom is has become!

BEFORE pictures of the bathroom:

IN PROGRESS picture of the bathroom (down to the studs!!):

AFTER pictures of the bathroom:

To see more bathrooms we've done, click HERE to see Kitchens and Baths under the Project Photos section.

Upcoming Historic Home Tour in Old Town Tustin, CA

For more information on this neighborhood home tour in historic Old Town Tustin, go to: http://www.tustinhistory.com/upcoming-events.htm.

Cozy Bedroom Renovations for a Mid-Century Ranch Home

We removed the old orange shag carpet, 70’s curtains and aluminum windows, and the awful acoustic “popcorn” ceiling, and gave these two bedrooms a facelift with new paint, smooth ceilings, recessed lighting, new eco-friendly modern shag carpet, and double-paned vinyl windows. What a difference these can do for an outdated dark space!

Bedroom #1 - BEFORE

Bedroom #1 - AFTER


Bedroom #2 - BEFORE

Bedroom #2 - AFTER

To see more interior work we've done, click HERE to see Interior work under the Project Photos section.

Modern Ranch Home Reconfiguration Complete

Here are a few BEFORE and AFTER pictures from a previous post on our reconfiguration work on a custom Mid-1970's ranch home (click HERE to see the earlier In Progress pictures).

BEFORE and AFTER of New Master Bedroom Windows:

BEFORE and AFTER of New Master Bedroom Extended Closet:

BEFORE and AFTER of New Laundry Room Wall (Extended from Bathroom Reconfiguration):

AFTER of New Reconfigured Hallway and Hallway Bathroom Shower:

To see more interior work and bathrooms we've done, click HERE to see Interior work or HERE to see Kitchens and Baths under the Project Photos section.

Color Selection for Historic Homes

We attended a paint seminar for historic homes a few weekends ago in Old Town Tustin, presented by the Tustin Preservation Conservancy. We wanted to share some of the tips and resources for color selection, as provided by one of the presenters Laura Siriani.

Selecting Color for Your Home:

Color can have a profound affect on mood. Consider the following when selecting your color:

Green Hues – Green is considered a restful, calming color. It is a universal symbol of nature and freshness.

Red Hues – Red is associated with strength, power and vitality. It often creates a sense of energy.

Blue Hues – Blue is considered calming and serene.

Yellow Hues – Yellow is stimulating and a great wake-up color.

Purple Hues – Purple is often associated with meditation and inspires contemplation.

Brown Hues – Brown is the most grounding color. It can make you feel rooted.

Take your time. Consider all elements when selecting your colors. For interiors, consider your flooring, window treatments, furniture and upholstery, accessories, and the colors from the outside in (views, gardens, etc.). For exterior, consider your landscape and plant colors, roofing, window treatments, architectural elements (brick, facades, stonework), and your streetscape (your neighbors’ house and landscape colors). Make sure any must-have elements support the overall color scheme.

Use available resources such as paint booklets with color scheme suggestions from home improvement stores, magazines, furniture and design stores, or check out these additional websites for historic home color resources:

Color Schemes by Housing Type:
http://architecture.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/historic/colorguide/color.htm

Old House Colors:
http://www.oldhousecolors.com/

Historic Color Consulting:
http://www.historichousecolors.com/

To see samples of Good Home Construction's previous and current projects, click HERE.

Giving Back to the Community

This year, we are focused on giving back to our community through charitable contributions to restoration-oriented organizations and participation in non-profit building and preservation programs.

Our first volunteer event is for Paint Your Heart Out - Anaheim (PYHOA). If you have information on sponsorship or volunteer opportunities geared towards historic preservation, homebuilding, or restoration programs and would like our participation, please contact us at info@goodhomeconstruction.com.

Pictures of Chuck and Tau Theta Pi team painting at one of PYHO's recipient's homes:

Tile for 1920's Bathroom Renovations

We thought we'd post some examples of the type of tiles and styles the majority of our clients request when renovating their 1920's bathroom.

1. White 6" X 3" tile, commonly referred to as subway tile. This tile is typically on the shower walls, and in some cases, all around the bathroom walls as wainscoting.



2. Colored bullnosed tile. This tile is typically on the sides of the 6" X 3" subway tile as caps.



3. Colored base tile. This tile is typically on the bottom of the 6" X 3" subway tile serving as a baseboard tile.



4. Colored 6" X 1/2" or 6" X 1/4" tile, commonly referred to as ribbon tile. This tile comes in a variety of colors (black, mint green, sky blue, etc.) and either plain or with a deco pattern, and is typically applied as a decorative trim piece on the walls and on the floor. This tile color is generally the same color as the bullnosed endcap and baseboard tiles.



5. White 1" hexagonal tile for the floors, either in matte or glossy finish. In some cases, colored 1" hexagonal tile is added to make a daisy pattern, or as accent pieces along the sides of the flooring.



Examples from bathroom tile projects we've worked on:



To see more bathrooms we've done, click HERE to see Kitchens and Bathrooms under the Project Photos section.

Upcoming Seminar on Green Living and Preservation Ideas

For those of you interested in attending an event on small-house living, green renovation, and preservation ideas, there is an afternoon seminar coming up in Tustin on April 12th, 2008.

Hosted by Cottages & Bungalows magazine. See flyer below for more details.

To see samples of Good Home Construction's previous and current projects, click HERE.

Modern Ranch Home Reconfiguration In Progress

A few years ago, these clients added on a master bedroom and walk-in closet at one end of their mid-1970s. The addition was not well-designed by the previous general contractor, so the only way to get to the new master bedroom was through the Laundry Room (via the Kitchen).

Finally, they contacted us to reconfigure the layout so it flowed better with the home's floorplan.

Changes in the works:

1. Reconfiguring hallway bathroom by egressing into the laundry room, with a new custom stone tile shower area.
2. Extending hallway towards the master bedroom, with a new doorway into the master bedroom.
3. Closing up the doorway from laundry room to the master bedroom.
4. Extending the walk-in closet to almost double its size.
5. Replacing 2 French doors in the master bedroom with windows and new drywall.
6. Installing all new stone tile, paint, and fixtures in the hallway, bathroom and laundry room.

A few IN PROGRESS pictures:

To see more bathrooms and interior work we've done, click HERE to see Kitchens and Baths or HERE to see Interior Work under the Project Photos section.

Floral Park Home Tour 2008

We're advertising again in this year's Floral Park Home Tour. For those of you who have never attended this tour before, it is amazing and well worth your time to stop by and check out the houses and the flea market.

Information Flyer on the Home Tour,
or go to http://www.floral-park.com/index_files/page0004.htm

To see samples of Good Home Construction's previous and current projects, click HERE.

Cottage Bungalow Porch, Walkway and Wood Window Completed!

Here are a couple of pictures of this cute cottage bungalow we were working on (click HERE to see the In Progress pictures) with the concrete porch, walkway and new wood window all done!!


To see more concrete work we've done, click HERE to see Exterior work under the Project Photos section.

Vintage 1920's Bathroom Makeover

We recently gave this tiny bathroom (approx. 30 square feet) a huge facelift. From the deteriorating 1950's era pink tile and cramped-in feeling of the built-in cabinetry, it has blossomed into a bright, more spacious bathroom with all the classic vintage styling of the 1920's.

Some BEFORE pictures:

Some AFTER pictures:

To see more bathrooms we've done, click HERE to see Kitchens and Baths work under the Project Photos section.

Craftsman Style Gate

Our clients first approached us with a picture they found on the internet of a gate they wanted us to replicate. We said "no problem" and built them a replica of the Craftsman styled gate with a trellis overhang, using quality redwood and strong hardware.

The Final Product:

Front View from the Side

Front View

Back of the Gate (almost as good looking as the front!)

Putting the Pieces Together:

To see more fences and gates we've done, click HERE to see Carpentry and Millwork under the Project Photos section.

1920's Style Ribbon Driveway and Porch

It took a lot of muscle power, but we rejuvenated this lovely bungalow with an all-new concrete driveway and porch.


To see more ribbon driveway work we've done, click HERE to see Exterior work under the Project Photos section.

Renovated Kitchen in Spanish Revival Bungalow

This was a typical 1920's "all-white" kitchen. Though it was kept in good vintage shape, our clients asked us to knock down and close up walls, and reconfigure it to fit with modern-day conveniences while incorporating as much of the "vintage" details as possible.

From THIS:

To THIS:

To see more kitchen work we've done, click HERE to see Kitchens and Baths work under the Project Photos section.

Custom Wood Windows for a Vintage Brick Tudor

For this brick stunner, we removed the large deteriorating windows in the front center and right and replaced them with custom-made wood windows.

To see more carpentry and custom milling work we've done, click HERE to see Carpentry and Millwork under the Project Photos section.

Updating a 1920's Bathroom

Although the original 1920's bathroom was charming, it had one too many cracks in the tile and fixtures. So our clients had us update the bathroom while keeping the new tile and fixtures period appropriate. In addition to new fixtures, faucets and lighting, we installed subway tile as wainscoting and matte white hexagonal tile with a black ribbon trim tile on the floor.

BEFORE Pictures of the Bathroom:

AFTER Pictures of the Bathroom:

To see more bathroom work we've done, click HERE to see Kitchens and Bathrooms under the Project Photos section.

Mid-70's Modernist's Dining Room Revival

We recently modernized this dining room (complete with original orange shag carpet and brown sliding doors) by installing new merbau hardwood floors, new drywall and paint, chandelier, and modern white sliding doors.

Before

After

To see more interior work we've done, click HERE to see Interior work under the Project Photos section.

New Porch, Walkway, and Gate In Progress

A sneak peek at an exterior project we've been working on for this cute cottage bungalow, replacing the porch and walkway, and constructing a simple wooden gate. Final pictures will be posted soon!

A few In Progress pictures below:

Be sure to check back to see the final pictures! To see more concrete and fence work we've done, click HERE to see Exterior work under the Project Photos section.

Classic Bungalow Kitchen and Bathroom

We updated this classic bungalow kitchen and bathroom by installing new flooring, wainscoting (in the bathroom), painting, restoring the original cabinetry, polishing and putting all the original hardware and bin pulls, and installing retro styled lighting . This house made it on a several recent home tours of its historic neighborhood. What a vintage charmer it turned out to be!!

To see more kitchen and bathroom work we've done, click HERE to see Kitchens and Bathrooms under the Project Photos section.

Restored Hardwood Floors

Last year, we built custom wood bookcases and pillars separating the living and dining areas (catch a gimpse of one of them in the pictures below) for this classic bungalow. Now, the hardwood floors have been meticulously restored throughout with both salvaged beechwood and new oak flooring planks. To top off the restoration, they were stained with an incredibly deep and rich ebony color.

A few DURING pictures of the flooring:




A few AFTER pictures of the flooring:

To see more flooring work we've done, click HERE to see Interior work under the Project Photos section.

Exterior Door and Steps for a Colonial Revival Bungalow

Over the summer, we added an exterior door, a small pet door, and a landing with steps to the backyard from the master bedroom in the back of a 1920's Colonial Revival Bungalow house. We tried to make the addition as unobtrusive as possible to fit within the architecture of the bungalow (including matching the siding almost exactly to the original siding - see primered siding versus painted siding) while the owners and their dogs enjoy their new convenience !!


To see more exterior work we've done, click HERE to see Exterior work under the Project Photos section.

Gorgeous Refinished Hardwood Floors

Take a look at these floors!! We just finished one of multiple projects for our new clients who recently purchased a 1920's Spanish bungalow. These beautiful oak planks have been sanded, buffed, stained, and shined to look like glass.




Close Ups of Wood Floors BEFORE and DURING RESTORATION