Customer Gallery - Before and After

One set of photos submitted to our photo gallery are from Suzanne M. of Houston, Texas. The before photo seen below shows her gutted bathroom only including a sink.

Suzanne turned the empty space into a beautiful bathroom, as seen below. To complete the bathroom, Suzanne installed a 54 inch classic clawfoot tub by Sunrise Specialty, a clawfoot tub drain by Strom Plumbing, and a clawfoot tub freestanding faucet by Sunrise Specialty.



View other photos submitted of Suzanne's bathroom and browse the rest of our customer bathroom gallery. If you would like to showcase your own photos, send them to emily@vintagetub.com. Be sure to include your name, location, a description of the photos, and of course, the before and after shots.

Customer Gallery - Designer Bathroom

DesThe photo below was sent to us from Las Vegas designer, Tania, and is featured in our customer photo gallery.

The 67 inch acrylic clawfoot bathtub by American Bath Factory is used as a focal point and accompanied by a clawfoot tub faucet and widespread lavatory sink faucet.

Take a look at other views of Tania's bathroom in Las Vegas or some of our other customer submitted photos. If you would like to send us your own, you can by emailing them to emily@vintagetub.com.

Vintage Tub and Bath Buying Guides

During the remodeling process, you have a lot of decisions to make and want those decisions to be well informed. Since there are so many different products with different styles, finishes, and sizes, it can be difficult to choose the most suitable one for your home. Whether you are renovating your kitchen or simply repairing a fixture in your bathroom, the Vintage Tub Buying Guides can help.

For example, the Clawfoot Bathtub Buying Guide explains the differences between clawfoot tub styles, the sizes available, and the types of fixtures necessary during installation. The guide also goes into deeper detail weighing the advantages and disadvantages of cast iron clawfoot tubs vs. acrylic clawfoot tubs. The different types of faucet drillings are also discussed. To make sure everything is clear before your decision is made, there are also three informative videos including How to Purchase a Clawfoot Tub, How to Choose Supply Lines, and How to Choose a Drain for a Clawfoot Tub.

All informational guides include: Clawfoot Bathtub, Sink, Toilet, Whirlpool Tub, Kitchen Sink, Bathroom Mirror, Tub Drain, Supply Lines, Tub Faucet, Shower Enclosure, and Fireplace Accessories. If you need information on a product that is not listed, just ask here.

Steps to Replace a Clawfoot Bathtub Faucet

When the time comes to replace your clawfoot tub faucet, you have many options. According to The Facts On Faucets, an article featured in This Old House, a good idea is to replace the old faucet with one of a similar style. This means, if you have a faucet that mounts to the bathtub wall as opposed to the rim or bathroom wall, that style bathtub faucet should be your first choice.


Another factor to consider when replacing a clawfoot bathtub faucet, is the size of the drillings. Drillings are holes drilled into the tub by the manufacturer. The number of drilled holes can vary as well as the distance between the holes. If the measurement results are not standard and you have a unique distance between the drillings, you will want to purchase a faucet with variable centers. The distance between holes is no matter to be concerned about because these tub faucets are equipped with swing arms.


The article Claw Foot Tub Installation: New Plumbing, includes step by step photos and instructions on installing the necessary plumbing for your clawfoot tub. Depending on how much replacement is needed, you may be able to skip some of the beginning steps.

Included when purchasing a new clawfoot bathtub faucet, are installation instructions. Enlisting the help of a plumber is recommended on most instructions to ensure the product warranty is valid. These installation instructions are an example specifically created for a Randolph Morris Wall Mount Tub Faucet with Handshower (with variable centers, as mentioned above). Depending on the type of clawfoot tub faucet you choose, the installation instructions will vary. Installation instructions for the tub faucets can be found before purchase, below the Specifications section at the bottom of each product page.


View different styles of clawfoot bathtub faucets and faucet sets which include a faucet, drain, and supply lines. Also learn how to choose the correct style faucet for your clawfoot bathtub.

Sources: This Old House
DIY

Clawfoot Tub Foot Coasters

One concern that comes with the purchase of a clawfoot bathtub is how to keep the bathroom floor in good condition. A good option to avoid floor scratches are clawfoot tub foot coasters.

Foot coasters are the "perfect solution to keep [your] tub from scratching tile floors" according to customer Linda K. from Easley, South Carolina. She used them under the clawfoot bathtub in her guest bathroom pictured below.


Another customer, from Ontario, Canada told us about his remodeling project and how the clawfoot bathtub coasters came in handy:

"Reclaiming the tub, left me with such a gem that I wanted to set it apart & elevate it a little bit more, and these coasters were just the ticket. Lifting the tub by about an inch let me showcase the hardware I'd added without making the tub itself inaccessible. The exposed plumbing, prominently visible through the open bathroom door, becomes an accessible, proud and central element of retro styling."

Check out the photo he submitted below.

View clawfoot tub foot coasters, clawfoot bathtubs and replacement clawfoot tub feet.

Custom Bathtub Color

Since you are putting a good amount of money into your remodeling project, you want everything to be in the right place and have the right feel. If a traditional, white clawfoot tub does not match your taste or your bathroom, we can help. Vintage Tub offers on-site, custom painting of clawfoot bathtubs.

Choose from standard colors,manufacturer's colors,
or choose a custom design.
View more clawfoot tub color options, learn more about custom painting, or send us your own color swatch.

Customer Gallery - Bathroom

Whether you've stumbled upon our blog or are a loyal Vintage Tub and Bath customer, you probably did not know that we have a customer bathroom gallery.

The photo below was sent to us from Rose B. who resides in Annapolis, Maryland.

Rose's bathroom includes a 60 inch classic clawfoot bathtub from the Randolph Morris collection, clawfoot tub straight supply lines, a deck mount handshower, an American Standard elongated toilet. Another fixture not pictured is a widespread lavatory faucet by Pegasus.

View other photos submitted of Rose's bathroom and browse the rest of our customer bathroom gallery. If you would like to showcase your own photos, send them to emily@vintagetub.com. Be sure to include your name, location, a description of the photos, and of course, the before and after shots.

Recycling a Clawfoot Bathtub

Choosing a new bathtub to replace your old clawfoot tub is a difficult choice.
Once you have made your decision, you are suddenly faced with another. What will you do with your old clawfoot bathtub? Some good suggestions on how to reuse clawfoot tubs include:

1. Make room in the backyard for a pond. Seal the drain hole and fill the tub with water, plant life, and fish.
2. Give plants and flowers a new home by using the bathtub as a giant planter in your garden.
   
3. Remove one side of the clawfoot tub and add cushions to create a small couch or chair.
4. Convert the bathtub into a racing machine and enter a clawfoot bathtub competition. Or, create a clawfoot tub kayak, motorcycle, or automobile.
5. Donate it to a local thrift store or make a profit at a local furniture consignment shop.

Sources: Green Daily
Recycle This
Geekware

Replacing an Old Bathtub with a Clawfoot Tub

Thanks to television On Demand, I was recently introduced to short home renovation video clips from the DIY network. I checked out the DIY network website and found several other informative videos and step by step instructions on how to complete various household projects.

I came across instructions on how to replace an old bathtub and install a new clawfoot tub. The site discusses the difficulty level (a 3 on a scale of 1-5), the necessary materials, and exactly what to do. The site also displays a photo for each step of the way.

Before the new clawfoot tub was installed. (Above)

The finished product and new focal point of the bathroom.

To complete the installation of a new clawfoot bathtub from beginning to end you will need to:

• Complete demolition of old tub and surroundings
• Remove pipes and set tiles
• Grout tile for walls and floor
• Install new plumbling and fixtures
  

Travel and Bathe in Luxury

I recently came across the ultimate coffee table book for railroad enthusiasts. Each page of Luxury Trains by John Smith is filled with lavish photographs of the most luxurious trains in the world.
One particular steam train caught my eye; not because of the extravagant, Victorian style dining rooms or the spacious rooms with lounge areas. I found Rovos Rail of South Africa the most intriguing because it offers a full sized bathroom in its 172 square foot Royal Suite.

As far as Vintage Tub and Bath is concerned, this train has set a new standard in luxury travel by furnishing their Royal Suite bathroom with a clawfoot tub.


As you can see from the photo above, in case bathing on a train isn't your thing, there is also a full sized shower available. These Royal Suites must be roomy if they are able to accommodate a 60 inch clawfoot bathtub. For more photos and information about Rovos Rail of South Africa, visit their website here.

New Acrylic Clawfoot Bathtubs

You probably don't get as excited about bathtubs as we do, at Vintage Tub and Bath. However, if you plan to remodel your bathroom in the future and like the look of clawfoot bathtubs, you will be able to relate to our excitement.


We now exclusively offer a premium line of acrylic bathtubs from our Randolph Morris collection.


So why should this excite you? Since these acrylic clawfoot tubs are built from high quality, lightweight materials, they do not weigh as much as traditional cast-iron bathtubs. The new bathtubs are much lighter, resulting in a less stressful transportation and installation process. Another reason to become enthusiastic about these tubs is that they are less expensive than other acrylic clawfoot tubs.


Now you can fulfill your clawfoot desire while saving money and time!

Lego Automatic Toilet Flusher

You may have seen a clawfoot tub constructed solely from Legos, but have you ever seen an automatic toilet flusher assembled? Mike D-Amour and Will Gorman of BattleBricks.com crafted a small robot sensor using a Lego Mindstorms NXT kit that has the ability to flush the toilet for you.

A Mindstorms NXT kit is not your usual Lego kit. With NXT you can build robots, vehicles, and small machines. These kits also come equipped with many parts, sensors, and software to program your creations.

The “RoboFlush” offers an automatic or manual flushing option. It even says “thank you” before it flushes. To watch the automatic toilet flusher in action see the video below.

Best Clawfoot Tubs for Small Bathrooms (Part Two)

Whether you are remodeling a powder room, converting a closet space, or just want to add a new clawfoot bathtub to a small bathroom; here are a few product suggestions based on what our customers have been saying.

This Tub Package containing a 54 inch clawfoot tub and faucet with showerhead is ideal for those who want to do more than soak in their bathtub. Julie from Ohio chose this tub set when she “[converted] a 5’ x 8’ closet space in [her] old century home into a small bath”.

You may be reluctant to install a clawfoot tub into a small area because of its weight. An acrylic bathtub is a good alternative to a cast iron one because you can still have the look and feel of a classic Clawfoot Bathtub, but at a much lighter weight. Another customer found this tub “[weighed] next to nothing and was a piece of cake to carry in”. In addition to the ease of transporting, they told us that it is “by far the roomiest small tub [they’ve] seen”.

If you desire more soaking room than a 54 inch tub can offer, this 62 inch clawfoot bathtub is said to “make a small bathroom come alive, and [it] is adorable” by the self-described Happy Clawfoot Tub Owner from Oro Valley Arizona.

Clawfoot Bathtubs for Small Bathrooms

Installing a clawfoot tub may not be the first idea that comes to mind when remodeling a small bathroom. These three customers, however, did just that with great results.

For example, “TXCat” from Bedford, Texas notes: “I now have the bathroom I have always wanted. The tub is perfect! It really made my small bathroom look larger."



Another customer told us that "we love our little clawfoot bathtub. It is the perfect size for a small bathroom and it fits [the] kids great. Even adults can make use of this great quality tub."


Diana H. from Ohio had a remodeling challenge. She was having difficulty “finding a clawfoot tub that would fit into [her] tiny 5”x9” guest bathroom in [their] new house” She found the solution in the form of the Randolph Morris 48” clawfoot tub set. Take a look at how she, in her words, transformed her bathroom “from dated to dazzling - from alarming to charming.” The before is on the left - the stunning after is on the right:

Suggestions for Clinton’s “Kitchen Sink” Campaign

Intrigued by Hillary Clinton’s “Kitchen Sink” Campaign, we suggest the entire Presidential race be won through the battle of various household items.

Although the saying may be "everything but the kitchen sink," Barak Obama's 11 straight primary victories forced Clinton to use the last resort; the kitchen sink. It turns out to be her weapon of choice after winning the March 3rd primaries in Ohio and Texas.

Clinton’s Ohio and Texas primary victories are going to require Obama to come back with something bigger than the kitchen sink. An appreciate rebuttal for Obama in theme with appliances, yet adding a twist, would be to forget the kitchen and move to the bathroom. Being a specialist in the both kitchen and bathroom industry, we suggest the bathtub. Obama can show his chrome claws with a classic acrylic clawfoot tub; light weight making it easy to transport unlike the traditional cast iron. With extra hands from his supporters, he can use the Cast Iron Pedestal Bathtub to guarantee a win.

As for Clinton, if she is thinking about using her victory weapon for the remainder of the race, she should change things up for each debate. Although she has been training for this race for years, her arm is going to be tired and sore when November finally rolls around. She should consider using a lighter sink, such as stainless steel, but using a gooseneck faucet faucet to hook Obama closer so she won’t have to worry about the distance. Or she can opt to end the race early by taking Obama out with a fireclay kitchen sink kitchen sink. This adds a classy touch (as if throwing kitchen sinks isn't classy enough) and will be a one punch knock out.