Planning a retro pink bathroom from scratch is not an easy task: As you well know, pink tiles are hard to find and then, all pinks are not created equal. My quest for pink tile feels similar to the story of Goldilocks and the three bears — except it’s Kate dipping her hungry spoon in pink bathroom tiles. Sure enough, I found that deciding on the right pink was tricky — some were too bright, some were too purple. And like anything else, it depends on personal taste to determine which pink tiles may be the *right* pink tiles for your bathroom design. What follows is my personal quest. I ordered up a bundle of samples from all the places I could find — and then began to mix, match, compare and contrast until, yes, all I could see was pink!
The quest began with 4″ x 4″ wall tiles — using Pam’s post 12 places to find 4×4 ceramic bathroom tile in vintage colors as my reference starting point. First on the list was requesting samples from American Universal Corp. — who seemed to have two different pink shades. At $7.95 per sq. ft., these tiles are a relatively affordable option. The BRM – 6070 (above, top) is more of a peach pink, but is close to what I was looking for. I had high hopes for the BRM – 6020 (above, bottom) color, but in person it was more purple-pink than I had in mind for my bathroom remodel.
American Universal also had several pink mosaic options such as their 1 inch mosaics. These retail for $9.95/sq. ft. The top right mosaic, DOT-91, again was more of a peachy pink. It coordinate well with the BRM – 6070. Meanwhile, the DOT-94 (bottom) is a pink with a more purple hue, similar to the BRM-6020. Note: I also found that Mosaic Tile Supplies carries the exact same tiles (shown overlapping the DOT tiles from American Universal above) Blok 191 and Blok 194 for $11.95/sq. ft.
Both American Universal Corp. and Mosaic Tile Supplies also carry glaze and unglazed hex tile that appear to be the same tiles. The unglazed tile (top) was once again a little too purple pink for my liking. I did like the bottom glazed hex tile — which coordinates well with American Universal Corp.’s BRM-6070 peachy pink 4×4 tile. The unglazed hex (LGH-207) retails for $10.95 at MTS and $8.95 at AUC (SX-207). The glazed hex (SX-10) at AUC is $8.95/sq. ft. and (LGH-10) $10.95 at MTS.
I ordered samples of AUC’s pink penny round tile, but for some reason they weren’t sent in my sample pack. I can assume, though, that they would be the same as the samples of penny round from MTS (shown above) since it seems both companies get their tile from Japan — quite possibly the same manufacturer. Above left is MTS LPR -0307 which may be the same as AUC BRP-3070 and has a peachier tone. The sample on the right is LPR-0302 from MTS or BRP-3020 from AUC. AUC comes in again with slightly lower prices at $8.95/sq. ft. for penny round while MTS sells them at $11.25/sq. ft.
Mosaic Tile Supplies does have 3/4 inch square unglazed mosaic tile in varying shades of pink (shown above) which would be good for a shower or bathroom floor. Top left is C13 Flesh (5.73/sq. ft.), top right is C14 Rose Pink ($4.74/sq. ft.), bottom left is C17 Romance ($4.74/sq. ft.) and bottom right is C16 Antique Rose ($4.75/sq. ft.).
Next on the list was Daltile. They have one 4″ x 4″ pink glazed tile (Q095 – Carnation Pink at $7.44 sq ft.), which was simply too dark for the retro modern bathroom remodel I had in mind. I did like their mosaic tile tool which allowed me to make the pattern to the right with their Carnation pink unglazed tile and Carnation Speckle unglazed tile (plus Arctic white unglazed). At $9.75 sq.ft. it is a custom tile blend with a relatively affordable price. Still, I wasn’t sold that it was the right color pink for my bathroom design.
Just when I was starting to lose hope that I would ever find the right pink tiles, my sample from B&W Tile arrived. Shown above (right) next to the samples from AUC tile, the B&W 70W pink tile is the perfect color pink I had in mind. It is just the right shade of pink for a vintage bathroom remodel — which makes sense because B&W has been making these tiles for 60 years right here in the USA — where pink bathrooms began. At $4.09/sq. ft., B&W’s pink tile is a great price and just the color I was looking for.
Note: Reader Janice used just this shade of B&W pink in her bathroom remodel — it looks great!
My next problem became deciding what to use on the floor that would coordinate with the perfect pink B&W tile. The Carnation Daltile didn’t quite work for me — the pinks were too different.
Next I tried the B&W pink tile with the glazed pink hex — I think this could work, but I wasn’t in love with the option.
I tried to get a sample of the Text Pink from Nemo tile — but I was sent totally different tile samples instead. I did find out that the price is $5.95 per sq.ft., but have yet to get an actual sample to look at.
Then, in a frantic online search for more pink tile options, I discovered Merola Tile’s University Pink. Available at the Home Depot at the relatively affordable price of $9.26/sq.ft., this retro looking pink tile just might be the ticket. I got my hands on a sample and found it coordinated beautifully with the B&W pink tile.
By golly — my Goldilocks search for pink tiles may be at an end. The B&W 70W pink and Merola Tile University Pink look to me to be a retro match made in heaven. I’d still like to see a sample of the Nemo Tile Text Pink in person before I make my final decision — but at this moment my mind is made up.
Mike S says
Hey, cool combo! If you can look at those floor tiles without thinking you’ve spilled some liquid foundation, then go for it! (Kidding… I’m kidding…)
Brian T says
I think you picked the exact right pink. It looks just like the pink in the kids bathroom of the 1960 house I grew up in, which had yellow 4×4 tile on the wall, pebbly vinyl floor, and pink sinks, tub, toilet and trim tile.
People nowadays are so inured to nothing-but-neutrals that they think of pink as an outrageous choice. And I’ve seen some supposedly retro-inspired rooms where they used a unsuitable pink that was way too bright and bubble-gummy, and the effect was garish. Mamie Pink might be more “interesting” than greige, but it can still be a very relaxed, subtle color. The tile you chose is a natural, human-looking tone.
Heidi Swank says
One of the things that helped us decide on the Merola Tile’s University Pink for our guest bath is the variation in pinks that appear in it.
We have a pink (sink, toilet) and cinnamon brown (tile) bathroom. However, the toilet is new from Kohler and is more of a rose than pink. This mix of pinks will allow us to better integrate the bubblegum pink sink and the more rosey toilet by putting those colors together in the flooring.
Bliss!
pam kueber says
Sounds perfect, Heidi: YAY for the variegated floor tile that helps to pull everything together!
Victoria says
VERY similar situation. peach/pink original fixtures, failing plastic pink tile that matches but is incomplete (we’re going to carefully remove it and sell). We’ve been on the hunt for almost a year. After getting a sample of the Merola University Pink tile, and seeing that that “splotches” on the large tiles are dead on the color of our fixtures and the other pinks harmonize well, we’re leaning toward plain white 4″ ceramic tile with a large stripe accent of the University Pink going around the walls and up and around the bath/shower. Also, replacing the worn out formica around the hudee pink sink with a University Pink tiled top. A very inexpensive option that will look completely authentic, IMHO. Finally excited and not horrified by the cost. Floor — tile floor won’t fly in this house. Any ideas? Also trying to think about paint colors…green, blue, pink…
pam kueber says
hmmmm, I think of the University as floor tile — not something you’d put on a wall….
Victoria says
I’m thinking of using the Merola as an accent stripe (about 6″ wide) rather than a whole wall. I think in that context it would work.
Sarah says
KATE! You lifesaver, you!
I currently have a pink bathroom in the exact shade you picked but due to my subfloor rotting, leaky pipes and a shower stall that is only tiled halfway up, I grudgingly agreed to replace all the tile after the fixes. I’ve been searching in vain for replacements (that weren’t too expensive). I can’t wait to order some samples of my own.
Are you going to do an accent color for the border? Do tell.
tammyCA says
I have a sample of the B&W pink and it matches the pink of some metal ’50s trash can and kleenex holders I have.
My sister’s vintage pink bathtub/toilet is a different shade..more tannish.
Robin says
I’m intrigued by the tiles you call “peachy pink.” I have a green bathroom that I would love to retile with yellow and pale orange tiles – orange being my favorite color. I’m envisioning yellow wall tiles with a soft orange or pale coral trim. Maybe the peachy pink color would work. Also – I love the Merola Tile University Pink mosaic floor tiles. I’m picking up a faint orange-y pink in the mottled squares – is it me or just my monitor? I think that mosaic would look adorable in my green bathroom if it had the right hues.
Kate says
That sounds like a cool color combo Robin. The Merola Tile University pink is definitely more pink than coral — it might just be how your monitor is displaying the colors. None of the pink tiles I sampled really lean toward the coral. The AUC peachy pink tiles are very pale and lean slightly more towards peach than pink.
Suzanne says
I can relate. When I moved into my 1954 home, the previous owners re-did the previous pink masonite (which still exists on the walls) with a taupe speckle ceramic tile. I was worried that I would have to come up with a similar tile when we remove the old shower doors and the safety rail that sticks out too far into the tub. I had already been looking high & low for the same tile without sucess.
But when cleaning out the cubbard under the water heater closet, I found a big old coffee can with tiles in them. I felt like I found gold doubloons!
Janice says
What a surprise to see me sitting on the toilet in my bathroom again! Wait, that came out wrong. LOL! We used black and white mosaic tile on our floor in our bathroom retro redo. We’ve been very happy with that – partuclarly since we found it at Lowes. Good luck on your bathroom remodel. Can’t wait to see pictures!
Eartha Kitsch says
Whoowhee…that made me tired just *reading* about it! We went through the same thing trying to match the existing tile in our pink bathroom and are still amazed at how many shades of pink there can be. Your current choices look great though – I hope that you are past that step soon and on to the install!
Kate says
It was sort of exhausting Eartha! I’m still trying to work out some other details about the bathroom, which I’ll update everyone on when I come to some final decisions — I hope to be actually working on it soon too!
Victoria says
One thing about the B&W tiles is that I’ve heard from a few sources that they have a lot of variation from lot to lot (different firings.) I am a little dubious to have them shipped from CA and then find out they don’t match a sample.
mikeD says
I feel your pink pain. I looked high and low for a match to the two different shades of pink I have in my two bathrooms with no luck.
I do think the 4×4 you have picked out looks pretty appropriate though.
Good luck