Before & After: A 1900s Bath Lost Its Beige Finishes and Found Its Victorian Soul

Sometimes the look of a renovation gives its era away. And in the case of this beautiful 1900s Victorian-style home in Boston, the redone bathroom was giving turn-of-the century time capsule — just not the right century. “The bathroom had last been renovated in the early 2000s (think: lots of beige, white, and travertine tile),” says Elana Gaines, founder and designer at Afternoon Creative. “Overall, the space felt dingy and uninspired, out of step with the charm and craftsmanship of the rest of this early 1900s Victorian home.”

Some of the bathroom’s features and finishes were also problematic. “The materials, including the stone countertop, were quite porous, which made them difficult to maintain, especially for a young family.” So, as part of a whole-house renovation, Gaines and her team were enlisted to reimagine this 50-square-foot space for their clients. 

“The goal was to create a bathroom that felt connected to the home’s historic architecture while being clean, bright, and easier to care for,” says Gaines. “We wanted it to have its own sense of arrival, as if you were stepping into somewhere special and intentional, while still feeling aligned with the warmth and style of the rest of the house.”

Because the bathroom would be used by the entire household, the best design scheme would bridge the gap between “playfulness” and “sophistication” — ideally it would be timeless enough to age well with the passing years. Up for the challenge, the Afternoon Creative team kicked things off by embracing a darker stained wood and a rich, Victorian-inspired color palette. To offset the boldness, though, they’d seek out a smaller-scale floor tile and clear glass shower enclosure to visually expand the space, as the footprint would be staying the same.

“Because we wanted to echo the craftsmanship found throughout the house and ground the space in history, we began by reintroducing natural wood,” says Gaines of the wall treatment you’ll see throughout the space. “Stained beadboard immediately brought warmth and depth back into the room.” 

From there, they homed in on the color palette; they decided on deep-plum wall paint (Benjamin Moore’s Deep Burgundy (2075-10)) and beveled green Tile Club Viva Peak Ceramic Subway Tile for the shower. Hits of white and black were woven throughout the space for balance. “The plum enhances the richness of the wood tones, while the green adds a refined, lively contrast,” says Gaines. “I’m always drawn to using green in city homes; it brings a touch of nature indoors and creates an instant sense of calm.”

The Viva Peak Tile became something of a focal point in the space, thanks to its stunning color. “The craftsmanship — the way it catches the light and creates subtle reflections — felt perfect for this project,” says Gaines. “To add dimension and draw the eye upward, we mixed in panels of smooth subway tile in a lighter olive green.” This gives the shower area a punchy pattern, but it’s not too busy to throw the room off balance.

When it came to the floors, Gaines wanted something that would be light and bright to offset the bolder choices elsewhere and visually expand the space a bit. The no-brainer solution? Classic 1-inch white hex mosaic. 

“To tie it all together and add a bespoke touch, we incorporated custom plum rosettes — a small detail that honors the era of the home and nods to the wall color,” says Gaines. “When we couldn’t find an existing mosaic with the right colorways, we created the plum rosettes by hand.”

For the fixtures, the team went timeless there, too. A marble console sink mingles with a brass faucet, the finish of which is echoed in the Newport Brass shower fixtures. The sink area is flanked with a pair of Sazerac Stitches Marbled Thalia Sconces.

Storage is always at a premium — especially in a city bath. So the team kept the built-in corner cabinets. They spruced them up with new Shaker-style doors. 

“Storage was a key priority,” says Gaines. “We retained the built-ins and added a recessed medicine cabinet to tuck away everyday essentials without crowding the space. The shower niche was designed tall enough for full-size bottles — a small detail that makes a big difference in daily use.”

Now the bathroom perfectly balances form and function — plus, the design actually suits the style of the home (and the needs of a modern family).

“I love that each material celebrates its own craftsmanship and invites you to pause to take in the details,” says Gaines. “The finished space feels as though it could have always belonged to the home yet still reads as fresh and personal.”