The Vintage Clawfoot Tub: A Peek Into Our Master Bathroom

The Vintage Clawfoot tub

I am so excited to share a sneak peek into our master bathroom today and show you a look at our vintage clawfoot tub! I’ve dreamed of a vintage clawfoot tub, and thanks to Vintage Tub and Bath, my dreams are now a reality.

When designing a master bathroom, there are so many different styles of bathtubs to choose from. But if you’re going for timeless charm that stands the test of time, one style of bathtub clearly outshines the rest in terms of design and vintage charm. You guessed it: the vintage cast iron clawfoot tub.

The epitome of the historic bathroom has to be the clawfoot tub. The clawfoot tub dates back to the 18th century and has been the central focus and crown jewel of historic bathrooms ever since.

When designing our “new old” home I knew that a vintage clawfoot tub was a must-have in order to emulate old world charm in our newly constructed master bathroom.

{Disclaimer: This post is Sponsored by Vintage Tub & Bath. All opinions and photography are my own and are not influenced by Vintage Tub & Bath. I only work with companies that I truly love and genuinely recommend.}

where to buy a vintage clawfoot tub

You have two options when incorporating a vintage clawfoot tub into your master bathroom: (1) restore a true vintage cast iron clawfoot tub, or (2) buy a new clawfoot tub that is a replica of a vintage cast iron clawfoot tub.

We quickly decided that buying a new reproduction vintage cast iron clawfoot tub from Vintage Tub & Bath was clearly the way to go.

True antique cast iron clawfoot tubs aren’t too difficult to find, but most of them are in very poor condition and need a complete overhaul and refinishing. Many of them are rusted, chipped, cracked, missing the original feet, and in very poor condition overall. Not to mention, the antique plumbing fixtures and sizes are not compatible with modern plumbing parts today.

WHy vintage tub & Bath?

Enter Vintage Tub and Bath into the picture. Vintage Tub is a luxury bath and kitchen company that crafts the highest quality bath and kitchen fixtures with a nod to vintage, historic charm.

Vintage Tub and Bath fixtures are made from the highest quality materials and built to last. In keeping with historic accuracy, I wanted a true cast iron clawfoot tub. (Some reproduction clawfoot tubs are made from acrylic. While there is nothing wrong with acrylic, and it even has some benefits such as lower cost and lower weight, in my opinion it just doesn’t give you the same vintage look and feel as traditional cast iron.)

Vintage Tub & Bath clawfoot tubs are made with the same materials that historic clawfoot tubs were made from: cast iron with a porcelain enamel coating. This classic material provides an extremely resilient and long-lasting finish that will stand the test of time.

The craftsmanship and quality at Vintage Tub & Bath simply cannot be beat!

Vintage clawfoot tub styles

There are a few different styles of vintage clawfoot tubs to choose from.

We ultimately decided on the 60″ Kensington Cast Iron Double Ended Clawfoot Tub with no faucet drillings. A double ended design means the tub has a roll top rim around the entire tub. I chose this style for the symmetrical design that compliments a tub sitting centered on the wall of an alcove such as ours.

A double ended tub has the drain and faucet located in the middle of the tub instead of off to one side. Again, this symmetrical style complimented our symmetrical bathroom and perfectly highlighted the beauty of the tub directly centered under the window.

The intricate imperial ball and claw feet are true showstoppers and more beautiful in person than I could have ever imagined!

vintage clawfoot tub fixtures: mounting TYPE

After deciding on your style of vintage clawfoot tub, it’s time to select a faucet mounting type.

We opted to forgo faucet drillings on the rim of the tub which would allow for a freestanding faucet. This means there are no plumbing supply lines coming through the clawfoot tub, and instead the supply lines come straight up through the floor behind the tub.

vintage clawfoot tub fixtures: faucet type

The finishing touch on this vintage clawfoot tub is certainly the charming english telephone faucet (aptly named because the handheld shower attachment looks just like an old telephone!).

We chose the Randolph Morris Freestanding Tub Faucet Set in a chrome finish. This set includes everything you will need for installation, including the english telephone faucet with hand shower, supply lines, shut off valves, and a vintage chain and stopper drain.

I highly suggest purchasing the faucet set because it has every single thing your plumbers will need for a seamless installation process.

vintage clawfoot tub details

All of the details on this vintage clawfoot tub are so beautiful that I could just stare at them all day long! It is truly a dream to walk into our bathroom and see this gorgeous vintage tub front and center.

I couldn’t wait to get this space styled and create our very own little master bathroom retreat.

Of course I couldn’t decorate our master bathroom without incorporating classic blue and white monogrammed towels. Monogrammed towels draped over a gorgeous vintage clawfoot tub are almost too much for my heart to handle : )

You can’t have a vintage clawfoot tub without a functional tub caddy to hold your soap and your book while you relax in the tub.

I added DIY picture moulding on the walls behind and to the side of the tub. It is simple, yet elegant and really dresses up the space around the tub without taking away from the tub.

Another must-have I envisioned to complement our vintage clawfoot tub was the addition of vintage-style battenburg lace cafe curtains.

I love the dainty battenburg lace detail, and most of all I love that they do not block any light or our pretty views from this double window.

They add “just enough” while not taking away from the focal tub.

A closer look at the beautiful details on the english telephone faucet and handset.

I imagine this “new” telephone faucet is just as beautiful and does not lack one little detail of the true historic telephone faucets that existed many, many years ago.

Not one little detail was missed.

I picked out this gorgeous vintage-style rug to go in front of the vintage clawfoot tub. It is so soft, the muted colors are gorgeous, and you will not believe the price!

I placed some bath essentials like hand towels, a shower brush, a candle, and Lady Primrose dusting silk (a true luxury!) on a traditional wood pedestal right in front of the tub for easy accessibility.

Do you want to hear a sweet story about this beautiful wood pedestal? My brother made it for us (from an antique table) and we used it as the Groom’s cake stand at our wedding! It’s been stored away since then and I’m so exited I get to use it in our master bathroom where I can see it every day.

Every vintage clawfoot tub should be adorned with a gorgeous antique crystal chandelier, and that is just what this tub got : )

This brass chandelier is a true antique with the most beautiful crystals and it’s really the finishing touch to this room!

It’s no wonder that vintage clawfoot tubs have been around for well over a century and are still loved and adored just as much today. They emulate a charm and nostalgia like no other and I cannot wait to enjoy this gorgeous vintage clawfoot tub for many, many years to come.

Thank you Vintage Tub & Bath for making all of my master bathroom dreams come true!