With Kate gathering ideas for her master bathroom design and remodel – including looking for four-inch by four-inch pink bathroom tiles — I got all Mother Hen and started sending her links to places that might have this very basic bathroom field tile in a not-so-basic color. But then, I thought, maybe it’s better if I just refresh my research and compile all my known sources for 4×4 ceramic bathroom tile in one story. So, here is my list — I found 12 different companies that manufacture and/or are major distributors of basic 4″ x 4″ ceramic tile for bathroom walls and shower and tub surrounds — in white, neutrals, pastels and other colors, too:
I spotted these vintage aqua tiles at my Re-Store. Before you buy, make sure you know how much you’ll need. Because even though this looks like “a lot” of tile, I only count about 40 square feet. That won’t even do a three-wall bathtub surround.
- Re-Store– If you have the time and patience, the Retro Decorating Gods might send you a big stash of New Old Stock vintage tile delivered via your local Re-Store.
- Big Box stores — You can typically find white and bisquit colored 4×4 bathroom tiles at the Big Box stores for under 20 cents each. I was just at the Home Depot, and the tile they seem to be carrying as 4x4s is from U.S. Ceramic Tile Co. White was in-stock on the shelves…. and they had a sample board with other colors, the s.f. price was not listed — ask an associate. When I renovating my bathrooms several years ago, I found rose beige at the Home Depot, trimmed it with white bullnose, and it looks smashing.
- United States Ceramic Tile Co. — I cannot find a stand-alone website for this company. As I mentioned above, Home Depot (at minimum) seems to carry this line, and it is likely to be as “affordable” as you can get unless you strike gold at the Re-Store or salvage. You can see 46 colors/finishes on this site.
- Daltile — Daltile is probably the largest brand name in tile in the U.S. They seem to have a number of collections that include 4×4 ceramic wall and counter tiles. The colors change regularly, so check them all, they include Semi-Gloss, which seems to be the #1 go-to collection for retro pastel colors… Semi-Gloss Color Trends has 1960s acid hues… also look at Festiva … and Natural Hues has a large palette as well.
- American-Olean — AO is owned by the same company as Daltile, and I think they have the same colors just with different names. But honestly, trying to compare sends me cross-eyed. Their collections with 4×4 squares include: Bright … and Matte.
- Olympia Tile — Olympia tile is a Canadian-based company, but they have some distribution in the U.S. (See their location map.) I used their heron blue tile in my blue bathroom renovation (although I think this color is now discontinued.) Hey: Check out the mint. Link: Olympia Tile’s Maple Leaf color collection.
- B&W Tile has been making ceramic tile for more than 60 years — so they have authentic retro colors, including pink. B&W doesn’t have their tile colors online, however, crafty Pammy (that’s me) found B&W’s tile colors here at Clay Squared — a company in Minneapolis that also sells the B&W line. Link: B&W Tile in California … and you can get this tile from Clay Squared in Minneapolis, too. Note, I called B&W for their price — it was $4.50/s.f. Clay Squared’s price is $12/s.f. I called Clay Squared to ask why the difference, and owner Josh said that his price (Clay Squared’s) includes all shipping and handling, while B&W’s does not. If you’re in the market, I guess you will want to crunch the numbers and see which formula — B&W’s or ClaySquared’s — would work out better for you.
- Florida Tile — This Kentucky company does not have “colors”, but it has a good selection of neutrals, including the timeless ‘bone’. Bright… and Matte.
- World of Tile — This time capsule tile store in New Jersey is my #1 go-to place for replacement tile, but check with Chippy — she may also have field tile in enough quantities for you to complete a bathroom. See the introductory story on World of Tile here, their website is here.
- American Universal Tile — The Brittany line looks to have some good pastel color choices.
- Ann Sacks — This high-end company’s Caliper collection boasts some 300 colors. However, this design does not appear to be “basic” — it has prominently beveled edges. The website says prices start at $20/s.f.
- Nemo tile — Nemo has two 4×4 lines, Metro Wall has some colors going on, while Clay Basics is low chroma greiged out.
So there’s my list.
Readers, do you know of any other manufacturers/retailers of any other lines of 4×4 tiles? If they are out there, we’d love to add them to this list.
World of tile is a wonderful resource but $12-13 per 4×4 tile is insane!!! (that’s 108-117 a square foot!) I almost fainted…. Worth it if you really need it I guess
I had no idea they were that expensive! I was going to visit World of Tile this week on my quest to find a match for my 1953 gray tile (we broke 8 of them removing a 70s plastic sink that had been *glued to the wall*!), but at that price I think we’ll come up with some other solution. Thanks for letting us know….
For 8 or so tiles I’d go for it, what are the odds you’ll find an exact match elsewhere? It may be tough. I need at minimum 60 if I ever decide to replace my vanity since there are no tiles behind it… I even thought I’d buy her out of my type tile if they had any. I was being naive though, I guess I forget that I live in the deep south and everything is only dirt cheap here.
I will drive to World of Tile later this week, and–yes–if I can get an exact match I’ll just have to scrimp elsewhere and buy the tile from them. I am also pondering creative solutions should I not find the exact gray, including adding a backsplash in pale yellow or white (the other colors in the bath) that would fit behind the new sink and hide the damage to the old tile. All ideas for ways to do this are welcomed–I like the suggestion of laying the tile on diagonal with beading around it to make it look like an artistic flourish rather than a bad patch.
I also have a Mamie pink bath in which the house’s previous owners, aka, ThoseMorons, also used Liquid Nails to glue a plastic/formica vanity to the gorgeous old tile. If anyone has ever removed something glued this way without breaking the old tile, I’d love to hear about your magic trick as I foresee more broken tile in my future. Sigh.
Do you know of anyone interested in pink and seafoamy green bathroom tiles? My parents may be renovating their bathrooms soon and I suggested we try to save as much tile as possible(instead of breaking it off).
I have stories on this – see the FAQ.
Sorry, I didn’t see a link to one in the nav bar, I’ll try search.
Hi, Melanie ~ not sure if you got any responses, or where you are, but those tiles sound delicious! Please let me know and let’s see if we can make this happen…thank you so much!
I would be interested in the green tiles if they are available and match. My bathroom has 2 shades of green- light minty and a darker tone. Just bought a 60′s house and need to replace a few broken tiles. Let me know.
Thanks
Suzanne
Suzanne, nothing is sold here. You need to contact the retailers listed in the story…
World of Tile may not be a choice for someone who wants to do an entire installation on a budget, but nothing beats the colors and feel of vintage tile. They’re well worth the cost and effort for replacements and for use as accents or borders in shades of colors that aren’t made anymore. It’s like comparing old Fiesta Ware to new. It just doesn’t. All those vintage tiles needed to be stored for 60 years, with all the costs associated with that. Rent, salaries and taxes aren’t cheap, especially in New Jersey.
As a tile nerd, I have to say many of the old tiles were 4.25 inches. The reason for that odd number? When cut on a diagonal the cut edge matched up with the edge of 6 inch tiles
Ah! Thanks for that info on why 4.25″. While I say 4″ x 4″ in my writing here, check specifics of each tile listed – some are 4×4 some are 4.25x, and I think I remember one that was 4-3/8 x
Thank you, Bill. Yes: There is a lot of “embodied” cost for World of Tile to have held onto these tiles for so long. I seem to recall another company out there who charges even to search their inventories to find out if they have what you need. I talk to Chippy every month or so and certainly hear about some wild goose chases. She does not charge to search for you and she does not charge handling cost to send samples (last I checked). Bottom line: If you want an exact match to an historical tile, I don’t know that you have many choices. If you want a big room full of authentic vintage tiles, I don’t know that you have many choices — and the stuff is drop dead gorgeous.
I really admire their dedication. From start to finish they must put in hours of labor for a sale that may only amount to 2-3 replacement tiles.
I have a Paint-Your-Own-Pottery shop in Lincoln, NE. We have a huge color palette of glazes and carry tiles in bisque form. We have helped many people who are not able to find the manufactured color they need create their own. Just another option to toss out there for y’all:)
complete tile in nyc also carries 4×4 in lots of colors, as well as clayhaus ceramics in portland and they are eco friendly.
more “eco friendly” than what? *pet peeve*
Sorry, should have said their tiles are made using green energy sources.
Not annoying at all. I apologize for being vague. Hope this clarifies what I was trying to convey. http://www.clayhausceramics.com/inside_clayhaus.php
THanks, Ingrid. As soon as I can get it programmed, I’m going to do a big rant about companies that throw the term “green” around. It’s actually a violation of FTC advertising guidelines now, I think, to make simplistic statements about being green. Companies need to clarify what they are talking about. I read the Clayhaus page — they do a good job explaining! Thanks!
As a former tile setter, I can say that very few 4X4 tiles are actually that size. Some are a bit smaller, some a bit larger. It really helps to know the brand if you are trying to match an existing installation. An experienced tile shop might be able to help you identify a tile manufacturer if you bring in a sample. If you can’t match an existing installation, sometimes, although not original in design, one can set the additional worked on the diagonal. Thereby blending the old + new.
For our bathroom remodel we used all Daltile. Really reasonably priced and we live near their Anaheim location. Not exactly authentic but the essence of mid-century, we used 6″ x 6″ white semi-gloss in the shower, 2″ x 2″ Keystones Uptown Taupe on the floor and into the shower pan, and the tile feature wall (as we starting calling it) was 6″ x 24″ plank tiles in Fabrique Creme Linen in one and Gris Linen in the other. These 6″ x 24″ plank tiles were a neat idea. They again are the essence of mid-century because there were some horizontal installations of wood in the mid-century for sure. It looks cool, and again, Daltile is super reasonable!
B&W tile will also mail you a sample book free of charge, all you have to do is phone and request it.
Thanks to all; I am getting some great info here! I would like to add that those of us who gasped at World of Tile’s prices aren’t unappreciative of their efforts, we are simply on strict budgets. If I could, I would have my four 1953 baths restored to their original glory, and I’d hire skilled craftsmen to do it. Unfortunately all I have is me, my limited skill set and even more limited budget. This is why Bathfitter exists: it’s a cheap alternative. I stick around this website because some of the ideas are cost effective, although the majority simply fall outside the range of what I can afford.
B & W Tile sends out a free sample pack of your choice of colors if you call. I spoke to a friendly sales person, asked a ton of questions, and discovered that they have reasonable prices too. We will be using them for our 1930′s bathroom remodel here in Sacramento.
Thank you, Laura! I also just spoke to a very helpful person at B & W and they are sending me samples of 5 colors!
I was just checking eBay for the billionth time for vintage tile and I found some nice old pale yellow tile (she has a lot) some trim and 2 sets of white towel bar holders. I can’t use them but perhaps you can: (link gone)
Oh My,
Those are the EXACT color tiles that I am looking for. We have a 1940s house that needs to have the plumbing redone and I am sick about having to cut out the tiles. Where did you find them?
Thank you,
Jackie
Jackie, if you are talking about the aqua tiles, they were at my local Re-Store, and are long gone. You can still get replacement tiles in this color, though. Go through all the resources listed in the story….
Today my (sweet, long-suffering) fiance and I drove 2 hours to World of Tile and…omg, wow x 1000! We had a piece of 1953 gray wall tile from my (so gorgeous!) gray/yellow bathroom, and Chippy took it, disappeared for a few minutes and returned with 4 possible matches, all new old stock.
It was not easy to pick the right one, but when we got our (so precious!) tile home and compared them to the wall where we’d broken 8 original tile when removing the nasty plastic sink the previous owners, aka ThoseMorons, had *glued* to the wall, the match was perfect! How astonishing is it that we can now restore our wonderful old bathroom? The tile did set us back $12.00 each, but in the long run, so worth it.
If you send Chippy a tile sample to match, be aware they are coming in faster than she can deal with them. 2 weeks minimum for her to match them up. There’s a *big* stack of envelopes for her; it is sort of daunting to imagine trying to fill all those requests.
If you choose to go in person, be aware that it’s really hard–when faced with several close matches–to pick the right one. Take your time. It is your quest. Embrace it.
Anyway, World of Tile is amazing, and Chippy solved our problem. I hope she can solve yours as well.
YAY! Chippy must have been thrilled to meet you. And YES: omg, wow x 1000! Wasn’t the place amazing????? Send me pics of your bathroom when it’s done, okay?
Chippy was also assisting a couple choosing just the right turquoise tumbler & soap holders to match their 60′s bath–like us, the original were damaged beyond repair during the removal of a nasty replacement sink.
The store itself is charming. LOTS of tile in vintage colors & patterns, including a colorful selection of the wonderful matte mosaic floor tiles (both hexagonal & rectangular) so familiar to those of us who grew up in old houses and many choices for soap dishes, paper holders, towel bars in colors I recognized as 40s – 80s. I was surprised not to see retro style toilets & sinks on display, but I did not ask if they carry those items, I was frankly too enthralled by the tile.
I will absolutely send you photos. We are at this point compromising and installing a new white pedestal sink because I have so far not found a Crane Oxford sink in Buttercup that is in good condition at a price that makes sense (meaning under 2 grand). So I will not have the yellow sink of my dreams yet. Sigh.
But we now have the tile to move forward on the project, thank you World of Tile.
have you checked deabath.com for the sink? they are crane specialists…
Yes, but so far no go. I have found 2 sinks elsewhere; neither have functional faucets (because the faucets set on the sink at a 45 degree angle, you need the original faucets), and they were nevertheless well over $2,000. So there’s that. I am willing to pay quite well for a sink that has rebuilt, working faucets but…. well, everyone needs a quest, and a Crane Oxford Buttercup sink with legs and working faucets is mine. Sigh.
It is a Noble Quest. May the Retro Decorating Gods be with you.
In my quest to find Stylon gray tile to repair my 1953 bathroom, I uncovered a source for some vintage 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 tile in SE PA: Del Val Tile Distributors, 1223 W Lincoln Hwy, Langhorne PA 19047. 215-757-1833. They did not have my gray, but they had boxes of several other 50s & 60s colors, including a really nice burgundy (they had bullnose & corners for that one) and a lovely creamy pale yellow–only bullnose in that color, but would be awesome with gray or black tile.
They are also going to cut the gray tile I found at World of Tile–I’m terrified of breaking any! Nice folks; family run business. If you are near them go see what else they have…..
Just want to add that the folks at Del Val Tile (see my comment above for contact info) cut my 1953 tile for me today–what helpful, pleasant people, what a terrific business! They have 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 tile in the crayon-bright colors of the 60s & 70s, as well as a really lovely soft gray-green and burgundy, both of which would look fabulous with pink for a true 50s vibe. I also noticed new 4 x 4 glass tile in colors that would work great in lots of vintage baths or kitchens. I recommend them to anyone in need of tile, whether NOS, retro or new.
This is my first time on this site. I have to replace 66 sq ft of vintage tile, color is called horizon blue, from a mnfr no longer in business. tile was put in around tub in 1970 and is 4×4 (approx.) Does anyone have any idea where I might find that? Thanks!
Mike — See story. #7 and #9 would be where I suggest you start your search. Also #1.
Hi Pam, Thank you for such a quick reply and thank you for the info. I’ll research it to see what I can find. Mike
Does anyone know anything about an English tile company– I have 4.5″ lavender tiles from my childhood home and they say ENGLAND TJLtd (in a triangle) 1951 on the back.
My childhood house was built in Arlington, VA in 1951.
I would add Latch Tile in San Francisco as a source of hard to find tiles and trim.
Well, my fiance and I installed the replacement tile we bought at World of Tile (Thank you, Chippy!), and over the weekend we installed a new pedestal sink. The sink is white, and a compromise, since we have not found an original Crane Oxford sink in Buttercup to match the tub and toilet, but we are now delighted by our gorgeous, nearly-all-authentic 1953 gray/yellow bath! (We took out a formica/plastic vanity & sink from the ’80s; tile were broken in the process, thus the need for replacement tile.) I have photos, if you would like to see them — I defy *anyone* to tell which are the original tiles, and which are the replacements! We did not believe this project could ever be completed so well, and it could not have been without the help of RetroRenovation and The World of Tile.
Does anyone have an email address for b&w tile? Trying to get some samples.
I found this site where you can contact B&W tile.
http://www.tilestoregardena.com/Contact
Thank You!
Sorry for the late reply. Operation “no boring bathroom” is back in action!
You can get the 4 x 4 retro tiles at Mission Tile West in Pasadena and Santa Monica, California. Also, Ed Pawlack Tile in Brea, CA is a wonderful source is you need authentic Malibu Tiles, but be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. I also want to confirm what Pam makes note of: B&W Tile in Gardena and Riverside is the best source of all – the others get the retro tiles from them and then mark them up substantially. For example, 120 sq ft of classic talc is $2,160 from Mission Tile West. The exact same thing from B&W (which is where Mission Tile gets them) is $540.00! That’s an impressive difference.
I am interested in the pink tile Melanie if your Dad and Mom still has it, let me know
Thank You!
Hi all, all buying/selling needs to go on the forum, http://retrorenovation.com/forums. i will not approve these comments for the main part of the blog, it just gets too crazy.
I am interest in old blue 4×4 tiles form the 50′s that is missing from my bathroom. Do you know where i can get it in Phila,Pa.
Hello,
Not sure if this is the right place, but any help to direct me to good sources would be of help.
—are there alternatives to using thin-set for tiling the bathroom walls?
—What is best adhesive for glass tiles? We’ve read that they dont dry well, which would mean moisture behind the wall..
—Also read there is some kind of stick-on material that makes installation easy-peasy…
—Any help appreciated, THANKS for this site info!!!
Arf
We are working around some stunning, detailed Art Deco 4×4 tiles: Underwater Tropical Fish that are beyond pretty! — looking for a retro feel as we search for right field color… The60s-70s? tub is custom jet stream with sold bronze fixtures… HUGE, ha ha The curves reminds me of the Sixties Imperial terminal building at LAX that now has a restaurant… Google it,,,
Hi Arf, I don’t have this level of expertise — sounds like you have some valuable stuff going on — I think you should try to find someone who has the correct professional expertise to advise you on these questions!
I’m having a heck of a time finding 4″ (or 4.25″) square FLOOR tiles. I’m wanting to do a subtle running checkerboard with the 4″ and a 2″ tile, but I can’t seem to find a 4″ that is rated for floor use (in white even!). Because I want it on the floor, see. I’m sure there are some of the unclean-look modern faux stone things available, but ick.
Who makes a 4×4 tile that measures 4″ I need some for a repair? This is not a common size and I am having a hard time locating it. Original tile says made in usa on the back. I am a tilesetter by trade this one has me stumped.
Try World of Tile. They are #9 on the list.
Suppose I wanted to buy the real thing instead of these reproduction tiles. Where and how much do vintage tiles cost?
Hi, just wanted to let you know that I did contact Chippy at World of Tile. Sent samples and photos. They contacted me with a price. I have to tell you that it was highway robbery! I needed 12 standard pink trim tiles and they wanted $19.99 each! For standard 4×4′s they wanted $16.99! And to top it all off, they are rude to deal with! These were not antique or fancy tiles, just standard 1960ish tiles.
you can find plenty of pink tubs, sinks , toilets and sometimes tile at Urban Ore in Berkeley Ca