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Home / Bathroom / Bathtubs

The first colors for bathroom fixtures — Kohler introduces sink, tub and toilet sets in six colors, 1927 catalog

pam kueber - July 17, 2012, Updated: October 13, 2021

“…We had color in the bathroom; now we have the bathroom in color — a complete color ensemble, a new color charm…. six lovely permanent shades…”

the first green color for sinks tubs and toilets from kohler in 19271927 — That’s when Kohler first introduced a complete suites of sinks, tubs and toilets, in six glorious colors. I found this old catalog from 1928 that features beautiful, glowy photos of the bathrooms in the six colors —  Horizon Blue, Old Ivory, Spring Green, Lavender, Autumn Brown and West Point Gray. Gorgeous! Golly, though, the Lavender fixtures in these illustrations sure looks like Pink to me. I asked Kohler archivist Angela Miller, and she confirmed, “Lavender does look pinkish in the literature, a little more lavender in person. Although, still more on the pink side.” So there: Among our first pink bathroom fixtures! And blue and green and yellowish and yes, even beige and gray. Continue clickin’ to see the rest of the historic bathroom colors, along with bathroom illustrations that suggest just how beautiful high-end bathrooms could be in the roaring ’20s, before the party shut down –>

Cover of Kohler Color Charm enters the Bathroom brochure from 1927

The catalog says:

This is an age of color. Recent years have seen a remarkable increase in its use in interior decoration — and not alone for its mere decorative value, but for its effect upon happiness and well-being. Color in the world out-of-doors affects our moods, our outlook upon life. And properly employed within the house, it has a like effect.

The bathroom has, of course, shared in this growing use of color. Bright touches have appeared in towels and rugs and window hangings, and latterly, in shower curtains. It has crept into walls and floor, and sometimes to the very rim of the bath tub.

But there, in most instances, the color stopped. The most important things in the bathroom — the plumbing fixtures — were white. We perhaps got to thinking that they had to be white.

And the like was true of the kitchen and laundry.

Kohler Fixtures in Color: So the announcement of Kohler Plumbing Fixtures in color was really a major innovation. We had color in the bathroom; now we have the bathroom in color — a complete color ensemble, a new color charm…. six lovely permanent shades, of blue, green, gray, brown, lavender and ivory.

colors for bathroom sinks tubs and toilets introduced by kohler in 1927


Kohler Autumn Brown tub sink and toilet from 1927kohler sink and bath tub in Old Ivory from 1927Kohler sink tub and toilet in Old Ivory color from 1927

It’s so interesting to see the color combinations in 1927. Lavender and yellow and green — why not! Also, I love tile run this high all around a room… and a tub/shower that’s arched or built in: Yum.

Kohler sink and bathtub in Lavender color from 1927Lavender sink tub and toilet from Kohler in 1927kohler sink and bathtub in Heritage Blue color from 19271920s green bathroom from KohlerKohler bathroom sink and tub from 1927Kohler bathroom fixtures 1927kohler bathroom from 1927

Kohlers first colors from 1927
Kohler’s website now features a timeline showing the years for all their colors. These color chips, as rendered, seem quite “off” to me…I’d trust the printed documents first…
kohler first colors in 1927
Here’s another image that Kohler sent to me, read the color and decorating combinations that the company recommended back in the day.
Bathroom color combination chart for the 1920s from Kohler
A closeup of Kohler’s recommended color combinations to achieve different design styles:  Italian, English, Colonial, Modern, French, Spanish, Provincial. This is SO COOL. 1927-ish

Link love:

  • See Kohler’s excellent timeline capturing the history of their color introductions — although the color rendered on the computer screen seems questionable.
  • Thanks to archive.org for featuring this catalog.

Readers, which of these first colors is your favorite?

CATEGORIES:
Bathroom Bathtubs historic preservation Sinks and Vanities The Museum of Mid Century Material Culture Toilets

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Reader Interactions

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49 comments

Comments

  1. Nancy says

    November 28, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    My first floor bathroom has grey Kohler fixtures. I want to modernize the bathroom, as it has lovely but dated wallpaper and tile. Still, I hate to lose the grey fixtures. Is grey still “in”?

  2. Michael says

    February 24, 2018 at 8:42 am

    Thank you SO much for writing this article! We have 4 of the 6 Kohler colors introduced in the 20’s in tact and in beautiful working condition.

  3. bev walters says

    November 19, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    I love them can I fine a distributor to buy very cute

  4. Debbi White says

    August 14, 2016 at 1:56 pm

    I found a 1927 Kohler tub that the owner says is just dirty (looks more than dirty in the picture). Also says it shows 1927 Kohler somewhere on it. It doesn’t have the claw feet. Any idea what it would take (moneywise) to restore it? And where should I look for those feet and what should I expect to pay? Do you have a picture of what they look like? The ad also says they have the original porcelain faucets (not shown in the picture)? Do you know the length/width? Blessings, Debbi

    • pam kueber says

      August 14, 2016 at 3:43 pm

      Hi Debbi. I am not an expert on any of these questions. Please note, old porcelain enamel tubs and sinks, and old plumbing fixtures; can contain hazards such lead; get with your own properly licensed professional to assess what you are dealing with so you can make informed decisions. For more info and links including my 2016 story on the potential for lead in porcelain tubs and sinks, and in tile, too, see my Be Safe/Renovate Safe page https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe/

      Oh and — Kohler does have recommendations on products to use to clean their porcelain on cast iron projects. See my story here and also consult with Kohler for any updates: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/11/19/kohler-says-no-to-magic-eraser-comet-bar-keepers-friend-zud-vinegar-for-cleaning-its-porcelain-enamel-cast-iron/

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