A yummy 1959 American Standard bathroom today – fabulous, don’t you agree? I LOVE the vanity – which we have seen before in pink (and which a reader actually told me that she bought!). And that toilet – why did these off-the-floor designs not catch on? Don’t you hate the dust bunnies (or worse) clinging to bottom of your toilet where it meets the floor? Ick. Also, check out the flooring, so emerging-groovy, and of course, the color palette – also heading decisively into the 60s. Ad: 1959 American Standard.
Kitchens – Countertops

Here is another set of products from the past — still available today — with a fascinating history: ‘Memphis’ style laminates designed in 1978 by Ettore Sottsass, “the greatest Italian designer of the last half century.” These laminates are still offered by Abet Laminati. This is not necessarily a name familiar U.S. consumers, but Abet [...]

Maryland Nancy is searching for laminate for her bathroom reno, and alerted me that the colorful Nevamar swirlie’s are discontinued. Alas. So, I did another survey — and here is an update of the laminates landscape for bathroom vanity countertops, as far as I can determine. Scroll over each image with your mouse to see [...]

In my recent story about authentic 1950s 1960s and 1970s kitchen remodeling products still made today, I spotlighted Elkay Lustertone stainless steel drainboard sinks — made back in the day and still available today. Over the past year, I’ve been in touch with a reader who was preparing to install a new Elkay sink top [...]

The new crop of laminates suitable for mid-century kitchen countertops continues. Reader Jon gets snaps for spotting this new “Motion” series of laminate from Pionite. Jon writes: Hi Pam, First, I love the site. I’ve been reading it since December when I purchased my teeny tiny 1946 house (originally a summer home) on the shore [...]

ALAS: DISCONTINUED! The website says that these are for “contract” jobs — that is, interior designers working on commercial projects. But hey, if you really like these retro laminate choices, go after Nevamar and get them! Remember: The only way to do these…is to pair them with authentic steel countertop and backsplash edging available from [...]
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Retro bathroom sinks from today’s American Standard
Retro bathroom sinks, toilets — and a new choice for a current day faucet — from American Standard
American Standard 1920-1930s bathrooms sinks 














Pam, LOVE the site. we just bought a charming better homes and gardens ‘efficiency ranch” built in 1954. one of the selling points was the fabulous green tub as featured above. sadly, the rest of the room had been ‘upgraded’. as luck would have it, the bathroom is now gutted due to dry rot. although the remodel is involuntary it is a great chance to let our tub shine. i do need help picking colors.tile.floor.etc…i have never worked with a blank slate before. for tile i am loving daltiles golden granite – a gold salt and pepper. i scored a kohler toilet and sink in almond at restore – so i am thinking sandy beach colors – coral, peach? i saw this shade of green paired with yellow in the sherwin williams book in another post and i love that combination. HELP. suggestions are greatly appreciated. many thanks for the inspiration!
I have that vanity in beige with a white sink…in good condition, and would love to find it a new home. Anyone out there interested? It would be such a shame to take it to the dump.
Pat: You can list these over on our Forum — http://retrorenovation.com/forum — no buying/selling here on the main blog. Good luck.
Anyone know the color names for 1962-ish American Standard? I have a beige, pink and turquoise bathroom. I would love to know the color names of these bathrooms. I’ve tried everyone, except AS itself. Figured that would be going down the rabbit hole. Anyone have a color chart or names? The beige is the hardest to capture – kind of a rosey beige.
I probably have these somewhere… but this Q. will have to go on “the list.”