St. Louis Shelly has a gorgeous gray bathroom in her 1956 house. The drain of her sink has rusted out, and she needs an all-new sink. Good news: The sink appears to be a Kohler Tahoe with hudee ring, and this model is still available today in a light gray. Bad news: It will take 42 days to get the sink via special order. I referred Shelly to this post — and asked to see more photos so that we could all ogle the gray bathroom – a color I haven’t featured yet. Oh my goodness, this is so beautiful – the vanity…THE FLOOR…the shower door…THE GRAY! The only thing you could need: Some wallpaper (of course!) or some print for your walls to bring in color. Once either of those are in place, you can spec your towels.
Shelly writes:
Pam,
This bathroom is probably my favorite part of my house right now. It originally had stick on vinyl tile which I removed to reveal the beautiful gray mosaic in near perfect condition. Problem is I bought a new faucet for the sink and when the old one was removed we found that the drain had corroded to the point of no return. I quickly ordered the Kohler Tahoe in grey to fit the current cutout and sink. Now they say it will take 42 days to get the order. My pink bathroom has no vanity, toilet or usable shower. So… we are reduced to brushing teeth and washing hands in the kitchen sink. I could try and hurry up the pink bath but it’s at least 2 weeks away from use. Do you think we should wait for the grey sink? [Pam: yes, but call deabath and see if they might have a vintage one in stock, you never know.] Do you know of another grey sink that would fit. [Pam: Crane makes a square sink with hudee ring, you can also check there, but I think they have even fewer colors than Kohler.] New vanity not an option, I love this one….The befores: Vinyl stick-on tile. Jackpot! But a nasty job getting that adhesive off. And oh my, the odors… there are open seams in this stuff and liquids seep onto the adhesive, quite disgusting. After with paint splatters and such still to be removed…
St. Louis Shelly
Genjenn says
Whaaah! I wanna see but the pics won’t load.
Jeanne says
One word of warning on shower doors…today’s standards are different than previously (i.e. safety glass). The reason I mention this, is my husband knew of a friend’s dad who died falling through the shower door glass. I hate to mention a sad story, but want people to think safety first.
pam kueber says
Yowza, Jeanne. Thanks for noting this.
IrvK says
I have the same sink and problem in my bathroom. I was replacing the drain and discovered it was completely rusted out (previous owner had gooped it up with silicone). I am aware that Kohler still makes the Tahoe metal frame sink, but it’s stated dimensions are 18″x20″. The opening left in the vanity from my original sink measures 21 1/2″ x 17 1/2″. It seems the newer sinks dimensions are different from the original models. I’d like to know if the original poster ran into the same problem, or verified the dimensions?
pam kueber says
Hi IrvK, I tend to believe that in the 50s there were many manufacturers of the Tahoe-esque hudee ring sink. I think you need to start looking for a salvage replacement. See this post: https://retrorenovation.com/2009/09/25/how-to-find-vintage-bathroom-fixtures/
Plus: Be sure there’s a good hudee ring, and be sure to get the original clips.
If you don’t have the patience, I think the alternative is to find a new, retro-style countertop sink that fits or exceeds your required dimensions. The Kohler man’s lav is fantastic and very authentic retro, if you have the space and gulp, money: http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?prod_num=2885-8S
Ditto lady’s lav: http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?prod_num=2170-8S
Neil says
I am currently renovating my kitchen but will be moving on to my pink bathroom. I am search of shower doors like those. My Mom’s house in Miami had them! Anyone know where to get them?
pam kueber says
Hi Neil, we all love these shower doors – there are other examples of other designs in various posts. I don’t know where to get them new – and have not had time to research whether they are even available. I’d say: talk to your local glass/shower door specialty shop and see what they say.
Other than that: Re-Store/Habitat for Humanity, Craigslist, and special offerings to the retro decorating gods…
sumacsue says
Rikki mentioned vinyl windows — I am assuming replacement windows. Pam, maybe you could do a feature some day on good choices for replacement windows for mid-century homes. While this isn’t something I have high on the list, maybe others do. I like my windows, but, I get aggravated at the aluminum storm windows, because they are old and cruddy and don’t want to move up and down anymore. Do they still make these things?
retropink57 says
Your grey bathroom is absolutely gorgeous. I CANNOT believe you had that beautiful tile floor under the stick-ons! What a treasure!!!! Pink is my all-time fave so I can’t wait to see your pink bathroom pictures!
NewEnglandJilly says
Maddy, you clearly have not seen my blue-and-gray bathroom. It’s a pretty bad combo – sort of a bright powder blue tile on all the walls, with a dark gray tub and sink and toilet and counters, similar to those pictured (though I think my counter may have been updated). The tile is also gray, but put in recently and sort of a slate-tone. I have NO CLUE what I’m going to do with this bathroom. We already replaced the toilet with a generic white one because the old one was cracked, and many of the blue wall tiles are cracked too. However, I’m kind of liking the yellow-and-gray idea. Maybe even yellow-and-gray-and-white? Hmmm… Anyway! SO nice to see a gray bathroom done right.
Mid Mod Pam says
NewEnglandJilly, oh my goodness. This one does sound challenging. I’m contacting you via email – will you send pictures? You get the courageous renovator award, dear!
NorthsideCJ says
I love the bathroom. Talk about classy and timeless! That medicine cabinet is too perfect! I remember that floor (in blue) from my childhood and how it used to drive me insane trying to find a repeating pattern in it. There are multiple “Hoods” locations you may wish to check for a NOS sink. I’ve only stopped in the one way out in Foristell, but I remember they had several New old metal sinks. Not in gray, and no hudee rings though, but I am going off memory and their inventory changes so who’s to say.
Jen8 says
I have that floor tile pattern on my hearth. The tiles are brick colored variations, I bet the gray looks great!
kellyraine says
Love the floor! I am so jealous! I have a 1951 purpley-grey bathroom with maroon trim tile but at some point the original floor tile was taken out and replaced with a baby blue hex tile. I am currently renovating it and am thinking about putting in a random mosaic tile floor to keep the feel of the room. I wish I had the original though – the pattern is great.