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  • Home » Bathroom Help Category -- Also note those subcategories in the orange navigation, above! » pink bathrooms » Historic photos of Valerie’s 1954 Milwaukee home — and her pink bathroom

    Historic photos of Valerie’s 1954 Milwaukee home — and her pink bathroom

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    Posted by: matthew kinkead • September 9, 2010

    There are archeologists among us — and of course they love the treasures in their 1954 home, including photos from their 1954 home’s original construction… and their original pink bathroom. Valerie writes: .

    “I started reading your blog in April while shopping for my first house in Milwaukee. My husband and I actually bought a home built in 1954 on a lovely wooded lot.  We are the second owners, however, the only room that appears to be essentially unaltered is a bathroom. You will be happy to see there is a lot of pink!  Pink tile, sink and tub to be exact – in addition to a towel bar, soap dishes and paper dispenser.  The toilet is gray as is the floor tile. I believe the tub surround required recent repairs as a box of the long gray tiles is in the basement.  Other than that, the vanity doors are the only obvious update. My young daughters call this the “princess bathroom”, and the seller was very happy to learn we liked it as is.  She was kind enough to give us pictures of the house taken by her father during construction.  We learned it was originally built as a two bedroom, one bath; another bedroom, bath, sunroom and garage were added in 1958. It is great fun to read about the many wonderful homes people share on Retro Renovation so it is a privilege to contribute in my own small way! My DH & I dreamed of buying a home for years, not specifically mid-century, but we definitely favored older houses.  Not surprising since we both have degrees in archeology and a deep appreciation for most artifacts more than 40 years old.  Mid-century homes appealed to us in that respect (so much character!) and on a rather practical level. We found so many houses of that era in our price range that offered spacious floor plans, lovely yards, and minimal sweat equity.  The fantastic fireplaces and built-in china cabinets are icing on the cake! I hope you like the bathroom; the paint color is fine for now if a little dark for my taste.  I suspect wallpaper was removed because the texture if so flat – how I wish the walls could talk! We love our “new” home. Once a few pressing projects are finished I’m excited to start decorating with the help of your blog.”

    Matt writes: Wow Valerie! You’re daughters are right, you do have princess bathroom. It makes me so happy to know you and your husband are archeologists who are also retro renovators – what I wish to be one day.  It’s great you’re so passionate about our past and its homes. You definitely made the right choice when it came to your house. I completely agree with you that it is the character mid century home can have that makes them so desirable when it comes to choosing a new home. You won’t get that same vibe from a new home, and if you do you’ll be paying twice the price. I love all your recessed soap dishes. You may not think it at first, but the gray tile goes well with the pink. With all the good you got goin’ on, we won’t count the new vanity doors against you.

    Pam adds: Yes, it appears the entire tub surround – white field tile with grey bullnose — is newer? That said, the coordination with the pink is nicely done.

    To view slide show, click on the first thumbnail, and move forward or back via the arrows below each image.

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    Comments

    1. Eartha Kitsch says

      September 9, 2010 at 7:19 am

      What a beautiful home! I love the way that the tree are nestled all around it. That bathroom is absolutely wonderful and so pristine! I love the way that the mirror is put in between two windows. You don’t often get that much light in older bathrooms. I’m glad that it came into the right hands!

      Reply
    2. Shane Walp says

      September 9, 2010 at 8:01 am

      Looks purdy kool! My ranch was also built in 1954, and had updates through the early ’80s, which I am undoing. I’m not an archeologist, but a restorer. I’m also the 2nd owner, and everything was pretty well cared for.

      Right now, my house is turquoise. I mean, like, Indian jewlery turquoise! LOL on the original cedar siding. We removed the vinyl siding and will be painting the house HOPEFULLY this fall. The original color was kind of a slate gray, which it will be again. The difference being – my girlfriend/fiancee wants to do the gables, and the pattern across the front “connecting” the windows, in light pink. Normally, these areas are white on these houses. Window trim will stay white.

      Should look pretty good when finished. Good luck!

      Reply
    3. Gavin Hastings says

      September 9, 2010 at 8:32 am

      Pink, White and Taupe….these folks had flair!
      Nice.

      Reply
    4. Amy Hill says

      September 9, 2010 at 9:21 am

      Very pretty house! Any way you could include a floorplan? I’m interested in seeing how the addition is attached to the house. It looks so seamless, as if it was original. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    5. Tera says

      September 9, 2010 at 9:26 am

      Oh My GAWD! Dreamy, dreamy, dreamy this is the dreamiest pink bathrom I have ever seen. Very lucky home owners.

      Reply
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