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.
Lori B says
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.
Adrian says
I love it! I could even add some stenciling on the walls with a darker shade of the same colour of the walls. 🙂
tammyCA says
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. 😀
Mattie says
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!
Mary Elizabeth says
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.
robert norman says
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!
Catherine says
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.
Mary Elizabeth says
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.
Catherine says
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.
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
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.
nina462 says
I LOVE that bathroom. Especially the ephemera! Wowza!
Hannah says
Robert … Perfect. Holy smokes. It’s just perfect. The little details, the iridescent walls, the flippin’ tile. Perfect!
Mapesape says
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!
tammyCA says
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.
Lauryn says
Beautiful bathroom and lovely way to redecorate it to your liking, so bravo! I am particularly in love with that shower!
Chaucea says
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. 🙂