I actually did try to be conservative in my estimate. It is very interesting to hear your experience. I am going to start watching time capsules even more closely – I’ll start a spreadsheet and count the appearance of pink bathrooms.

There actually were pink bathrooms earlier than the postwar era – beautiful ones. But I think the trend really took off after WWII, when the economy boomed.

And yes, I think that the economy has slowed much of the needless destruction down. As I also like to say, “A granite countertop doesn’t look so good when it comes with a home equity mortgage. If you can get a home equity mortgage.” These days it’s about learning to “love the house you’re in,” baby!

The slow economy actually may be the savior of pink bathrooms. From the mid-90s until a couple of years ago, our Chicago suburb was (sadly, I think) the site of many “tear-downs”- mid-century capes and ranches were raised to clear the way for bigger houses. Pink toilets and other fixtures laying forlornly curb-side was a common sight as these houses were dismantled. With the recession, the tear-down phenomenon has (thankfully) stopped almost altogether and the remaining pink toilets are presumably staying where they belong, screwed to their tiny-tiled bathroom floors. So, the slow economy, coupled with your pink bathroom awareness campaign, may save the day for the beloved coral-colored porcelain. Keep up the good work.