A new addition at the rear of the modest Prairie house provides space for a serious kitchen, a bath and pantry—and a period-style fireplace inglenook.

In our era of must-have-it-all luxury, some people can still leave well enough alone. They usually live in old houses.

There’s a new sophistication in the way tile is used in kitchens and bathrooms—particularly when the room is period inspired. We’re seeing not just neat backsplashes made of subway tile—in cream, green, even burgundy—but also art tile moving into these rooms. And plain tile is being used in unique ways.