YES, I AM OBSESSED with this sink. I have one — in white, although I also love this icy gray — in my garage on hold for my tiny, storage-challenged master bath; I am waiting to see if the retro decorating gods also send me the vanity. Meanwhile, I have finally learned its official name: It’s the Gracelynn Cabinet-Lavatory. The toilet: The lovely Carlyle. You know it is one of my life goals to be able to name every midcentury toilet and sink on sight. This 1960 photo is from flickr friend Java1888, click the image to go straight to his photo stream. Another flickr friend, What Makes the Pie Shops Tick, has a 1965 American-Standard catalog posted where I found the name of this much-coveted sink, and more. Final note, I believe this sink was introduced in ’59.
Mid-century American Standard Gracelynn sink
Streamline style bathroom fixtures from Lefroy Brooks – including an entire suite in Vespa Pink!
If you own a 20s, 30s or 40s home with deco or streamline style and also have lots of dough re mi, this bathroom suite from Lefroy Brooks would be fun to consider. The faucet style is called “1950 Belair,” but I say it’s is “streamlined” style, which is defined by the period when products were designed to look like fast-moving objects, like steam-engine trains. To be sure, this streamline style blurred over into the 50s. But this faucet is so distinctive, it looks like it is preparing for take off. The Lefroy Brooks sinks are also beautiful. And you can get the entire suite – sink, tub, toilet - in Vespa Pink. Heaven, simply heaven! Lefroy Brooks site.
Recessed ceramic soap dishes & more in 33 colors from HCP Industries
THANKS GO OUT TO JOAN (I *think*) for finding this new resource (other resource here) for recessed porcelain ceramic bathroom soap dishes, shelves, towel bars and toilet paper holders. The manufacturer is HCP Industries, and they make these pieces in 33 colors, many of them great for a midcentury bathroom retro renovation. Click through for some tips on installing recessed shelves… a slide show and the link to HCP… Heck yeah there is more →
Gerber’s Ultra-Flush toilet: Me like
I HAVE BEEN FEELING ANXIOUS about getting this new toilet recommendation out there into the retro universe. I see a nice toilet good for a midcentury bathroom — and the world must know. It must know!! This is the Gerber Ultra-Flush, and doesn’t it have lines reminiscent of the lovely 50s model in Susan’s yellow bathroom? I like it a lot. Gerber’s website, I don’t like it so much, though. Here’s how to get straight to the Ultra-Flush page. I think there may be another toilet like this Gerber out there, but one with swoopier less angular lines on the tank. I must find it. I must!!
Kohler Cimarron toilet gets retro renovation nod of approval
Drum roll, please. I’m adding a second toilet recommendation for 40s and 50s houses to the Bathroom list: The Kohler Cimarron two-piece, round-front. This model joins the Kohler Wellworth on the list of toilets that get my nod for having some modicum of a retro look. Or, damning with faint praise: They are at least not “Victorian on steroids.”
12 recessed porcelain ceramic soap dishes, TP holders, towel bars
Update: Here is my new favorite go-to place for these kinds of recessed dishes –> Recessed soap dishes in white and lots of colors from World of Tile … Tell Chippy (the co-owner) that I sent you!
WHEN I WAS RENOVATING my three bathrooms, I searched high and low for recessed soap dishes like this. I finally found them at a small Ohio Company, Apple Creek. (Separate post to come at some point.) But now, SableMable has also spotted this online site, Eclectic Ware, which seems to carry a big lineup of Lenape recessed bathroom ceramics – in white and a small selection of other basic colors. I’ve seen Lenape at Home Depot (I think) and at my flooring/tile store — but what’s great about this site is that they seem to have a much larger selection — included “recessed” and “semi-recessed”. The stuff is not cheap — but definitely a great detail for your bathroom retro renovation. Please note, that for the toilet paper holder, I kinda prefer chrome (or stainless steel, as per the Franklin Brass lines.) Thanks, Sable Mable!
And click through to see more photos. Heck yeah there is more →
The world’s largest toilet salvage yard
Wow. This company — Miscellanea Discontinued Bathroomware — claims to have more than 50,000 pieces of discontinued “sanitaryware” — toilets, sinks, bathtubs — making it the largest such salvage place in the world. “Over 100 Retro bathroom colours in stock including,” they say: “Coral Pink, Sky Blue, Champagne, Turquoise, Sunking, Primrose, Flamingo Pink, Pampas, Indian Ivory, Linden Green, Bali Brown, Misty Blue, Harvest Gold, Oyster, Whiskey, Wild Sage, Bone, 2-tone including Lilas Jaspe and of course Avocado, Avacado or if you prefer Avacardo…”
A “planter top” toilet tank lid from Eljer
A PLANTER MOLDED RIGHT INTO A TOILET TANK LID? Well, this is a new one to me… found in this ad for a 1964 Eljer Estate toilet. And of course – LOVE it. Has anyone ever seen this? Let’s all be on the lookout. Like spotting rare and endangered species in the (retro)Amazon. Carry your cameras, readers! Heck yeah there is more →
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