Small Home Gazette, Winter 2024
Creative Solutions: Framed Tiles Hide Holes in Bathroom Wall
Deb removed the existing toothbrush holder and soap dish, which were not original, from her bathroom’s subway tile wainscot.
The original subway tile above the sink in our main bathroom looked like the aftermath of a mobster drive-by with a Tommy gun. I had removed the ceramic toothbrush holder and soap dish that awkwardly filled the small space and hovered above seven holes in the tile. Sliding the accessories off their mounting plates and unscrewing the plates was easy. The tiles now had 11 holes and provided a perplexing problem.
Occasional stop-and-start research over a decade yielded no easy solution. Filling the holes would require an artist with restoration skills—a solution that did not align with our modest bungalow budget. Two options for permanently installing new tiles were 1.) cut out existing tiles and inset new ones, or 2.) scuff the surface of the existing tiles and adhere new ones on top. These both came with the potential to cause further damage and the risk of leading to a more extensive, and more expensive, bathroom remodel.
While researching solutions, I discovered framed Arts & Craft tiles. Covering the holes with framed tiles was an affordable, do-it-yourself solution. I spent countless hours looking at tile designs and frame options. But none of the ready-made framed options were large enough to cover the 4-by-15-inch area.
A framed triptych of 6-inch square tiles would be large enough to hide the holes. My search for 6-by-6-inch tiles led me to an Etsy.com shop where one customer’s review showed her three fish tiles displayed together. I loved the carp and water lily design. I created an 8.75-by-22-inch cardboard mockup to help visualize the look and confirm spacing. Pleased with the look, I ordered the tiles.
Spring arrived along with the tiles, and I set aside the project to enjoy the warm weather. Come fall, a leak in the existing bathroom sink faucet set prompted its replacement, which motivated me to finish the tile project.
When my search for an off-the-shelf frame proved fruitless, I pulled out a remnant piece of wood veneer to stain some wood trim to make my own frame.
My husband Pete’s cousin, who is a finish carpenter, cut the boards to size. He loaned me wood glue, clamps, and a countersink drill bit so I could build the frame. After assembly, I stained the veneer and applied polyurethane to the entire frame assembly, making sure the wood was well protected from splashes at the sink. I drilled two holes in the frame’s backing to align with existing holes in the wall. I screwed the frame into place and used Velcro to affix the tiles into their snug square cubbies.
The new faucet and the rich look of the Arts & Craft style tiles provided the feel of a complete bathroom makeover.
Resources
As of December 2024, the fish wall tiles Deb found on Etsy.com were no longer available. We suggest searching for “art nouveau fireplace tiles” on the Etsy.com homepage.
In addition, there are plenty of tile designs available right here in the Twin Cities! A good place to start would be with the locally-owned business, Clay Squared to Infinity.
Other Examples?
If you know of other creative solutions to make bungalows more livable, send them to us at mail@bungalowclub.net. Whether they save space; provide modern convenience with an historically-appropriate appearance; or simply make the best of a difficult situation, we would love to share them in the Small Home Gazette.
