Bathroom · Crafton

1904 Mission bathroom

A quarter-sawn oak vanity with inset drawers and doors and brass knobs, under a mirror topped with a transom of small glass panes, between two brass sconces; a cat sits on the black stone counter

I wanted this bathroom to feel grounded. Real wood, real brass, and design choices that make sense in the space.

The vanity is built from quarter-sawn oak and finished with a natural wax finish that lets the grain stay visible and tactile. Inset drawers and doors give it a period-correct look, and the unlacquered brass hardware will patina over time. The butt hinges aren’t soft-close, and that’s the point. They look right. They sound right. The mirror frame hints at a transom and is pegged at the corners with white oak, a subtle nod to traditional Craftsman joinery.

The cabinet over the toilet might be my favorite part. It’s nearly six feet tall and extra deep, but it doesn’t crowd the space. I built a false half wall and shifted the toilet flange forward so the front of the cabinet sits flush with the tank. You can sit comfortably, the doors clear the seat, and it all reads as original to the house.

When the materials are real and the design is true to the house, nothing feels out of place.