Update: Here is my new favorite go-to place for these kinds of recessed dishes –> Recessed soap dishes in white and lots of colors from World of Tile … Tell Chippy (the co-owner) that I sent you!
WHEN I WAS RENOVATING my three bathrooms, I searched high and low for recessed soap dishes like this. I finally found them at a small Ohio Company, Apple Creek. (Separate post to come at some point.) But now, SableMable has also spotted this online site, Eclectic Ware, which seems to carry a big lineup of Lenape recessed bathroom ceramics – in white and a small selection of other basic colors. I’ve seen Lenape at Home Depot (I think) and at my flooring/tile store — but what’s great about this site is that they seem to have a much larger selection — included “recessed” and “semi-recessed”. The stuff is not cheap — but definitely a great detail for your bathroom retro renovation. Please note, that for the toilet paper holder, I kinda prefer chrome (or stainless steel, as per the Franklin Brass lines.) Thanks, Sable Mable!
And click through to see more photos.
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- recessed tile-in towel bar
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- fully recessed ceramic soap dish
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- fully recessed ceramic soap dish
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- fully recessed ceramic soap dish
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- fully recessed toilet paper holder
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- fully recessed soap dish with bar for washcloth
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- fully recessed (butts tile) bathroom soap dish
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- semi recessed soap holder
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- recessed soap and shampoo holder
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- semi recessed soap dish with bar for washcloth
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- semi recessed bathroom soap dish
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- semi recessed (overlaps tile) toilet paper holder
75 sets of MIB NOS ceramic towel bars, soap dishes & toilet paper holders, in 7 vintage colors 
Ceramic towel bars, soap dishes & more from Rejuvenation 
A complete 1925 catalog of recessed soap dishes, towel bars and medicine cabinets 
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What perfect timing. I am just about to swap out the horrible early 80s tan, bumpy tile in my bathtub surround with nice smooth white subway tile and these are perfect.
This is a WONDERFUL resource! Thanks, Pam! I may have missed this elsewhere on Retro Renovation, but have you seen any resources for the plastic liners for these dishes?
Hi stacie, sorry, I’ve never seen the plastic/acrylic inserts…I’ll keep an eye out. Reader?….
Pam…can you tell me the name of the store in ohio that you found the bathroom soap dish in…I live in ohio and my husband has just taken on our bathroom and we are restoring it…I am in need of a seafoam green bathtub soap dish and a couple of green tiles…thanks for the help!! …maria
Maria, the company in Ohio is Apple Creek Products or something like that.
Where can I buy the soap dish/washcloth holder pictured at the beginning of your article.
Thank you
Paul – read the article, it gives links to where these are sold.
Pam,
Where can I buy the recessed porcelain soap dish/washcloth holder with the drain notch, pictured at the beginning of your article. I’ve tried Eclectic Ware, but they don’t seem to have them anymore (or I just can’t find them). I hope they’re not totally gone. Any ideas?
Thank you
Jeff
Hey all: Here is a second source for that recessed soap dish / wash cloth holder. Looks like this is the source manufacturer… go to their Products / Soap Dishes to see the soap dish… then you can check out the Colors… then go to Distributors to check where to see them in your state – or where you can buy them online. Note, none of the online stores seems to show the much-wanted soap dish with towel bar, so it looks like you’re going to have to call… Source manufacturer: http://www.hcpindustries.com/products_soap_dishes.html
Thank you for the link for the porcelain recessed soap dishes!!! I have a 1948 bathroom and our shower soap dish has been broken since we bought the house. Finally decided to replace it and didn’t realize how hard they are to find.
Thank you so much.
Here is another link to recessed shampoo dishes.
http://www.showershampooshelf-recessedtileniche-soapdishholder.com/
Great link, Bill, thanks!
Hello Pam,
I also would love to know the source for the soapdish pictured first in your article. It is not availalbe on any of the other listed or suggested sites.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Todd Sharley
Atlanta, GA
Todd, this is my new favorite go-to place: http://retrorenovation.com/2011/08/24/colored-ceramic-soap-dishes-and-shelves-for-the-tub-and-shower-area-nos-from-the-1950s-1960s-and-1970s/ … tell Chippy I sent you!
I think I have the “semi recessed soap dish with bar for washcloth” in white with black specks. I want to replace it (I’d accept all white) with one that has a drainage lip and a ridge to prevent the soap from falling down. Are the ones with ridges all fully recessed? I’m a little scared of trying to chip away a deeper space for a soap dish, especially since I live in an apartment with wire mesh in the walls. I’m not sure how deep the mesh is.
I can’t say, Barry. I recommend you talk to World of Tile, Springfield, NJ. Tell Chippy I sent you…