From the category archives:
We pause from this week’s 1948 historical retrospective for: A product recommendation! I am letting a little secret out of the bag, readers: J.C.Penney is a great store (and catalog and website) for many things retro. As in: If it’s a place grandma would shop for home decor – we like it! J.C.P., wanna advertise on the blog? It really truly is a good fit!
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Russell the Engineer found a new source for great plumbing parts. I’ll do more on Locke Plumbing soon. But to start, if anyone is gutting their tub/shower and wants a new faucet and shower head, this Delta model seems like a great find. It’s only $79. I love the shape. And crystal-plastic handles have even grown on me. This line has been discontinued — further proof we want it! — so there’s not much stock left.
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In addition to the Franklin Brass chrome sink legs I’ve written about, Deabath.com offers this set – from a different manufacturer – for $50/pair. With their ‘hexagon’ styling they are spot-on retro for the 40s and 50s.
Deabath also offers three other varieties of sink legs. They are more expensive models – heavier castings – and generally, for earlier periods. Although – the set authentically reproduced from 1935 has timeless modern appeal – yummy!
Tips:
Here is the url straight to these legs on the deabath website: deabath.com/pedsinks/wallhung/wallhung.htm
Also new to their site - this beauty.
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When I renovated our three bathrooms, every single detail became an obsession. At one point, I wanted to re-chrome the original, rusty towel bars. But it was ungodly expensive, and they weren’t expensive to begin with, just very typical for the 50s.
After a lot of online exploration and poking around stores, I ultimately bought the Hyde Park series from Delta, available through my Home Depot. Fortunately, I’d seen it there during my research and had taken notes, because when I finally went back to buy them, they were no longer on display. But – Home Depot can order them for you.The reason in particular that I liked them – was the 6-sided kind of reverse-lug wrench look of their base. (I am sure there is a technical term for this: Help!) This lug wrench styling was exactly what is on my vintage faucet. They also have a nice hefty feel. Go for the chrome – of course (!) (even though one photo in brass finish)
The problem with so many towel bars today – as with toilets and sinks – is that they are so fussy, designed “on victorian steroids”. 50s styling came out of the streamline and deco eras…very clean, industrial looks to reflect the new modern, non-fussy viewpoints.
One last thing – if you end up going with a wall-mount sink and Franklin Brass legs, simly add the Hyde Park towel ring to the right or left. A fine solution.
No url today. Go to Home Depot.
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When we retro-renovated our three 50s bathrooms a couple of years ago, I searched high and low – obsessed! — for towels and matching rugs in the perfect accent colors. The only company that I could find that had complete matching sets at a decent price, was Land’s End. They have giant, large, medium and small towels, washcloths, big rugs, small rugs, contour rugs (the kind that fit around the toilet. Hey, you have to have one of these!)… the whole kit and caboodle.
Even if you decide to go with a “toned down” retro look, vamp it up with the towels. The risk is quite modest – and the payoff immense! For example, in my husband’s bathroom we have a set of burnt orange towels and rugs to match one of the minor accent colors in the flamingo-and-Florida themed wallpaper. In my light brown-white-aquamint bathroom, I have dark brown towels. Our third light blue-and-white bathroom has bright red towels – to pick up on the faded geraniums in the wallpaper. In all three cases, the towels and rugs made a huge difference, they were a big add.
Thanks to Julie Roberts of Land’s End for sending images – great service – just like I’ve always had from the company!
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This is one of two sets of chrome legs possible to match up with your wall hung sink.
The other is at deabath.com – see this post.
The look is a 50s classic — and great for small bathrooms, as having the space underneath the sink makes the room look much bigger. Just keep on top of all the dust bunnies.
This find would be even better if there were attached chrome towel bars. Even so — Thank you Franklin Brass for this great product!
Note: You can click right on the spec sheet in this posting – and get a larger more readable image.
You might also want to check out my towel bar post.
MSRP is $28.85.
The legs are no longer featured on the website. They are model number F-1321. Please note, Franklin Brass does not sell direct. Go to one of their recommended retailers or put the keywords for this item into a google search and find it online.
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Yes, vintage-style ceiling/wall exhaust fans are still available. We installed this model above our kitchen stove, in exactly the same spot we tore out an old, plastic one. The finish is a brushed stainless-style — and it looks fantastic!
There are enough CFM’s (exhaust of air) to meet current code in our state – so we didn’t need a range hood, which would have looked out of sorts. Also – this exhaust fan was much less expensive than a range hood! Great find!
Also – I’ve seen these installed in the wall, where they can look great. And, they can be installed in bathrooms, but not above the tub/shower, the instructions say.
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Life was getting groovier by the minute by 1961, as evidenced in this 1961 Kentile dining room just off the kitchen. We are open to all design inspiration here!
