In 2010 I instituted “The Hard Way Award”, honoring one reader each year who chose the path less traveled: Pursuing a Retro Renovation that, on the main, bypasses off-the-shelf big box supplies in favor of a more arduous period-inspired renovation using hard-to-find and/or salvaged material. A renovation that truly shows the passion for… doing things the hard way. This year’s winners: Janice and her husband Greg, who on their own gut-renovated a remuddled bathroom in their 1954 house — and install, in its place, a Mamie pink bathroom trimmed in black and white.
Janice also chronicled the story in blow-by-blow detail — providing other readers valuable resources and insight. Janice explained how it all got started:
My love affair with pink bathrooms is a new one. I never once thought about wanting or needing a pink bathroom when my husband and I first started searching for a mid-century ranch three years ago. Had I known then what I know now, I might have held out until I found the perfect time capsule bathroom. But, I didn’t know better and we bought a house with two bathrooms – neither of which are pink. After reading all about the Save the Pink Bathrooms crusade and drooling over the RR Blog’s readers’ own pink beauties, I decided I might not have inherited a pink bathroom, but by golly, I could build my own.
In reality, this award also recognizes Janice’s renovation of her kitchen in 2010. Janice, you are an inspiration. xoxo. Hey, there is no prize per se for this award — just the accolades and admiration of the entire Retro Renovation Nation. Nation: Hows about let’s send Janice and Greg lotsa Comment applause! 🙂
Runner-up: Carrie and her family for their spirited kitchen renovation. And there were other great stories, too. You all make it so hard to *choose*. Yes: You are all winners!
Janice says
Wow! What a wonderful surprise to see that I won the 2011 Hard Way Award! I’ve never won anything … ever… before and I feel honored to be chosen among so many very well qualified contenders. None of what I’ve done could have been accomplished without the help of Retro Renovation and all of its faithful followers. Thank you everyone for your nice remarks and helpful advice and to Pam for selecting my Mamie Pink Bathroom as the 2011 winner! Happy New Year everyone!
Peggy says
Janice,
I really like your bathroom, it has just enough kitch to add to the vintage charm. You have done a fab job. Like your kitchen too! Nice to have an old “new” kitchen I bet! Like you I love Atomic Ranch and Love Mid Cen Modern, but Modest has its own little place doesnt it? 🙂
Congrads!!!
Laura E. says
Congrats! I LOVE that bathroom!
Debra says
Janice I love what you did! As a Realtor I get to see many preserved mid-century bathrooms etc. that the Buyer intends to extinguish & this always makes me sad! Kudos to you for all you hard work ~ it truly paid off!
Jessi says
Gorgeous! Great work!
Kay says
Congratulations to Janice and Greg – beautiful job! My brother finally found his missing pink toilet (pristine!) in the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It was marked at $20, but they were having a half price sale. SCORE!!!
Tami says
Stunning – congratulations!
Andi says
I LOVE that bathroom! It is literally inspirational as I labor over decisions on my own bathroom remodel, and serves as a proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” image, showing what is possible with perseverance. I even like your decorating choices, especially those cool cats! Congratulations, you certainly deserve Pam’s award!!
georgiapeachez says
I really enjoyed reading these stores again. All that hard work is really inspirational and the end results are fabulous. Bravo!
Carrie says
Congratulations! Your bathroom is lovely and I am sure is a joy to walk into every day!