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Remodel & decorate in Mid Century Style

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Home / Bathroom / Readers and their Bathrooms

1960s bathroom remodel ‘lite’ — Kate’s before and after + resources

pam kueber - February 2, 2016, Updated: August 12, 2021

1960s bathroom remodel before and afterWe gave a sneak-peek of my 1960s bathroom remodel — really, just a “refresh” — when we showed the countertop — our new Retro Renovation® Delightful Jade from our new collection with Wilsonart. Today: A look at all the changes I made: New tile floor, new vanity, new sink, new countertop, all topped off with a new coat of paint on the wall.

Unlike my master bathroom, which was suffering both in condition and layout, necessitating a gut remodel that ended in a pink potty paradise, my mint green (or is it ming green?) hall bathroom was still going strong — it had just a few “problems.” Instead of tackling all of the issues in one swoop, I’ve been working on this 1960s bathroom remodel over the last few years bit by bit. This slow transformation is good for my budget — allowing for me to pay for things as I go — and also good for giving me the proper amount of time to weigh my options and pick just the right materials. 

Key updates in my 1960s bathroom remodel

retro green bathroom remodel before photoTo begin, I fixed the bathroom vent fan, incorrectly installed by my home’s second owners, which I discovered had not been venting properly for the past 18-20 years. With this problem solved, it was time to correct all of the problems that likely occurred from moisture damage over the years: regrouting the moldy and missing the shower tile, replacing the crumbling vanity and top and replacing the floor tile which had started to come loose and was cracked and scratched from years of use. I also chose to remove the shallow cabinets over the toilet and towel bar, because I never really put anything in them and visitors occasionally would bump their heads or shoulders on the cabinets. [It’s bad feng shui to have protrusions hanging over your head when you are doing ‘normal’ things like sleeping or…. sitting, Pam points out]. I also think the room feels bigger without them there. Eventually, when I find it, I’d like to put some vintage wall art or a painting on that wall.

I had already decided that I wanted to build another retro style vanity out of oak plywood with tapered, midcentury style legs like I did for my retro pink 1960s bathroom remodel. I originally wanted to put in a vintage green sink, but after years of searching, the retro decorating gods still had not sent one my way, so I decided to use a much more easily found white sink. That left two crucial decisions to make: What floor tile and countertop should I use for this affordable bathroom renovation?

Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart ‘Delightful Jade’ boomerang countertops

Delightful Jade counter top laminate by Retro Renovation for WilsonartIn the midst of my flooring and countertop search, Pam and I were deep into our collaboration with Wilsonart to recolor their retro boomerang laminate patterns.

  • Samples of our new collection are now available, and the laminate is available for purchase. See our launch stories here!

retro renovation by wilsonart boomerang laminate colors7 retro renovation by wilsonart laminate samplesdelightful jade color retro renovation by wilsonart boomerang laminateWhen the colorways started getting closer to their final forms in this bathroom remodel, I realized the ‘Delightful Jade’ colorway we were developing would go really well with my original American Standard green bathtub and green wall tile. I love all the colors in our boomerang laminate collection, but ‘Delightful Jade’ is my favorite by far, so I’m super excited that I found a place to use it in my home.

sink and counter top for a 1960s bathroom remodelwilsonart boomerang laminate in delightful jade colorLuckily, we finalized the color just about the time that I needed to fabricate and install the countertop for my green bathroom, so Wilsonart kindly sent me a complementary sheet of ‘Delightful Jade’ boomerangs to use in the bathroom. We used the photo of me with the countertop in our media launch — it was great to be able to show one of the new laminates installed!

retro wood vanity for a 1960s bathroom bathroom vanity design for Kates green bathroom The verdict — I absolutely love it. Every guest I have had over to the house since I finished renovating the hall bathroom has remarked about how much they like the countertop — whether they are into retro decor or not. Plus, how many people can say they not only fabricated their bathroom countertop, but also helped to create the color way?

Merola’s Chrystalline mosaic floor tile in pistachio – perfect for my retro bathroom update

small green hex floor tile in green by merolaOnce I had decided to use the green boomerang laminate countertops, I had to figure out what floor tile to use. In the past I had been toying with the idea of using Merola Tile’s light green hex, light green squares, or some self-assembled pattern created from their green and white tiles. Even though both the hex and 1″ light green square tiles from Merola tile were nearly a perfect match to my original green tiles and tub, there were a few reasons that I hesitated to use them in my bathroom. First, I feared that since the bathroom is quite small and has no window or natural light, that too much green — green tub, green floor tile, green countertop — would make it feel overly dark (see our story on Light Reflective Values — LRVs). Second, though I liked the 1″ hex tiles, I didn’t feel like they were quite right for my 1962 ranch and would instead feel more at home in a house with a slightly older vintage.

merola chrystalline mosaic floor tile At this point I had just about decided to go with a plain, 1″ square mosaic tile flooring when we broke the story about new midcentury style floor tile options from Classic Tile. Though they didn’t have any green in the collection, the tiles reminded me of the pink Merola University tile that I used — and LOVE — in my pink bathroom, so I headed over to the Home Depot website to see if Merola Tile had any new releases. Sure enough, I found Merola’s Crystalline Square in ‘Pistachio’ which looked like a cousin to the pink University Tile in my pink bathroom.

chrystalline tile by merola in pistachioretro bathroom from the 1960s updated with merola chrystalline floor tileI ordered a sample and found that the pale green glossy floor tiles meshed nicely with the original green found in my tub and wall tile — they appear to be a lighter tone of a similar minty green. I also liked that the pattern had white tiles in it that went with the white sink and toilet and with the white salt and pepper original wall tiles. I had my reservations about the textured greenish tiles at first, but I soon realized that they read as more of a beige color than a green, especially when placed next to a more saturated mint green, so I decided to go for it and install this floor tile.

chrystalline mosaic floor tile in pistachioI grouted the tiles with the same Natural Grey SpectraLOCK Epoxy Grout that I used in my pink bathroom (which is now no longer available through Lowe’s and must be ordered online) with fabulous results. Just like the medium grey made the light pink, beige and white tiles in my pink bathroom pop, it also acted as a strong backdrop for the green and white tiles on the Crystalline Square floor pattern. Plus, as Pam says: Use a gray grout of this intensity and it will likely never look any dirtier than it looks when you put it in.

Building a bathroom vanity to suit my 1960s bathroom 

retro green bathroomI built the vanity using the same materials and methods that I used to build my master bathroom vanity — including 6″ tapered oak McCobb style legs from Tablelegs.com (disclosure: a new advertiser). For those who are wondering, I found the quality and customer service from Tablelegs.com to be exceptional.

I used the same easily available, inexpensive, retro style cabinet knobs that I used in my kitchen — sans backplate this time — on the vanity.

Sink and faucet appropriate for a 1960s bathroom

salvage sink for a 1960s bathroom

bootz oval bathroom sink with metal rimInitially, I was planning to use a white vintage cast iron sink with hudee ring that I found for a mere $4 at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, but when it came time to clean up the sink and ready it for installation, I noticed there were several chips and pits in the finish that would likely start to rust in short order.

Remembering our stories about where you can buy sinks with hudee rings today, I decided to order a new, steel Bootz Daffodil oval lavatory sink with 4-inch centers from HD Supply with the coordinating Vance Industries-made Hudee Ring. The sink and hudee ring were affordable, and Pam wondered about the quality and feel of the sink.

Here’s my two cents: The sink is an inexpensive, mass-produced product and that is evident, especially when you look at the underside of the sink, which had clear caulking rather sloppily applied where the plastic overflow drain was attached to the steel sink body. This was not a deal breaker for me, though, because this portion of the sink is hidden inside the vanity cabinet, and I have had no issues with any leaking. The sink is much, much lighter than a similarly-sized cast iron sink, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The lighter sink was much easier to install into the countertop, because it was simply less weight to hold up while simultaneously trying to tighten the hudee ring clips. When the water in the sink is running, or if you tap on the sink with your fingers, it makes a different sound than you would expect from a heavier duty cast iron sink. This also was not a deal breaker for me. All in all, if I wanted a new retro-style hudee ring sink and was on a budget, I would buy a Bootz steel lavatory sink again. I have faith that this sink will hold up for many years to come.

  • TIP: If you want to order one of these Bootz sinks, read our original story for all our tips for putting together the entire package including hudee ring.

Pfiser Pfirst bathroom faucetFor the faucet, I knew I wanted a 4″-center, chrome, low arc, midcentury styled bathroom faucet and I didn’t want to spend a fortune on it either — I spent all my money on building the pink master bathroom! Remembering our story about 14 four-inch center bathroom sink faucets suitable for a postwar bathroom, I went through the list and decided on the Pfister Pfirst Series Centerset Bath Faucet, which I purchased through Home Depot for an affordable $30. Again, I was concerned about the quality of this faucet due to the low price; however, I found the faucet to be easy to install, and it seemed quite good quality for the money. It looks great, cleans easily and the handles are easy to turn. I would say that the piece of clear plastic along the bottom of the base of the faucet, which is barely visible, does detract from the look a bit and the faucet feels ‘lightweight’ but I have had no issues with leaking or otherwise after six months of daily use.

1960s green bathroom remodel after photo

List of 1960s pink bathroom remodel resources:

  • Countertop: Retro Renovation® Delightful Jade boomerang laminate, part of our new Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart® collection
  • Sink & hudee ring: Bootz sink with Vance Industries hudee ring ordered through HD Supply
  • Faucet: Pfister Pfirst Series Centerset Bath Faucet in Chrome, Home Depot
  • Floor tile: Merola Tile Crystalline Square in Pistachio, Home Depot
  • Grout: SpectraLOCK Epoxy Grout in Natural Grey, available online through FloorLife.com
  • Wall color: Sherwin Williams SW 6190 Filmy Green, a nearly perfect match to the mint green tiles on the floor
  • Vanity legs: 6″ oak McCobb wooden legs from Tablelegs.com
  • Cabinet knobs: Liberty 1.5″ polished chrome cabinet knobs, Home Depot
  • Toilet: Gerber Viper Ergoheight Elongated Toilet in white, DecorIsland.com (I love my pink toilet so much that I bought the same one in white for my other bathroom!)

Kate’s pink bathroom:

kate in her pink bathroom

  • Want to see more of Kate’s handiwork? Read all her stories about her remodel that created this pink 1960s bathroom remodel.

CATEGORIES:
Bathroom Readers and their Bathrooms

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Reader Interactions

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53 comments

Comments

  1. Susan says

    December 30, 2018 at 8:58 am

    I have the same green and beige speckled wall tiles in my bathroom. Do you know the color of the speckled wall tiles? Thank you, Susan

    • Pam Kueber says

      December 30, 2018 at 11:32 am

      Those are original. If you are looking for proxies see this list and dive in: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/07/16/12-places-to-find-4-x-4-ceramic-bathroom-tile-in-vintage-colors/

  2. Dawn says

    February 18, 2016 at 8:47 am

    I have a 1957 home with original bath and kitchen. I am doing bathroom it has the pink sink and tub with grey shower tile. My counters have a jetson looking print and are grey. the edge of the counter top has metal which is screwed onto the edge it at one time had plastic tubing tucked in the middle of the edging which is gone. Do you know where I can purchase the tubing ? Also where is a good place to purchase the ceramic towel rack and toilet paper holder?
    I can send pics if that helps.
    Thank you,
    Dawn

    • pam kueber says

      February 18, 2016 at 8:49 am

      I don’t know where to get the tubing.

      For ceramic fixtures, see the first feature box in Bathroom Help / Accessories & Hardware.

  3. Laurie says

    February 15, 2016 at 10:24 pm

    I used the same sink when I backdated our master bath almost two years ago. We used Wilsonart “Sock Hop” for the counter and the same Merola flooring that Kate had used in her pink bathroom remodel. That sink is holding up quite nicely, absolutely no problems and I think it’s a great choice.

  4. JulieC says

    February 14, 2016 at 1:14 am

    I’ve been debating on a few different style of doors for my new bathroom built-ins. Even though you removed yours (for good reason), it helped me confirm the simple inset style I have in will look nice and authentic. I’m painting mine, but love the oak in your setting! Beautiful job.

  5. Lynne says

    February 6, 2016 at 9:40 am

    Kate, I have a technical question for you about the epoxy grout. We are in the process of a major bath remodel and I have asked my tile setter about using the epoxy grout you used.

    We are putting 4″ square tiles on the walls, and he tells me he can’t use it because that grout is sanded. Did you use the sanded epoxy on your walls pink and/or green? Or did you find an UN sanded epoxy?

    • Valerie says

      February 12, 2016 at 4:06 pm

      Check out the forums at johnbridge.com for advice from pros on all things tile. There’s a huge discussion thread on Spectralock, and you can search the thread (or read portions of it) to find specific references. Spectralock is actually fine for use in small grout joints down to 1/16″, per the forum, though it will be a slightly rougher texture than unsanded grout. While it is a sanded grout, it is apparently a finer sand than regular sanded grout. I know this because I’ve been researching heavily for use in my own kitchen backsplash. :- ) These forums are a goldmine of info and advice for tile DIYers.

  6. Anne says

    February 5, 2016 at 6:25 pm

    I just love the vanity! Is the laminate abible in Canada?

    • pam kueber says

      February 6, 2016 at 6:47 pm

      The laminate is going to be available in Canada, as far as I know. I think that one reader already has ordered samples.

  7. Debi says

    February 5, 2016 at 6:11 pm

    I’ll tell you. I was scared when I read that you changed that original bathroom because I thought it was beautiful the way it was. I also have a 1960s green bathroom. I thought, oh no, someone wrecking another old bathroom…. But when I looked at the “after” picture, I was impressed! How you could improve on that, I didn’t know, but you did! It’s gorgeous!

  8. Jennie says

    February 5, 2016 at 7:11 am

    There is a refreshing, just-plain-nice vibe to your site. I enjoy reading your posts and storing up information for future use. One suggestion : explore original art for your bathroom from a local gallery or craft shop.

    • pam kueber says

      February 5, 2016 at 8:55 am

      Thank you!

    • Kate says

      February 5, 2016 at 9:48 am

      Thanks Jennie! Or, I could paint something myself, as I am also an artist. 🙂 There is a lot of original art throughout my home!

  9. JaniceW says

    February 4, 2016 at 4:38 pm

    Love the bathroom, and you might have inspired me to do a similar color scheme in mine.

    Kate, did you order the floor tile sample from Home Depot? I don’t see that as an option on the website, but maybe I should head over there this weekend.

    Thanks so much.

    • Kate says

      February 4, 2016 at 4:54 pm

      Thanks Janice!

      I ordered the floor tile sample through the Merola Tile website. Then I ordered the floor for my bathroom through HomeDepot.com (this style is not available in stores to my knowledge) and had it shipped to my local Home Depot where I picked it up. (Free ship to store) Hope that helps!

      • JaniceW says

        February 4, 2016 at 8:06 pm

        Thanks! Merola, B&W, and laminate samples are ordered! I just love this place.

        • pam kueber says

          February 5, 2016 at 8:58 am

          🙂

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