Make a pledge to Save the Pink Bathrooms, and you never know: You might become the lead story on Retro Renovation. Sheila’s story about her vintage pink bathroom was so perfect (and her bathroom, so dreamy) that I just had to feature it.
All photos are of Sheila’s updated bathroom. Her Pledge:
When my husband and I bought our 1950 ranch-style home in Michigan, we had a definite consensus on one room being that “the pink bathroom has got to go”. The bubble gum pink tile with burgundy trim; the floor that gives some a sense of vertigo if it is stared at too long was the epitome of a bathroom that I could not picture myself owning, let alone liking. I am a practical person though. That pink bathroom was obviously built to last. The tiles and floor were solid. It was hard to justify ripping this room down first as our house was one fraught with “opportunities”. Many more pressing projects were higher on the agenda. So dropping the bomb on the pink nightmare was postponed.
I pondered this bathroom for several months, confounded. The previous owners had given it battleship grey cupboards and trim; grey wallpaper with a burgundy floral design. It had gold metal glass shower doors that were impossible to keep clean, a door and a ceiling with obvious mould issues. It had two hideous glass light bars on either side of the mirror, also impossible to keep clean. Still I was completely stumped on how to tone down what felt like screaming pink. Inaction was really my only option, figuring one day the solution would come to me, and barring that a wrecking ball was an option.
After a kitchen renovation, new furnace, basement waterproofing, basement makeover and 2 kids later, my attention turned once again to fixing up what my daughter calls “the Barbie Dream House bathroom”.
Still, dang it — that tile was solid as the day it was installed. Then it occurred to me that I should just learn to love this bathroom, play up how incredibly campy it was and stop thinking about ways to tone it down or minimize it. I turned to the internet.
The day I Googled “fun pink bathroom” was the day that I found this website. Suddenly I began to think that maybe I actually owned something kind of cool. You can be the judge on the final product but I honestly am so proud of how it turns out. Bright, clean, unique and above all, PINK. And I’m finally more than OK with that.
Thanks Pam!Sheila, Defender of Old Pink Bathrooms
Of course, I had one more question for Sheila, to which she responded:
My dog’s name is Maggie, rescued from the pound on Memorial Day weekend this year. She is very sweet and being a JRT, she is a handful.
And, Sheila confirms that is indeed a fluted (reeded?) piece of built-in glass between the bathroom countertop and adjacent dressing table. Yowza. Serious Love. Now that I look, Sheila, where did you get the new light bars that flank the mirror? I love the effect…very glamarama Hollywood backstage dressing room-like. Works really well to light up the bubble gum pink.
Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that there is pretty much nothing that makes me happier than pretty pastel bathrooms – saved… and their owners, converted. Sheila, your bathroom is spectacular! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
mcmeg says
Thanks! Now all I have to do is work up the nerve!
Virginia says
Fabulous! I love the “bubble” motif of the lights and the shower curtain. The pink and rust combo is one I have been seeing a lot of in houses I am looking at- very cool!
Sheila says
mcmeg: the removal of the shower doors turned out to be really easy! The two screws on each side of the frame left two small holes on each wall. I opted to fill the holes with a white silicone caulking to save the existing tiles and carefully scraped the adhesive from the flat surface of the tub edge with a razor edge. I do feel fortunate that there was no big surprises after the removal.
MrsErinD says
Absolutely gorgeous bathroom! The detail is amazing.
I gotta get new pics of my Mom’s pink br, ones I took didn’t turn out, she has the most amazing and perfect 50s wallpaper ever, pink with darker pink and gold starbursts, sigh. My grandparents did it.
dahlila says
Gorgeous bathroom. Great save. Love the lighting and double sinks! Can I ask, what is the white bin under the window? Very curious.
dahlila xxoo
pam kueber says
dahlila, I had asked Sheila about this, too, and here is what she told me: “Our house has steam heat, at the end is an example of one of the groovy heaters that is in each room of this place.”
I agree: Very cool! errr, hot!
nina462 says
mcmeg-I have removed the doors before, and yes, there will be marks on the tile where they had to drill sinkers & screws. The bottom that attachs to the tub portion should be easy to remove as it’s just a sealer that will scrap off. So, after removing the doors-you may have to replace about 4 tiles.
I did all of it myself–only took one day, pretty easy fix.
Steph @ Tart Deco says
Great bathroom and wonderful blog! I have blogged about this site here- http://tartdeco.blogspot.com/2009/12/pink-bathrooms.html. I am hoping some friends of mine with a 50s pink bathroom will send you pics 🙂
pam kueber says
Thank you, Steph, and welcome to our little community.
Jane (aka Elvis) says
Aw, Sheila, that’s such a heartwarming and wonderful story to read! I love your pink bathroom and I definitely covet your perfect, solid tile! Since I’m dealing with a screaming, taxi-cab-yellow laminate countertop in my main bath, I’m especially encouraged to hear your thought process regarding color: I hope the retro renovation gods gift me with the understanding they obviously imparted to you! Thanks for sharing with Pam and all of us.
CeePee says
I learned to love my 1940s pink bathroom. This cheerful fabric from Ikea — although not period-correct — looks great in my pink palace.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90150919
mcmeg says
I love your bathroom! Sometimes it pays to wait. I am curious about your shower doors. I have some I would love to remove, but am afraid there will be marks from where they were attached. What was your experience?