Palm Springs Stephan is a wealth of info, and provides this info on a Southern California company still producing the 50s pink tile so common during this era. Don’t use any other pinks – they are not right! I am so excited at this find – a big one for the retro renovation community.
The source: B&W Tile, with 3 locations and online, bwtile.com. See the warehouse photo to the left – they sure look like they’ve been in this Gardena location since the 50s. Reassuring!
Stephen adds: “B& W Tile makes this tile and keeps it in stock at all times in every size imaginable, from 1″ hex tile to 6×6 inch glazed and unglazed wall and floor tiles. I talked to their Riverside location just this afternoon, and the 4.25 by 4.25 glazed wall tile in 1950s pink (their inventory number 70W) is just $3.88 per square foot….I should be able to do the walls in my new bath just like the ones in that photo.”
Thank you thank you, Stephan! Original color – vast selection – great price. And, they produce the 1950s style wall-mounted & recessed china toilet paper, soap, and toothbrush holders (see toilet holder in top photo) also from original molds. Or you can use shiny stainless from Franklin Brass.
Spread the word and prepare the mastic.
This post — one of the most popular ever on Retro Renovation – was originally published on Dec. 14, 2007
IMPORTANT:
- See this 2012 story on 12 places to find 4″ x 4″ ceramic tiles in colors — it is a pretty fundamental story if you are renovating a bathroom.
Nadine says
Does anyone have a good contact person at B&W tile in Gardena? I tried calling the other day to get a price on some tile and while the person I spoke to was very nice, I’m not sure they understood what I was talking about. I referred to the online catalog number as well as the name of the tile listed in the catalog and they didn’t seem to understand. I would like to find someone there that I would feel comfortable ordering from.
Many Thanks!
Tanner says
Hello!
We are currently renovating our pink bathroom. The tile color scheme is pink with a mauve/burgandy trim and then thin mint tile right below the trim. I need help on finding the right color for the walls and trim around the windows. I was thinking a cream color but I am not sure. Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciative. I am not against wallpaper, but not sure if my bf would like that or not. Thanks so much! So glad I found this sight!
pam kueber says
Hi Tanner – it sounds gorgeous. I think cream is fine! Here is a story for you to look at / go thru: Readers recommending their favorite whites, especially off-whites – which is what I tend to think you need…
Lauryn says
Dear Pam. You have ruined me for good. I have fallen in love with pink bathrooms and now have just had my heart broken. A sweet little 1958 ranch just came on the market in our town and having been in the house awhile back, I jumped on the real estate pictures to see the photos of the PINK bathroom and the intact original kitchen. To my absolute horror, BOTH have been complete renovated (this was a house bought to flip) in GREIGE and STAINLESS and QUARTZ and now I’m going to walk around feeling sick to my stomach all day over a house I’m not even in the market to buy!
Keep spreading the good word. If just one person doesn’t destroy one of these charmers, your work is not in vain.
Oh, and I adore the bathroom in this post.
Carol Zeiders says
Getting ready to renovate a pink/black bathroom from the 50s. These tiles are not ceramic but a fiberglass/plastic.. They come off the wall without breaking. Does anyone know why the fiberglass/plastic tiles were used in place of ceramic?
pam kueber says
See this post, Carol: https://retrorenovation.com/2010/04/15/plastic-wall-tile-20-pages-ofimages-from-3-catalogs/
Alissa says
I wish I’d been able to find all this stuff about 5 years ago, when we were desparately trying to create a new 1940s bath!
Maureen Kelly says
Hello, we have a 40s or 50s ranch and the bathroom fixtures are American Standard, very similar to what is in this ad: http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanvintagehome/3270039137/in/photostream/
It is kind of pink, kind of beige, with mauve trim (that’s really the only ugly part). The problem is I cannot identify the true color to replace the toilet seat. The lid says 1957. The other problem is the floor tiles do not match at all. If anyone knows of a way to identify the true color, please let me know. Thanks.
Carrye says
Maureen Kelly – try deabath.com – they were able to help me with parts for my antique toilet.
Kaytie says
I ordered tile from B&W Tile to match my yellow 1950s kitchen tile. I was installing a dishwasher and wanted to extend the kitchen counter over the dishwasher. It was an almost perfect match. In the daylight, it looks perfect. At night, if I look really close, I can tell where the old tile ends and the new tile begins. But visitors have never noticed. However, I learned the hard way that it is not as heat resistant as the original tile. Last winter, I brought a roasted chicken home from the grocery store and set it on the new tile and it cracked. I have set dishes straight from the oven on the original tile without a problem.
Juli MacDonald says
The b and w tile site doesn’t look like they carry any colored tile? We did find World of Tile in Springfield NJ via another post – looks more promising.
pam kueber says
B&W have 47 colors, they just don’t show them online. See this page – read carefully, there is a link to another site that shows their colors.
Melissa says
I’m searching for the blue tiles. I guess they would be a torquise or aqua? Anyone know the name of the color? I am waiting for a sample from B & W. You have an example of the bathroom on your website. I wish I could find someone local….Kansas.
pam kueber says
Melissa, be sure to check the big-name companies like Dal-tile/American Olean — I think they have some blues and aqua’s now… You can see their entire product line on-line… but then, you really need to see the tile in person. Also, be sure to see all my Tile resources via the navigation bars… PRODUCTS / bathrooms / tile
Shane says
Just an FYI update…according to BW Tile they don’t have 50s colors and don’t match to samples. I am attempting to locate a standard field tile in light aqua. American Olean lists a perfect match, called Glacial, but it’s matte only. They have a shiny tile but the surface is wavy, not smooth.
The search is still on…..
Shane
pam kueber says
Shane – B&W has helped many other folks out, I am not sure about what they are telling you. Did you ask for samples for the color you are seeking?
John Zimmerman says
Gday,
I’m in the process of restoring a 50’s bathroom, with exactly the colors depicted in the picture above ( Pink / Burgundy ). I have been lucky and found tons of the pink at a architectural salvage, but I’m having trouble sourcing the Burgundy. I was wondering if anybody has the stock number that B&W uses or, possibly another supplier. The website and B&W does not depict colors, and I’m no where near California.
pam kueber says
John, I have heard from other readers that B&W is very responsive to inquiries from across the nation and will send samples, etc. I recall talking to them at one point, the reason they do not show colors on the website is that different monitors do not accurately depict colors and they want folks to see the tile for real before making an order. Other than that – go to a big tile store and look at all the sample boards from the major companies like Daltile/American Olean and whoever else. Good luck.