Hex Tile Floors and Pedestal Sinks That Nail the Craftsman Bathroom

Craftsman bathrooms have gotten complicated with all the Pinterest boards, luxury spa renovations, and tile showroom upsells flying around. As someone who has restored the bathrooms in over a dozen original bungalows, I learned everything there is to know about what period bathrooms actually looked like versus what modern interpretations claim. Today, I will share it all with you.

Craftsman bathrooms were not afterthoughts and they were not oversized spa retreats. They were compact, thoughtful rooms where every detail balanced function with the movement’s design principles. Getting the look right means understanding what was actually in these rooms between 1905 and 1930 — and what modern renovations frequently get wrong.

Why Hex Tile Is the Authentic Floor Choice

Hexagonal floor tile dominated American bathrooms from roughly 1900 through 1930. It was not just an aesthetic preference — hex tiles provide excellent drainage because the geometry creates consistent slope paths, and the textured grout lines minimize slipping on wet surfaces.

Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Size is where most modern reproductions fail. Period-appropriate hex tiles are small, typically 1-inch or 2-inch across. The 4-inch, 6-inch, and even 12-inch hex tiles popular today did not exist in Craftsman era bathrooms. If you want authentic appearance, you need the smallest sizes despite the additional installation labor.

White hex tile with white or gray grout was the most common installation by far. Black-and-white patterns using contrasting tiles appeared in more elaborate homes. Colored hex tiles in muted greens, blues, or yellows existed but were uncommon compared to plain white. Nowadays most come on mesh backing, which simplifies installation while maintaining period appearance as long as the spacing stays consistent.

Pedestal Sinks: What the Originals Looked Like

Pedestal sinks were standard equipment in Craftsman bathrooms. Vanities with cabinet storage underneath were not yet a common fixture. Original pedestal sinks were substantial pieces — heavy vitreous china pedestals supporting wide, deep basins with real presence in the room.

The delicate, narrow pedestals common in contemporary powder rooms are too slight for Craftsman authenticity. If the sink looks like it might tip over when a child leans on it, the proportions are wrong for the period.

Rectangular basins with rounded corners were typical. Oval basins appeared less frequently. The decorative shell-shaped or sculptural bowls from the Victorian era contradict Craftsman simplicity. Standard mounting height was 30 to 32 inches, slightly lower than the modern 32 to 34 inches.

Console sinks with legs and a wall-mounted basin offer more counter space while maintaining period aesthetics. These appeared in some original Craftsman bathrooms and provide a reasonable middle ground between the pure pedestal look and the modern vanity with cabinet storage. I installed a console sink in a 1918 bungalow in Portland last year and the homeowner uses the open shelf underneath for stacked towels. It looks authentic and provides storage that a plain pedestal cannot.

Wall Treatment That Actually Matches

Craftsman bathroom walls were not painted drywall in a single color from floor to ceiling.

Subway tile or 4×4 square tile typically covered the lower wall section up to chair rail height, roughly 36 inches, or higher in wet areas around tubs and showers. This was practical water protection that happened to look good. Original subway tiles measured 3×6 inches, not the larger 4×8 formats common today. The brick pattern with offset rows was standard — stacked patterns are a modern variation.

Above the tile line, painted plaster or wallpaper finished the wall. Paint colors ran toward warm whites, soft sage greens, or muted blues. Wallpapers featured Arts and Crafts patterns with stylized botanicals or geometric designs. A bullnose or chair rail cap molding finished the transition between tile and upper wall. That detail gets omitted in most modern installations but contributes significantly to period correctness.

Fixtures and Fittings

Cross-handle faucets with separate hot and cold controls were the only option during the Craftsman era. Single-handle mixers had not been invented yet. Porcelain index buttons marked “hot” and “cold” indicated which was which.

Polished nickel and chrome both appeared. Chrome became more common toward the late 1920s as the plating technology improved. Brass was less common in bathrooms than in kitchens during this period.

That’s what makes original Craftsman bathrooms endearing to us restoration people — the exposed plumbing underneath pedestal sinks was not hidden in shame. Supply lines and P-traps were visible and sometimes featured decorative covers or nickel-plated fittings. They were finished and displayed as honest functional elements.

The Clawfoot Tub Debate

Clawfoot tubs existed during the Craftsman era but were not universal or even typical of the style. They were more Victorian than Craftsman. By the 1920s, built-in alcove tubs with tiled surrounds were becoming standard in new construction. Both types appeared in Craftsman homes depending on the build date and budget.

A clawfoot tub is not wrong in a Craftsman bathroom, but it is not required for authenticity the way many renovation shows suggest. Built-in alcove tubs with simple tile surrounds are equally appropriate historically and usually more practical for daily use since they do not require a separate shower curtain rod solution and they eliminate the gap between tub and wall where water inevitably goes. If you do choose clawfoot, simpler ball feet suit Craftsman aesthetics better than the ornate ball-and-claw designs that belong to the Victorian era rather than the Arts and Crafts period that followed it.

Medicine Cabinets

Original cabinets were recessed between wall studs, sitting flush with the wall surface. Surface-mounted cabinets are convenient but less authentic. Mirror doors with subtle beveled edges, typically a quarter to half inch, were standard. The wide bevels sometimes seen in modern reproductions are too dramatic for the period.

Wood frames around medicine cabinets matched the other bathroom trim — white-painted wood or natural-finished oak depending on the room’s overall finish scheme. Simple single-door cabinets were most common. Triple-door units with side mirrors appeared only in larger or more elaborate bathrooms.

Lighting

Wall sconces flanking the medicine cabinet provided primary bathroom illumination. Simple geometric forms — squares, rectangles, clean cylinders — match Craftsman design. Ornate Victorian fixtures and industrial-style Edison bulb pendants are both anachronistic for different reasons.

Opalescent or milk glass diffused light effectively and was the standard shade material. Art glass in amber, green, or iridescent tones appeared in higher-quality installations. Ceiling fixtures, when present, were simple flush-mounts with opal glass shades. Nothing elaborate belongs on a Craftsman bathroom ceiling.

What Does Not Belong

Vessel sinks sitting atop counters are thoroughly contemporary and have no historical basis in any period bathroom. Frameless glass shower enclosures are modern technology that did not exist — period showers used curtains or simple framed glass doors. Large format tiles bigger than 6 inches on the floor read as modern immediately to anyone who has seen an original Craftsman bathroom. Double vanities with his-and-hers sinks did not appear in residential bathrooms until decades after the Craftsman era ended. And modern freestanding tubs with sculptural contemporary profiles differ significantly from authentic period clawfoot designs even though showrooms display them side by side as if they are interchangeable.

Where to Spend Your Budget

The floor is the largest visible surface in any bathroom. Getting hex tile right establishes period authenticity that a lesser floor would undermine regardless of what happens on the walls. The sink and faucet get daily visual attention and physical contact, making them the next priority for authentic investment.

Lighting fixtures, accessories, and toilet selection can be upgraded later without tearing anything out. Start with the permanent installations that require demolition to change, and add the finishing details as budget allows.

The Craftsman bathroom achieved simple elegance through quality materials honestly expressed. Hex tile floors and pedestal sinks capture the essential character of the era — functional fixtures elevated through thoughtful proportion and careful material selection rather than applied decoration or unnecessary complexity. Every detail in a well-executed Craftsman bathroom serves a purpose. The hex tile provides grip and drainage. The pedestal sink displays its plumbing honestly. The wainscoting protects walls from water. Form follows function in every decision, and the beauty comes from getting those functional decisions right rather than covering them up with decorative afterthoughts.