A New Bathroom With Vintage Charm

Back in the 18th-century when this Massachusetts farmhouse was built, there was no such thing as a master bath. So architect Michael T. Gray and interior designer Hattie Holland, both of Carpenter & MacNeille, carved one out of a hallway and added wainscoting and window casings to create a sense of the past. Painted a deep blue-gray, they stand out against the pale blue walls. The color "has a historic feeling with that gray cast and plays off the Carrara marble so well," Holland says. In the center of the floor, a virtual rug made of marble in a basket-weave pattern adds another layer of detail to the room.

The cast-iron tub looks old but is actually new. "It's a slipper tub, higher on each end, and that little swoop gives it a sense of elegance," Holland says. "And the legs let you see the marble underneath, which makes a small space feel more open." An antique leaded-glass window, found at a salvage yard, is set into the wall adjoining the water closet. It lets light into that room, making it feel less enclosed while still maintaining privacy. It's another old-world touch that creates instant character. "The goal was to keep the farmhouse charm but make it more comfortable," Holland says. "You can lean back against that great rollover on the tub's rim and soak for hours."

The Missy tub is paired with a floor-mounted tub filler in polished nickel, both by Sunrise Specialty. Carrara marble tile and basket-weave insert from Cumar. The walls are painted in Borrowed Light with trim in Parma Gray, both by Farrow & Ball.