Using salvage in the bathroom

Using Salvage in the Bathroom

We're now in the master bathroom, which is full of reclaimed materials. I'll be offering my tips on using salvaged marble, basins, baths and vintage lighting.

Tips for Using Reclaimed Marble

• Generally speaking, the larger the size of reclaimed marble, the better. This gives you the maximum flexibility to cut the pieces down to your desired size.
• Don't worry if you have varying sizes of reclaimed marble tiles; often they can be sorted into groupings of the same widths. This means you can lay tiles of the same width in parallel lines next to each other.
• Remember to be flexible and adaptable to change when you're on site; this is especially true when working with reclaimed materials.

Tips for Using Salvaged Basins

• In pretty much every circumstance, it is infinitely better to install a mixer tap where possible - they are easier to use, safer around children and provide more economical water consumption.
• On a salvaged basin, you will often have two holes either side for taps; in this instance, we use these holes for the hot and cold dials but then have a wall-mounted mixer spout for the water to come out of. Make sure the spout length is long enough to reach into your basin.
• Chips at the edges can often be disguised or touched up, but if there is a crack in a basin, my advice would be to avoid using it entirely.
• I love to pair decorative cast iron brackets with reclaimed basins.

Tips for Using Salvaged Baths

• Cast iron baths are a beautiful thing to salvage, but you should be mindful of their weight. They can be incredibly heavy, so make sure you check with a structural engineer about the safety of their placement.
• Think about the best time to get your bath on site; for example, you may want to get it up the stairs before they are painted.
• The brilliant thing about cast iron baths is that they can be painted, so they can perfectly match your scheme and are easily changed if you decide to redecorate later down the line.
• Salvaged baths will often need to be re-enamelled, which is an additional cost to factor in.

A Note on Using Vintage Light Fittings

A lot of vintage light fittings can be adapted to comply with current bathroom building regulations, so it's always worth checking with your electrician.