Our miniseries on vintage bathroom colors continues! Blue bathrooms may not be quite as prolific as their cousin pink — but there were still loads of beautiful blue vintage bathrooms installed in homes all over the country in midcentury America. Today, we take a look at some of many shades of blue that were produced from 1927-1962, along with their pretty names — like “Clair De Lune.” There are even some dark navy blues in the mix.
American Standard Blues — Clair De Lune Blue, Royal Copenhagen Blue and Regency Blue
In 1930, American-Standard offered two blues — one lighter pastel blue called ‘Clair De Lune Blue’ (above) and one darker blue ‘Royal Copenhagen Blue’ shown below. Above images: 1930 American-Standard Clair De Lune Blue bathroom fixtures from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above images: 1930 American-Standard Royal Copenhagen Blue bathroom fixtures from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
By 1950, American Standard had removed the darker Royal Copenhagen Blue color from their lineup in favor of the more popular lighter Clair De Lune Blue. Above from: 1950 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Clair De Lune Blue bathroom fixtures.
The 1960s ushered in ‘Regency Blue’ which looks very similar to its early sibling ‘Clair De Lune Blue.’
Three images above: 1962 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Regency Blue fixtures.
Kohler Blue — Horizon Blue, Cerulean
A few years ago, Pam wrote about the very first year — 1927 — that Kohler offered its bathroom fixtures in colors besides white. One of these original colors was ‘Horizon Blue.’
Kohler’s 1928 ‘Horizon Blue’ must have been a very pale blue/gray color because it appears to be almost white in the catalog illustration above. The exact same image and color also appears in Kohler’s 1929 catalog. Above: Horizon Blue fixtures from a 1928 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above: We see Kohler’s color lineup 1936 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org. While Horizon Blue was still offered and may have been darkened, it was not one of their four most popular colors as indicated by the larger swatch size above.
Above: In this 1948 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, we see the whole palette for the year, which includes their new, brighter blue Cerulean showcased here with a lovely deep red and white themed bathroom. Also, note the dental sink!
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, Cerulean Blue is still going strong.
You can see Kohler’s complete color offerings — including all of their different blues — in this extensive color timeline found on Kohler’s website.
Crane — Lucerne Blue
Above: This 1940 Crane catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org shows their blue as “Lucerne Blue.” Just check out the use of color in this bathroom — purple floor, black wall, pink walls and gold towels with blue fixtures. What a bold arrangement!
Montgomery Ward — Sky Blue
This 1955 Montgomery Ward catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org offers fixtures in Sky Blue.
Briggs — Sky Blue
Three images above of Briggs’ Sky Blue from: A 1951 Briggs Beautyware catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org show off some inventive decor ideas for a blue bathroom.
The two images above show Sky Blue from the 1950s Briggs Beautyware catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org. Check out that low profile blue toilet.
Eljer — Midnight Blue and Twilight Blue
Pam spotted this 1939 Eljer catalog in the MBJ Collection on archive.org that shows their color offerings, which include a dark blue called ‘Midnight Blue’ and a lighter pastel ‘Twilight Blue.’
Alliance Ware — Blue
Pam found this ad for Alliance Ware porcelain enameled bathroom fixtures that includes a pastel blue in a 1950s Small Homes Guide.
Reader’s blue bathrooms
Above: We just love Kristen and Paul’s aqua blue 1940s bathroom with black and white accents.
Above: Nanette and Jim built a lovely blue and white bathroom from scratch in their basement.
Two images above: This 1950s time capsule house had seven vintage bathrooms — two of which are blue.
Above: The Comer House in Gallatin, Tenn. has a lovely blue and white vintage bathroom.
Above: Alice’s 1950s blue bathroom has a fun mosaic floor tile pattern that we figured out how to replicate.
Still want more blue? Check out Pam’s story: Scenes from 22 blue midcentury bathrooms
Diane says
My grandparents had the low profile toilets (in white), they really were as “whisper-silent” as the advertising says. I always wondered why they never caught on.
Carol says
I’m so crazy about colored bathrooms and loved this article. Check out this blue with yellow bathroom in this Art Deco home that was for sale. I almost fell off my chair when I saw it, not to mention the house. Look very closely at the period details in the house. It was very lovingly restored and to me is a showstopper.http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/48032663_zpid/any_days/29.217649,-81.005014,29.213917,-81.010062_rect/17_zm/ . 309 Sears Ave., Daytona Beach FL. Hope you guys enjoy as much as I did.
pam kueber says
Wow! A lovely house indeed! Thanks for sharing!
MCM is Grand says
So glad to see this beautiful home, thanks for sharing the link. Also happy to note that the listing agent appears to be appreciative of all of the period details 🙂
CarolK says
That house is about enough to make me want to move to Florida! My two dogs would make a nice mouthful for a gator though.
Kathy says
This house is so pitch-perfect that with perhaps a few modifications to the furniture and a different location for the kitchen, it could be a movie set. I could really see some barkcloth and rattan furniture in that living room. And check out that nice little rubble and clay tile patio with fountain and concrete swans in the backyard–looks like a DIY project right out of magazine at the time, and a nice use of a narrow space. Love the modern kitchen too–not period, but channels some of the period style. Those cabinets with the deep drawers could be repainted garage tool chests, and like the mosaic tile walls. Nice subtle use of period colors throughout too.
Shari Davenport says
Oh my!! The Art Deco scheme is played off so incredibly well, it’s there, in almost every room, but it’s not overwhelming or overdone at any point. I love love LOVE the waterfall chest in the second bedroom, even though that’s not really an architectural feature!
And that kitchen is to die for, for anyone even considering leaning towards professional status. I have worked in professional restaurant kitchens before, and find every touch of this one on point. Who would have thought of putting a professional restaurant style sink in a home kitchen? Marvelous! The only thing that seems to be missing is a dishwasher? Because that is definitely not a dishwashing sink, leaving one to fall back on the old dishpan idea. A bit disappointing in that one respect alone.
Those three drawer rollout cabinets on either side of that marvelous stove are to provide access for thorough cleaning! The countertops are stationary, but the cabinets with their very useful deep pan storage drawers and utensils in the top two drawers on either side just roll out into the room and you can (or your housekeeper can) sweep and mop to their heart’s content! And the glass block wall directly over the stove back is a fabulous touch! Daylight filtered for visibility, but a hood above that will provide light at night. Perfect! The countertop extends to a bar seating area for two just outside the kitchen door. Nice!
That French door with the Art Deco patterned etched design in it is gorgeous!
And bathrooms!! The blue bathroom, containing this absolutely swoon-worthy “valuable original Henry Dreyfuss Neuvogue pedestal sink” is SO gorgeous, with Art Deco touches right down to the little yellow electric clock sitting on the vanity cabinet! Coordinating blue ceramic toothbrush and tumbler holder and soap dish – marvelous! And, OH my dears – that medicine cabinet with a motion picture worthy Art Deco design – I’d have to have that specially insured against damage! The whole room I’d find difficult to leave – I’d have to physically tear myself away from just sitting and admiring it 24/7!
What an amazing place!
And if the inside weren’t enough – the front walls are TWO FEET THICK!! Im wondering if that’s the south-facing side of the house – it certainly would be a fabulous heat blocker during the hottest parts of the year!
What a fabulous house inside and out! Thanks so much for sharing!
Paul - CT says
I really LOVE that Emperor commode. I would attempt time travel to the 1950’s just to get one! It would be perfect in my twilight blue master bathroom.
Lisa says
Oh! I love the Mongomery Ward Sky Blue. Just beautiful!
Shari Davenport says
Lisa – That’s my favorite too I think, among all the blues presented. It has a touch of gray to it, making it such a calming, soothing color! But, that very deep Navy blue – the Royal Copenhagen blue in the 1930 American Standard catalog is running a close second! I love deep, rich blues, and that is one of them.
In fact, there is a photo of a catalog/ad image from 1920’s kitchens elsewhere on this site, with a gorgeous, to-die-for color of Royal blue wall hung kitchen sink with I think a matching blue range! I love it!!
The Comer House blue bathroom photo above here is also a lovely shade. It’s not the aqua blue, or the bluish-greenish tones I like, but the really pure blues, and the ever so slightly grayish tones that love. And that Montgomery Ward setup is a winner in my book!
Erik in Minneapolis says
Note the vertical grab bars on the tile bathtub surrounds in the 1948 and 1949 Kohler illustrations.
Debbie in Portland says
Love, love, LOVE these blue bathrooms!! The catalog pages are amazing, and the photos of vintage bathrooms are so inspiring.
Andrea says
The decor in these ads just kills me. So many unexpected color combinations, like the emerald green floor with yellow accents, or the blue and lilac combo. I am loving the dark burgundy floor with the blue, too.
Were the illustrators also the decorators, or were they given photos and detailed instructions to work from ? Does anyone know ?
Lisa says
My 1924 bathroom is green, blue, black and mauve!
Kathy says
Please send Pam the pictures! That sounds like it is worth a story. Scroll all the way down to the bottom and hit the contact link.
Love color in baths and kitchens. Open plan and concerns about resale value force most new homes into boring, and often clashing, neutrals. Vintage has so much more personality.
Renata Hill says
We’ve lived in our 1952 ranch very happily for twelve years but the bathroom only has its American Standard Ming Green toilet left. Now that we’re downsizing and selling the house, our agent recommended getting rid of the green toilet and putting in a white one. The styling on this toilet is so pretty and I love the color and after all these years it still is working well.
I can’t stand the thought of it going to the landfill so if anyone wants a FREE Ming green toilet go to the Toronto kijiji site where it’s listed. I’d just like it to go to someone who appreciates the 50s styling and color.
Mary Elizabeth says
I love Regency Blue and aqua the best. By the way, look at “Color scheme #1, Regency Blue.” Doesn’t it have the same feel as the bathroom in the Las Vegas cottage?
Carolyn says
Sky blue, like greens, are nature colors and so are infinitely easier to work with to coordinate or contrast with other elements. Funny how white or beige need to be propped up. Who would think to use purple with blue?! or any of the other pictures’ use of colors?
I REALLY LIKE the “Regency Blue” photo using the mirror to include everything in the bathroom.
I hope I live to see the day when color is again available – I am so sick of “edgy design” of stinkin’ white (gee, CJ, don’t hold back, tell us how you really feel!)
Anyways, thank you Kate, for sending us off into the weekend with these happy images.
Kate says
Glad you are enjoying the story Carolyn! 🙂
CarolK says
Kohler makes a few kitchen and bathroom sinks (toilets too!) in blue and green. They do make more designs in neutrals though. IIRC, Jonathan Adler made a series of colored sinks for Kohler but I can find evidence of that on the Kohler website.
The current blues and greens can’t hold a candle to these classic colors.
pam kueber says
CarolK, here is our story on the Jonathan Adler sinks when they came out — https://retrorenovation.com/2012/06/12/flower-power-kitchen-and-bathroom-sinks-new-from-kohler-jonathan-adler/
CarolK says
@Carolyn, your comment about boring white bathrooms reminds of this old kids’ poem by Rachel Field, Taxis.
I’ll not post the whole poem here, but Rachel is praising the the colorfulness of taxis
“Jack of lantern yellow
Orange as the moon
Greener than the greenest grass
Ever grew in June”
while lamenting the boring black private car.
One of the lines is “Don’t you think that taxis make
a very pleasant sight?”
I think we’d all agree that blue and pink and green bathroom fixtures make a very pleasant sight.
If anyone wants to read Rachel’s poem: http://www.poetrynook.com/poem/taxis