Antique brass round knob on a finely reeded bathroom backplate with a thumbturn below, on a grey-blue painted panelled door
Bathroom · Victorian

A period bathroom in antique brass

Grey-blue panelling, a roll-top bath and a chequerboard floor, with a reeded knob on the door and knurled brass for the towels and robe.

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The look
Fittings
Antique brass
Panelling and door
Grey-blue-green
Room
Warm white plasterCharcoal bath
Floor
Black tileWhite tile

A Victorian bathroom brought back to life: tongue-and-groove panelling painted a soft grey-blue-green, a black and white floor laid on the diagonal and a cast iron roll-top bath. The bathroom door has a round Victoria knob on a reeded backplate, with a thumbturn so it can be locked from inside. On the walls, knurled antique brass from the Brunel range holds the towels, the robe and the loo roll, so every piece of brass in the room has the same warm, slightly aged tone.

Up close
Knurled antique brass Brunel robe hook holding a striped linen bathrobe on a grey-blue panelled door Period bathroom with a charcoal roll-top bath under a sash window with a cafe curtain, grey-blue tongue-and-groove panelling, a pedestal basin and a black and white floor Knurled antique brass Brunel towel ring with a white waffle hand towel on grey-blue tongue-and-groove panelling Antique brass reeded mortice knob above a reeded turn and release on a white cloakroom door, a small basin and botanical print beyond Grey-blue panelled bathroom door seen from a Victorian landing with a mahogany handrail and pine boards, fitted with an antique brass knob on a reeded plate Knurled antique brass Brunel toilet roll holder on grey-blue panelling above a black and white tiled floor
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Antique brass for a period bathroom

Period bathroom with grey-blue panelling and a chequerboard floor, the panelled door fitted with an antique brass Victoria knob on a reeded bathroom plate and a knurled robe hook, a knurled towel ring on the wall and a roll-top bath in the foreground 4 3 6 1
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Good to know

Planning brass for a period bathroom

EraVictorian and Edwardian bathrooms
Trend statusRising; period bathroom searches up sharply in 2026
Inspired byRoll-top baths, panelling and encaustic floors
SuitsPainted panelled doors in bathrooms and cloakrooms

Lock the door with a knob

A bathroom door needs a way to lock from inside. A knob on a bathroom backplate combines the handle and the turn on one plate, which suits a period door and covers any old marks. The reeded plate adds the fine vertical lines that have become popular again, without looking out of place in an old house.

Or keep the knobs you have

If your bathroom door already has mortice knobs you like, a separate turn and release does the same job. The reeded version has a stepped rose that matches reeded knobs, and the release on the outside lets you open it in an emergency.

Match the brass on the walls

It is easy to forget the towel ring, robe hook and loo roll holder until the end, then find they don't match the door. Choosing them in the same antique brass finish from the start pulls the room together. The knurled Brunel pieces have a fine diamond texture that is easy to grip with wet hands.

Fitting notes

Measure the bathroom lock

A knob on a bathroom plate needs a bathroom mortice lock with the turn below the spindle at the right distance. Check your lock's centres before ordering.

Robe hook height

Fix a robe hook on the back of the door at about 1700mm from the floor, high enough that a long robe clears the floor, but within easy reach.

Towel ring by the basin

A towel ring works best beside the basin at about 1100 to 1200mm high, so the towel hangs clear of the panelling shelf and the tap splashes.

Fixing into panelling

On tongue-and-groove, fix towel rings and holders into a timber batten or the boards' solid face rather than a groove, so the screws hold firm.