An original pink and black bathroom is always a crowd pleaser — and today, we have a beautiful example. After figuring out relatively early in his house-hunting journey that he was likely to end up in an older house, eader Robert set his sites on finding one with either a pink-and-white or black-and-white bathroom. Of course, the RDGs delivered unto him the pink. To put his own stamp on the space, Robert needed to complete only minor defroufrouification, and the bathroom was good to go. <– bathroom pun, teehee.
Robert addressed his first email to Pam, writing:
Hi Pam – I always enjoy your blog and I thought you might like to see my pink bathroom. I’ve included probably more images than you want (i’m a photographer, sorry!)… The house is in Connecticut from 1950, and the bathroom was in pristine condition. Not a crack or chip anywhere. It’s like it was never used. It originally had some pretty u*** [edited] wallpaper and drapes which all came down immediately! I decided to work around the theme and have fun with it adding vintage stuff, rather than try and make it look current. The walls are painted with a silver iridescent glaze paint.
Funny story – when I was looking at homes I kept seeing h****** [edited] bathrooms. I remember thinking to myself, “If I have to have an old bathroom, can’t I find a black and white, or pink and black?” So when the realtor walked me in {to this house}, and she starting apologizing for the bathroom suggesting how I could work with it, I held my hand out stopping her, and said, “NO, no, no!! this is GREAT!” She looked at me and was like, “It IS??!”
Decorating a pink and black bathroom
Robert, we agree: This is great! You were very lucky indeed to land a vintage pink and black bathroom that was in such great shape and which *needed* only modest cosmetic updates to suit your own personal style. We don’t include a resource list with this story, because it looks like most of your decor items are vintage. However, we will say, it looks like you added black porcelain bathroom sconces from Rejuvenation — correct?
Painting the walls a metallic silver and adding the black crown molding really played up the contrast and angular detail of the space — making this bathroom feel handsome. The crown molding also nicely echoed the black bullnose and liner tile that outlines the bathroom — and helped to balance out the dark flooring.
The graphics used to advertise and market vintage bathroom products are so cool — a relatively easy way to make a nod to a vintage bathroom’s history — and great decor, too.
Other black accessories — like this retro wall clock — repeat the “outlined in black” motif.
Agreed: No matter how sophisticated a pink and black bathroom might get, there’s always room for a pink poodle in Paris. We are sure that lots of readers will be green with envy over this vintage laundry hamper.
Another clever trick that Robert used to continue the room’s outlines was to paint the inside of the shower opening black — thus continuing the tile outline all the way around the shower entrance.
A few other vintage details like this pink Detecto bath scale amp up the retro factor.
Vintage advertisements framed as art in pink and steel finish out the space.
We can certainly see Robert’s visual skills — he is a photographer with a nifty retro site design – in this thoughtfully designed space. Thank you, Robert, for sharing this gorgeous pink potty with the appreciative tribe at Retro Renovation.
Wow, what a gorgeous bathroom! Exactly what I would love to recreate in our house. What a lucky man. Funny thing, the first thing I thought when looking at the ‘before’ pics was how the ghastly wallpaper & curtains would have to go…
Note: Lots of folks like wallpaper!!!
Thats true, but I wasn’t so sure about bold stripes and little roses! LOL
Removing that wallpaper was the best choice, no doubt about it. It made the room look MUCH smaller and distracted the eye from the gorgeous fittings, maybe that’s why the previous owner put it there?!.
I don’t understand how anyone could rip this masterpiece out for a cheapo “big box store” potty. Bravo, Robert!!
Your bathroom looks great – so crisp and fresh! Love the glass doorknobs, too!
great job – great fun
Robert, wonderful job! I love your metal hamper with poodle and your pink wastebasket, and all the extra touches like the old toiletries and the ads. Now tell me, are you so persnickety like me that you took off the old doorknobs and hardware to polish up the tarnished brass? I am happy to see you saved everything there. One can see that “You are proud of your bathroom”!
hahaha! actually I did not polish the knobs, but know you got me thinking…..
Robert, you don’t NEED to! Mine were green with crud when I moved in. Yours look wonderful. There is just something about those glass doorknobs…. both my sister and I just love them!
It’s fabulous. So fortunate to have such great orginal conditon.
That silver iridescent glaze paint is awesome!
Wow – what a lucky, lucky guy to have found such a perfect pink and black bathroom! I recreated one where there was none, but there’s nothing better than an original. I love all your touches and I especially love the hamper, the framed ads and your corner of collectibles from the past. I would be happy to get out of bed every morning knowing this is what would be greeting me. Lovely, lovely job!
As much as I love the redo, I actually liked the original too. It’s just a different aesthetic – a more girly, frilly look. But the poodle hamper is just too awesome. Love all the little added touches with the original toiletries.
My realtor did the same thing – looked at my Ming green bathroom and was horrified. She tried to tell us how easy it would be to update but my husband and I said “No! We love this bathroom.” I didn’t know anything about MCM at the time but I knew I had to keep the original fixtures.
Gorgeous! Love the thick black crown. My only quibble would be to put in a black porcelain ceiling fixture that matches the sconces (so minor). I really love the graphics on the Band Aid box!
i HAVE thought of that actually! One of those things I haven’t gotten to!!
I bet you could just find glossy, high heat, black paint and paint the receptacle — I think it would be difficult to tell the difference, given the height.
Thats a great idea – the fixture doesn’t get all that hot either—I sense a new project…
We bought two fixtures for our kitchen from our Habitat ReStore that were pretty ho-hum until I took two coats of a high-gloss spray paint to the metal bases … and now they’re a damn close match to our black porcelain Rufus fixture from Rejuvenation. It is a really easy, affordable way to get a fine looking fixture. (One of those fixtures was only a dollar!)
Yay! Great idea!
Three words: Pink. Poodle. Hamper. That is all.
That took a LOT of patience waiting for the right one on eBay!
Great idea to use silver for the walls. Love it all.
REALLY tricky to apply but worth it in the end!
Fantastic!!! Love the vintage bathroom products as decor!
We need to do a story on vintage bathroom products as decor, Katiedoodle! Everyone seems to like these!
Excellent idea Pam!
I second that! I also love the metal wastebaskets and the old painted hampers.
The hamper is so awesome!
A few weeks ago I bought a vintage bubble bath box for the bathroom.
Love it, Thanks for sharing.
So groovy! Love everything in there! I hope I can find a guy who is not afraid of pink as a decor!
Robert is such a retro hipster. I love his style + want to see more of this house.
This is an awesome bathroom! My grandparents owned a plumbing company back in the mid 50′s to 80′s and had the BEST bathrooms in their house. My grandfather’s was pink, pink, pink, and my grandmother’s was black and white swankadelic with a sunken black tile tub big enough for me to swim in. I’m trying to figure out how to get back into their house and take pictures so I can post them here (praying the “new” owners haven’t remodeled). Their bathrooms remained unchanged at the time they passed away in the late 90′s, so here’s hoping!!!
I adore this and am a big fan of pink bathrooms. It makes me so sad that my sister and my brother-in-law actually PAINTED OVER the classic pink tile and black in their bathroom. In white! I wish they’d had this vision. The paint is starting to peel, so maybe…
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned that floor yet! THAT FLOOR!!! I mean, I love it all….but THAT FLOOR!!! To die for, that floor! Did I mention that floor???
Love this bath! Can’t believe it is in such fine condition – and that shower! amazerating – especially love the vintage vignette on the glass shelves and the silver wall paint – perfection!
Robert ~ The bathroom looks incredible and, you are correct, I was not sure if you would like it. However, I have clients who purchased a home recently who also have a lovely pink powder room and I’m trying to tell them NOT to re-do it. So I will send forward this to them for inspiration. You are amazing and have such a good eye. Your home is gorgeous. It was perfect for you. Hope to see you soon.
I KNEW you’d enjoy seeing this!!!
Just GORGEOUS!!!!! I love everything about it and wish it were mine!
Bravo Robert! Love seeing this there–and proud to say I’ve been in this bathroom!
Yes, I think this has to be my favorite pink bath to date. I know lotsa folks like wall paper (Pam!!!) but I think the neutral background allows the accessories and the old toiletries to shine. I like the vintage clock and the glass shelves (how did you install them?). Makes me wish my pink and black bath was as nice as this one but it had major problems. Oh Yes! That floor, beautiful. What is it?
Kudos to you for shushing the realtor. They need ettiquett lessons in knowing when to hold off on the “needs updating” line.
Great Job!
The shelves are attached to little brackets. So it’s just 2 screws in the wall! The floor is SOME sort of linoleum tile I haven’t really messed with ( afraid to open that can of worms ) actually it’s funny my realtor was great, I think she just assumed I’d hate a pink bathroom!!
Well it looks great and does look like black marble, especially with the glossy finish.
bathroom bliss. i love it!
Robert’s bathroom re-do is elegant and smart. The black crown molding and silver walls are what really make it work, in my opinion. I do want to salute the former owner, who kept the bathroom in great condition, and obviously really loved the pink bathroom too, as can be seen by all of the decorative touches. Finally, bravo to Robert for the black towels with the monster appliques. They keep the bathroom from seeming like a retro museum.
I love those little ‘monster’ towels–got them on Etsy. They don’t really match but I thought they were fun regardless!
Thumbs up! The silver looks awesome with that pink and black!
Hi, Robert,
I had a friend from New London who had your same name–and a pink bathroom in his house when we were kids. He died a few years ago, so I shed a couple of fat tears on my keyboard. But then, that poodle hamper cheered me up! My mom had one like it in green, without the poodle.
Everyone has given you all the right kudos for pulling off the wallpaper–I like some wallpaper, but this design was so cluttered one would feel claustrophobic and couldn’t see the rest of the features of the room–and for patiently collecting all the vintage toiletries, etc. No one mentioned the thing that jumped out at me in the first “after” picture–you painted the radiator to match the tile, so that it just blends into the wall instead of dominating it. Great color sense you have!
Oh, and be very careful of using that vintage fan if it is in working condition. A visiting kid (or a visitor who has kid-like qualities) could lose a finger in it, because it doesn’t have a cage around it, as is required on all fans since about the ’70s.. I would suggest mounting a little shelf in a corner near the ceiling for it and displaying it there. If you don’t do your own electrical, have an electrician install an outlet for it higher up on the wall. It will actually work better to break up the hot air in the room that way.
I love that your real estate agent wrote in about what you’d done. I don’t blame her for thinking you wouldn’t want to keep the pink bath: I’ve learned by being on this site that although there are some of us out here that like to preserve rather than tear out the mid-century home features, we are a rare breed. It’s just wonderful to meet you and all the others who share their projects on this site.
it’s actually a ‘new old’ fan from Restoration hardware–so the blades are plastic and its nowhere as dangerous as it looks!!
So cool that the blades are safe and new. You had me fooled, Robert!
I thought the same thing! Yay that Robert painted the radiator to match the tiles!! I love how everything was done~it looks swellerific!!!! I think we would also like to see the rest of the house, Robert! I hope we DO!!
So, where has all the pink TP gone?
I *think* there was an issue with *skin irritation* due to the dies in the pink TP. Or, at least I think I read that at some point.
Just pink caused irritation? I never knew that. I just figured all the pastel colors faded from the market for economy reasons. The manufacturer saved money by just producing white. Sort of like Henry Ford, “you can have any color so long as it is black”.
My info is anecdotal — not authoritative. I guess I should call Charmin and ask the question!
My rich friend in highschool had personalized monogrammed TP a this house. I had never seen anything like that before or since. It was like regular TP on the back but gold on the front side with burgandy Ks.
That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a long, long time. I read last year that bakers in New York were putting flakes of gold on their desserts. So rich people could literally shit gold. Pardon my french.
I believe too there was a skin irritation issue. I was thinking about it as soon as I saw the photograph of the vintage TP ad (before I even read these comments). Anytime I see ads for vintage colored TP in old mags, vintage stores, etc., my mind always goes there! I remember my mom told me the same thing Pam mentioned years after the issue happened. I remembered solid colored TP as a kid even in the 70s and questioned where had it gone.
I also remember all of the pretty colors of TP that were available back in the day. I think is was the skin irritation thing that got everyone changing to white. Also, I remember that Kleenex also came in pastel colors. I guess when the TP changed to white, so did the tissues.
up until a couple of years ago, I was still able to get pink Scott tissue at Stop and Shop–then it seems all the colors disappeared!
Yay! LOVE IT! All of it!
I’m a sucker for metal wastebaskets, its so awesome to see you have one in your bathroom. And the hamper, what a flashback to the ones my grandparents and my folks had.
Beautiful bathroom and lovely way to redecorate it to your liking, so bravo! I am particularly in love with that shower!
It seems to me that part of the problem of disappearing retro bathrooms in general is over-zealous real estate agents thinking and encouraging people to update absolutely everything!
Yep. And, all those HGTV shows that make vintage a bad thing so they can come sledgehammer it and promote all the “new stuff” from the companies.
I’ll never understand why color (and granny for that matter) gets such a bum rap in today’s decorating world.
Robert’s bath shows both sophistication and a sense of fun.
Robert … Perfect. Holy smokes. It’s just perfect. The little details, the iridescent walls, the flippin’ tile. Perfect!
I LOVE that bathroom. Especially the ephemera! Wowza!
Nice refurb……….In the original main bathroom in my parents home, built in ’57, has pink fixtures but gray wall tile. The innards of the toliet have been refurbished. The finish of the sink and tub are alittle hazy from cleaners my Mom used way back when we were growing up that must have been to harsh, otherwise in great shape. I’ve thought of trying to buff them out with possibly an auto polishing compound to see if it helps.
Catherine, it may just be a fine film of minerals and old cleaner residue on the tub. Before you use auto compound, try Kohler cast iron kitchen sink cleaner, available on line. It’s made for the enamel on case iron kitchen sinks they still make, but you can use it on your tub. It worked miracles on my 1959 Briggs Venetian pink tub, which I thought I would have to replace. Not only did it remove scuffs, soap scum, mineral deposits, etc., but the tub looked like it had been “detailed.” There are still some very fine surface scratches, but because they are dirt free, you can’t see them.
Thank you so much for the suggestions of product for me to try. I will certainly get some that cleaner, it would be great to bring the tub and sink back to life. My mother is also quite content with the colors in her bathroom.
My tub was dull and constantly dirty looking from years of abrasive cleaning. I was able to get local tub refinishers to put a clear coat on it and it looks amazing now.
Robert, this is absolutely GORGEOUS! I love everything you’ve done, especially the silvery wall color and the ephemera displayed on little glass corner shelves. One question: do the vintage paper and cardboard packages hold up well in a steamy bathroom? I have some old things I’d like to display but I worry that they’ll get damp and icky.
Again, bravo on a beautiful bathroom renovation!
Yeah, what about dampness, or do you just put that stuff out when people are coming or you’re doing a photo shoot? And where do you hide the real tissues and toilet paper, Robert? You don’t want your guests to open those packages! May I suggest you go on Etsy and eBay and get vintage or reproduction tissue box and toilet paper “cozies” or covers? I’ve seen poodles and pigs as well as the traditional rosettes.
actually, all that stuff stays out – I DO take a chance that someone might open something. If I have a party, some of it (like tissues) might go away, but most people know me well enough to know its for ‘show’ – and i’d kill them if they opened them hahaha!
Super bathroom! You’re so lucky it was in mint condition. Good for you to work with it.
It has a sharp Art Deco feeling or what I imagine the classic Beverly Hills Hotel bathrooms would look like. I also like all the ‘bathroom humor’ items…and, yes I am jealous of the poodle hamper.
I love it! I could even add some stenciling on the walls with a darker shade of the same colour of the walls.
Regarding the colored TP, I was over at my in-laws recently when they were cleaning out their basement and noticed a stash of yellow toilet paper. My mother in-law saw how excited I was about it, so she gave me the 2 large packs of the yellow. She then dug around and found packs of pink and mint green! We then started discussing about what had happened to all the colored TP the stores used to have. She thought it had something to do with irritation as well. Of course, I came home and immediatly googled “colored toilet paper” and discovered that you can get colors at RenovaShop. Not pastels, but bright colors, even black!!! I have bought the orange, green and black, and have had no issues.
Love, love, love the bathroom!! I think the black TP would be a great addition.
Hi Robert,
Great job on the bathroom! I LOVE IT! Believe it or not, I think I have the metal wastebasket and tissue cover that matches your hamper (they’re stored away at the moment, which is why I’m not sure). If they’re not an exact match, they sure are close.
I especially love the paint, vintage ads and ephemera. More than anything, though, I applaud you for appreciating your pink-and-black vintage bathroom!
oh my gosh–you DO??! Thats so cool!!!
I DO, Robert! If you’re interested in having a matching set, let me know and I’ll dig them out for you.
OOO! really???! I may take you up on that if you can locate them!
Unlike most of my things in storage, I know exactly where they are and how to get my hands on them pretty easily.
Robert, I’ve had family in town and have been working a lot. It may take me a little while to dig them out, but please feel free to remind me. I don’t always remember to check the blog!
This bathroom made my day! Sheer delight from top to bottom.
Enjoyed reading all the comments as well. In regard to the coloured toilet paper, which I clearly remember, I recall that it was discontinued as it was considered harmful for septic tanks and plumbing! Go figure.
Incredible patience to get this bathroom right. Sheesh…even Gleem toothpaste!
If my comment is accepted, I would appreciate it if only my last initial is used, rather than my full name. This might already be your policy, not sure. Thx. Great site; great posts.
Bravo for not only saving this wonderful pink beauty, but for breathing new life into it. You did an amazing job…such attention to detail. Being a hairdresser seeing the hair product sign & Barbicide jar made me smile. Having painted numerous light fixtures, a high gloss black spray paint would easily do the trick for that ceiling fixture. I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but the toilet seat in the before photo? Is it open? closed? or am I just seeing things?
oh my god–I never noticed that!! how weird–I wonder if they had some sort of liner to keep the kids out of it?!?!
It looks like a quick Photoshopping job. The photo was taken with the seat up, but that’s frowned upon in real estate listings so rather that re-shoot, someone did a digital fix.
I love the bathroom’s new look, particularly the new black accents.
I had Kate cover the open bowl in Photoshop. If you are a regular reader of the blog, you will know that I strive NEVER EVER to show open toilets. Bad feng shui. Sends money energy down the drain. We need to make money here, hehe.
Oh gosh–I did NOT know that!!!!
Colored toilet paper was discontuined because the dyes used in it were connected to cervical cancer.
Some of them were also perfumed and the perfume caused irritation. Also it’s hard to see blood on colored paper. so white can help identify health issues.
The new dyes they use are safe, but there are only a few companies putting out colored paper.
I remember when it went away and people would say, sotto voce; “it gives you butt cancer!’
Now, just rip up the peel and stick vinyl and let’s see the orignal porcelain floor tile. I wonder what color and pattern?
I don’t think that’s peel and stick …
Well done Robert! Makes me feel 5 years old again! Looks just like my childhood!
You did good!
I am just looking at this story for the first time, but I came home from Lowe’s two weeks ago and announced to my husband: I have found the paint colors for the hall bath! The colors I had picked out were a darker silver, still metallic, and an aqua. I am so happy to see how good the silver looks in this room. Makes me feel good about my choice.
We have a pink bathroom…..I would love to know the actual color and company of the silvery paint from your remodel…it’s what I am looking for.
thanks
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/paint-products/benjamin-moore-studio-finishes?lang=en_US&role=H#piSheen=405&advs=0&tab=2
its the Studio Finishes Metallic Glaze in Silver. I’ll warn you though- it is NOT easy to apply and requires multiple layers as its a glaze and not really a paint.
Thanks so much, Robert for taking the time to give me the answer regarding paint color….it looks great….I think it’s worth the time, but the real question is, do I have the skill? I’ll have to think about that.
Thanks so much.
its gets VERY streaky and ‘brushy’ looking. And the first few coats will; look like a disaster until it starts to build up. I did a lot of ‘feathering’ with an almost dry brush to try and keep brush marks away. It almost seems like you’d be better diff if you could SPRAY it on!!!
Your pink and black bathroom brings back so many memories. When I was growing up the bathroom in our house had the same flooring, wall tile, laundry hamper, and bathroom scales! The walls were painted a shade very close to the one you have chosen. Thank you for sharing your photos, I hadn’t thought about that bathroom for years.
Thanks Brenda, thats really nice to hear. The bathroom gives me that same feeling, and so many people who strop by say the same thing. Kinda funny that something as simple as a BATHROOM can conjure so many memories!!!