1960, I love you. I recently heard from reader Lynn, who has just bought a 1960 brick ranch house that includes some great original features — like this amazing laminate-covered vanity. She call it a “giraffe” or “leopard” pattern. I’ll call it “Wilma Flintstone’s”. Luv. Read on for Lynn’s story and 6 more photos of this rare and delicious time capsule bathroom.
Lynn writes:
Pam,
My husband and I bought our empty nester downsize home. It is a 1960 all brick ranch. We have not moved to it yet, and would love feedback from readers for decorating and remodeling ideas. I would like to send photos of the pristine bathrooms: … one a brown with mosaic flooring that I have not seen anywhere on your site yet. Also, the vanity in the brown bathroom has a leopard or giraffe print on the vanity.I think it is a Satin Glide style. The kitchen was redone in the 70’s or 80’s, but the original pink metal General Electric kitchen was moved to the basement, pink sink and pink cook top intact and functioning. Most of the light fixtures are original. I discovered your website several weeks ago when I started trying to find photos of my very unusual giraffe vanity. I’m learning to love what I have.
Lynn
St. Louis, MO
Well, heck to the yeah for that bathroom vanity, Lynn! I love it. Remember: Socrates or Plato or Aristotle or some smart vintage dude like that taught us: “The rare is the good.” You vanity style is not exceedingly rare — but laminate covered like that? YES.
And assuming your bathroom wall tile and floor are in good shape — they are quite valuable too, very very expensive to replicate that mud-set tile today — if you can even find someone to do it. The floor looks like it might be porcelain — again, very very expensive to buy and install. This bathroom = Easy to love! Many thanks for sharing it with us!
Charlotte says
Bathroom fixtures don’t normally make me swear, but this one made me blurt out, “I f***ing love that” to no one in particular.
pam kueber says
🙂
Olga Plant says
Gorgeous! Love love! I see fun lime green towels or even super dark chocolate if you are more mellow! Enjoy!
DougH says
That’s a true time capsule. It’s amazing how it survived in such beautiful condition. You absolutely must post a few pics of the pink kitchen for me to drool over!
Jay says
Wow! wished my original baths looked as nice. Mine were really beat.
Carole says
I am not a fan of brown, having moved into an early 70s ranch that had been painted brown inside and out, but that bathroom is fabulous. Love the vanity (the Flintstones are the first thing I thought of when I saw it lol)! From the photos it all looks to be in excellent condition too (someone obviously took pride in/care of the home). Would love to see more of the house. 🙂
Tami, I don’t know if your bath has a window (one of mine does not), but have you considered a solar tube? We installed one in our long dark hallway when we moved in and it has made a world of difference (I live in Oregon), that and mirrors placed on one side. Planning on putting one in the windowless bath as well.
Jane / MulchMaid says
Carole, we live in Portland and added a Solatube to the main, window-less bath in our 1956 ranch. It’s amazing what a difference the light makes, and it helps light the short hall outside the bath, too. I figure we save electricity on a daily basis.
Kristine Genovese says
Holy crap is that bathroom awesome! LOVE. I’m dying to know where the razor blades go! I’ve never seen one of those before!
pam kueber says
The razor blades go into the wall… like, they fall down between the studs and stay there forever and ever unless there is a subsequent gut-job.
Dan says
In my case there was a cross stud located about 6″ below the bottom of the old medicine cabinet, so that when I pulled it out, about fifty blades fell out and into the sink below, and the rest of the area was full of blades.
Patty says
Installed back in the day when people threw their trash out their car windows without a thought to where it would end up – before the anti-litter commercial with the Indian – Native American.
Nancy says
Fabulous! You are very lucky!!!
Tami says
OHMYGOD – I HAVE THE SAME BATHROOM FLOOR! It’s an encaustic tile with no gloss. My wall tile is similar to this, but lighter tan with a dark brown trim. Mine is not in very great condition. But, heck, it looks like the same tile guy did our bathrooms. (I’m in central Indiana)
I wasn’t sure what to do with this small dark bath. So I’ve gone for a ’40s Florida’ theme for the time being. Let me try to get some pics to send in.
gsciencechick says
Wow, this bathroom is amazing! It looks like it’s in pristine condition!
Dan says
That bathroom is too cool! And so easy to keep clean. I wouldn’t change a thing.
But, if you do, be careful of that razor blade drop! When I swapped out my original medicine cabinet for a much more fabulous vintage medicine cabinet (my bathroom, while original, had very little pizzazz) there were literally hundreds of used blades in the space below the medicine cabinet. Thankfully, I have a shop vac that made short work of it.
And let me add my voice to the chorus of people clamoring to see that pink kitchen 🙂