Every Retro-Renovation-card carrying reader knows that pink bathrooms were wildly popular in midcentury America — thanks in part to First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, who popularized the color in the 1950s. When did we first see pink in bathrooms, though? And what were the different shades from the different manufacturers? I dove back into one of our favorite resources, The Building Techology Heritage Library on archive.org, to start tracking the history and see how many different pinks I could find in bathroom fixtures.
American Standard pinks — Rose Du Barry (pinky purple Orchid of Vincennes), Corallin and Venetian Pink
Above images: 1930 American-Standard Rose Du Barry bathroom fixtures and kitchen sink from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
In the 1930s, American Standard offered a Rose Du Barry pink (above) which looks to be a very rosy, bright pink. The company also offered Orchid Of Vincennes (below) that is likely a lavender pink, though it is hard to tell from the vintage catalog whether it leaned more toward purple or pink.
Above images: 1930 American-Standard Orchid of Vincennes bathroom fixtures from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above: By 1950, American Standard had removed their purpley pink Orchid of Vincennes from their color lineup and tweaked their Rose Du Barry pink to be a softer pastel pink, which they called ‘Corallin’. Above from: 1950 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Corallin Pink bathroom fixtures.
By 1962, Corallin was out and a very similar pink — called Venetian Pink — had taken over. In fact, Venetian Pink can still be found today at the last known source for a new pink toilet, Peerless.
Five images above: 1962 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Venetian Pink fixtures.
Kohler Pink — Lavender, Peachblow
A few years ago, Pam wrote about the very first year — 1927 — that Kohler offered its bathroom fixtures in colors besides white. “Lavender” was in the new palette — and golly, we think it looks pink. Above: Lavender fixtures from a 1928 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
By 1936, Kohler had created a separation between Lavender and pink by creating a peachier pink named “Peachblow” which — along with Tuscan, Spring Green and Lavender — became one of their most popular colors. Above: We see Kohler’s color lineup and a Peachblow bathroom in this 1936 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above: In this 1948 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, we see the whole palette for the year, which included Peachblow, which Kohler says is a “..more restrained, almost beige” pink that is a toned-down version of Lavender.
By 1949, Kohler had reduced its color offerings to just four: Spruce Green, Peachblow, Cerulean Blue and Tuscan. Two images above: from a 1949 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above images: In this 1950 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, Peachblow is still going strong.
According to Kohler’s excellent color timeline, Peachblow remained in production until 1973, when it was joined by Pink Champagne, a much bolder pink. In the 1980’s Wild Rose and Innocent Blush took over, though they were much more beiged-out pinks. Antique Rose was added in the mauve crazy mid 1990s and then Vapour Pink, a light pastel pink similar to their vintage pinks, was around for a short while before Kohler completely removed the color pink from their lineup.
Crane — Orchid Pink
In 1940, Crane offered Orchid Pink along with India Ivory, Citrus Yellow, Pale Jade, Lavender and Sun Tan as part of their lineup. Images above from: 1940 Crane catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Montgomery Ward — Tropical Coral
This 1955 Montgomery Ward catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org offers fixtures in Tropical Coral.
Briggs — Coral
The two images above show Coral from the 1950s Briggs Beautyware catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Eljer — Old Rose, Royal Orchid and Coral Blush
Pam spotted some Eljer catalogs from 1939 and 1940 on archive.org that showed several shades of pink — including Old Rose, Royal Orchid and Coral Blush.
Alliance Ware — Pink
Pam found this ad for Alliance Ware porcelain enameled bathroom fixtures that includes a pastel pink in a 1950s Small Homes Guide.
Suzy says
I was lucky enough to get a 3 piece set (toilet, tub & sink) for $100 off Craigslist & the seller even delivered from about 120 miles away (gave him gas $$) It’s Eljer from 1956 and called Coral Blossom … I can’t wait to install this in my 1959 home!!!
pam kueber says
Yay for Coral Blossom!
We’ll update the story with reader tips on color names early next week, I think, in order for more comments, potentially, to come in.
Thanks!
Ranger Smith says
The 1/2 bath in my 1948 home has a small pedestal sink, probably from the 1980’s. I’m beginning to think that there was probably a sink on chrome legs or even a small wall mount originally. Maybe I should start looking at the Habitat Restore. Then again, the pedestal has probably left marks on the linoleum. Hmmmm
Mark says
The fixtures in our hall bath are known as “Bermuda Coral”. Toilet is a Norris Thermador, sink an American standard, and we had the original Norris tub glazed to match. The tile we used (from B&W tile, Gardena, CA) is their ’50’s “tan” but matches perfectly…
Mary Beth says
All I have is a sample tile ( made in Japan) from our circa 1957 pink bathroom – the real estate brochure refers to the option as ‘Bermuda sand’ and if you have ever been – it is very accurate: pale, luminous , gorgeous!
pam kueber says
Stay tuned — we have stories on all the colors and all the names coming! Kate has been a very busy researcher!
Kathy says
Can’t wait! Thanks for all the research work Kate! I’m hoping Kate found something on my pink toilet and sink made by Rheem Richmond. I’ve never heard of that manufacturer. My MN rambler was built 1959 so they could be from then or since they were installed in the basement as a kind of 3/4 bath for a growing family in the 60’s they could date from 60’s or leftover’s from some older home? I don’t know, but the metalic silver and yellow wallpaper and plastic-type tile looking wall board lead me to believe maybe even installed in the early 70’s. It’s a mystery to me!
( You’ve already seen my yellow GE wall-oven & cook top here on RR and my “Betty Crocker dishwasher cover) My main bathroom has lovely teal blue ceramic tiles w/white fixtures and a small patch of original wallpaper inside a towel cupboard added later.)
pam kueber says
Ah, I’ve heard of Rheem-Richmond, we’ll see what we can find.
Jacqueline Harrison says
We just moved into a house built in 1954 and it has the original bathroom in the master. It is a peachy pink color made by Rheem also. I have had the hardest time finding information on the color name and information about their products from that time period. I would love to know what you found out.
Jeanne says
I’m living in my husband’s home until we move up north at the end of the year. It’s a colonial built in the 40s. The bathroom has lavender tile with black trim and a pink/black tile floor. I love it, but wasn’t able to put a name on the tile color. Lavender it is! It’s a pinky-purple color that I’ve never seen before. Plus the pink/black tile floor is a pattern I’ve never seen, either. Thanks for the post!
pam kueber says
Hi Jeanne,
Here’s a lavendar bathroom we showed in the wee early days of the blog — https://retrorenovation.com/2008/07/12/a-50s-bathroom-with-dusty-grey-lilac-tile/
I also found this in our archives: 1927, first year for Kohler to introduce colors and lavender was in the palette: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/07/17/colors-for-a-bathroom-kohler-introduces-bathroom-fixtures-in-six-colors-1927/
Jeanne says
Thank you Pam! I need to send you a photo of my pink/black tile floor in the bathroom. I don’t recall seeing the pattern on RR before.
We will be putting our home up for sale in the fall, and I’ll be painting the lavender bathroom…probably white. Trying to keep it “clean” for selling. I’ll let the lavender/black/pink patterns shine. 🙂
Jamesina66 says
Reading all the “colorful” color names, I recall my mother had two bathroom color schemes that had wonderful names, Her first combination was dubonnet and pearl gray, and the other was fawn and misty lilac. She never got either choice, but I did have a friend whose parents’ home had what I would definitely call a dubonnet and pearl gray bathroom; I saw this bathroom in the 90’s, but it had held up very well, and I think is still intact today.
Jessie Desmond says
My bathroom is decked out in Kohler Peachblow. It’s a hard color to match for towels.
If anyone knows where to find towels that match, let me know. The closest I’ve come is Colormate Pink Towels/Handtowels from Sears. They’re still off.
Carolyn says
I think at some point you have to decide to coordinate the colors instead of match UNLESS you stumble on to a stash in good condition from long ago.
Dan says
I think I shall luxuriate in my recessed lavendar Imperator tub and issue orders to the servants all day.
Carolyn says
Oh, good, I thought it was just me! Granted, these are advertisements, but I’d be hard-pressed to remove myself from any one of the older rooms once I opened the door. The “housewife” of yore wasn’t at home eating bonbons, she was too busy gazing around her bathroom!
pam kueber says
Show-off!
Chris says
You could give orders sitting on the “throne” on the raised dais in the Orchid of Vincennes bathroom. I’ve looked at this article a few times — obviously never very carefully, because I swear I just now noticed the toilet in the recessed niche with a curtain. Hilarious and fabulous!
Nancy says
Finally! I am so happy to identify the color of the bathroom fixtures/tile in my wonderful late 40s apartment in Buffalo that I owned in the mid-80s. Peachbow! The kitchen had white steel cabinets in perfect condition and I loved living with them. I’m sure all that is long gone. (sniff).
midmichigan says
Great research in that article. Very informative! OBTW, is there a RRCOTY yet? Last year was yellow I think. Maybe I missed it.
Paul says
What’s RRCOTY?
pam kueber says
Retro Renovation Color of the Year
Chris says
Thank you so much for this article! Our home was built in 1934. I know the blog mainly focuses on more true mid-century stuff, but what a treat for me to see images and colors from the 30s.
Wait for it —
I’m TICKLED PINK!
😉