Reversing a blah big box bathroom remodel in her 1954 house, Dana sent the dreck to the dumpster and heck to the Mamie yeah, restored a pink bathroom in its place. It was a thrifty project, too: Dana found salvaged vintage fixtures and trim tiles, filled in the gaps with new B&W pink tiles, and then pulled everything together with DIY sweat equity. Now, her bathroom again suits her house — and, it is a good match for the other, original Ming green bathroom that, fortunately, escaped the dreaded previous-owner evil glee sledgehammer.
Dana writes:
In 2014, I bought a beautiful 1954 home with an original Ming green with cream accents bathroom suite, dove grey and pink kitchen, and a bathroom that was gutted and replaced with generic white replacements. I absolutely HATE house flippers and remodels that rip out perfect vintage personality because they think there is no resale value in the original product.
It became a mission to retro fit the boring white bathroom with a pink suite.
I found the perfect 1939 lowboy toilet and sink in pink on Craigslist, and had tile created to match.
I bought burgundy tile accents, trims, toothbrush holder, soap shell, and toilet paper roll holder at B&W Tile in Riverside, California. The only thing that is untouched in this bathroom is the shower.
We got the the mirror cabinet, mauve tile, and edge tiles from Habitat for Humanity.
The cork flooring and lighting was installed by my boyfriend, and I collected the gold shelf cabinet and accessories.
I put wallpaper and picture frame trim on the front of plain wood cabinets.
The green bathroom’s cork flooring and lighting also was done by my boyfriend, the fresh coat of ceiling and cabinet paint, by my daughter and me. Otherwise, it is the same as the day I bought the house.
My Ming green bathroom is one of the things that made me happiest about the house, and the reason I wanted to recreate a colorful pink bathroom! I absolutely love my house!
An appraiser came through today and said he had just walked into a time capsule. He said he never sees homes like this in our area anymore, and that is a shame. My whole neighborhood was built with the rainbow of colors.
We even have the original light fixtures, cabinets, honey oak floors, coved ceilings. I am proud of my home.
Viva Pink!!!
Wow, Dana — both of your bathrooms are fantastic — and it is seems impossible to tell that your newly created pink and maroon bathroom isn’t original to your home. You’ve done a great job — thanks so much for sharing your story with us! Viva la Pink — and the Ming green, too!!!
Craig G says
Everything is so beautiful. Nicely done. I love the wallpaper and trim on the cabinet doors. My grandmother’s kitchen (1958) has the exact same green tiles. Could you tell me what paint color you used in your green bathroom?
Dana says
Thank you so much! Wow, a kitchen with those green tiles? How pretty. I will have to look when I get home, I will get it to you. It is a Glidden product.
Dana says
Valspar™ 6003-9B Mino’s Eye
Shaylene says
You are Awesome Cousin!! Great job!!! Love it???????? and love you!!!
Dana says
<3 <3 I think you are Awesomer ! Thank you, now you need to haul your tail up from San Diego!
midmichigan says
OBTW, Dana; check out a vintage Harvell waste basket to go with your decor. I’m partial to the sunburst designs but they’re all pretty cool. A true vintage liner is a paper grocery bag; we didn’t have plastic bags back then.
Dana says
I have my eye on waste baskets and will have to investigate the Harvell brand. Oh, and the paper bag is a terrific tip, thanks so much…I seem to remember that in my great/grandmothers bath.
I thought I was dressing my place in shabby chic, but come to find out the appraiser called it ‘Hollywood Regency’. I see more now that I’ve researched it, but I really think my style is more relaxed than high brow.
midmichigan says
You did a fantastic job! Nice work and you should be very proud!
Jennifer says
Looks great! Thanks for sharing the pictures of the original Ming Green bathroom, too. Love the tile detail around the faucet.
Any chance you’d share your dove grey and pink kitchen?
Dana says
The attention to details is something missing from today’s designs, the picture etchings on the shower stalls (I’ve seen a few in my neighbors homes) are so color specific too. The fish in my Ming green room, I saw flying birds in a yellow and brown bath, and a desert mesa style in an adobe/peach colored bath.
I look forward to finishing my kitchen and laundry room to share. I do have pictures of my counters, but I am going to do the floors and paint too.
pam kueber says
I do want to add a Precautionary Pam note about vintage shower doors: Readers, be aware that if they are glass — and are not the right kind of tempered glass — they can break in dangerous ways. As usual: Check with a properly licensed professional to assess what you have so that you can make informed decisions.
Erika says
Looks fantastic!!!! I’m in the process of buying a home built in the early 60’s. I was so hoping for a pink bathroom, but did luck out with an aqua green one 😉
That Ming green bathroom is awesome.
Dana says
Aqua green is awesome! I want to see that. The Ming green was so easy to match for the toilet seat, the pink not so easy.
My imagination takes me back to when the neighborhood was new and people picked their new house by the colors. I’ve seen quite a few of them, and I think I lucked out with the green bath and gray/pink kitchen.
Kristen says
Such a great job! Can it get any more boring than white pressboard furnishings?!? Bravo to you… It looks amazing!
Dana says
So right, and that press board can’t hold up to water damage at all. I made sure to get a washable wallpaper.
Chris says
Love both of the bathrooms!!!!!! Our 1934 bathroom was remuddled. We have the same tub you do – but in white. Your story is inspiring and makes me think it’s time to start our bathroom project!
Dana says
Please do! It is so much fun, even though it took a year and a half because it was more of an art project than a remodel. I have seen many vintage toilets and sinks in white available on Craigslist (and Ebay if you look for local pick up). Just think of the color combinations you can create, oh my.
Here on the website they posted some wonderful vintage tile trim that another reader has purchased and is selling to all of us interested: https://retrorenovation.com/2015/10/09/vintage-liner-tile/
pam kueber says
“… It was more of an art project than a remodel.” I love that. It nails so much of what readers here do!
Dana says
My whole house is an art project…more projects started than finished >.<
Vonnie says
Great job!
Dana says
Thank you so much!
Steve H says
Beautiful job! I think pink/burgundy has become my all time favorite bathroom color combination. The green bath is fantastic too. The Ming green, cork tile and foil wall covering are a perfect combination – so sophisticated. And finally, what would we do without Craiglist and Habitat “reuse” stores. Together they’ve rescued so many great treasures.
Dana says
I know, right? The whole bathroom started when I found the tile at Habitat, the mauve tile is also the reason I made it in the diamond pattern, it reminded me of Argyle socks.
I’m glad to hear another male say proudly that a pink bath is one of his favorites, my sweetie says he’s not adversely affected by it. It makes me cringe when they are the first to be destroyed, and I was so joyous when I found this website with their collection of pink baths shared with pride.