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Home / Bathroom / Pink Bathrooms / Pink bathrooms - popular

The color pink in bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets — from 1927-1962

Kate - March 22, 2016, Updated: August 30, 2021

vintage pink bathroom

Read all about Mamie Eisenhower’s pink bathroom at Gettysburg here

Every Retro-Renovation-card carrying reader knows that pink bathrooms were wildly popular in midcentury America — thanks in part to First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, who popularized the color in the 1950s. When did we first see pink in bathrooms, though? And what were the different shades from the different manufacturers? I dove back into one of our favorite resources, The Building Techology Heritage Library on archive.org, to start tracking the history and see how many different pinks I could find in bathroom fixtures. 

American Standard pinks — Rose Du Barry (pinky purple Orchid of Vincennes), Corallin and Venetian Pinkvintage pink bathroom vintage pink bathroom vintage pink bathroom
vintage pink Kitchen sink

Above images: 1930 American-Standard Rose Du Barry bathroom fixtures and kitchen sink from the MBJ collection/archive.org.

In the 1930s, American Standard offered a Rose Du Barry pink (above) which looks to be a very rosy, bright pink. The company also offered Orchid Of Vincennes (below) that is likely a lavender pink, though it is hard to tell from the vintage catalog whether it leaned more toward purple or pink.

vintage lavendar bathroom vintage lavendar bathroom

Above images: 1930 American-Standard Orchid of Vincennes bathroom fixtures from the MBJ collection/archive.org. 

vintage pink bathroom 1950s vintage pink bathroom 1950sAbove: By 1950, American Standard had removed their purpley pink Orchid of Vincennes from their color lineup and tweaked their Rose Du Barry pink to be a softer pastel pink, which they called ‘Corallin’. Above from: 1950 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Corallin Pink bathroom fixtures.

midcentury pink bathroom midcentury pink bathroomBy 1962, Corallin was out and a very similar pink — called Venetian Pink — had taken over. In fact, Venetian Pink can still be found today at the last known source for a new pink toilet, Peerless.

midcentury pink bathroom midcentury pink bathroom midcentury pink bathroomFive images above: 1962 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Venetian Pink fixtures.

Kohler Pink — Lavender, Peachblow

vintage pink bathroom vintage pink bathroom

A few years ago, Pam wrote about the very first year — 1927 — that Kohler offered its bathroom fixtures in colors besides white. “Lavender” was in the new palette — and golly, we think it looks pink.  Above: Lavender fixtures from a 1928 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.

1936 Kohler bathroom colors vintage pink bathroomBy 1936, Kohler had created a separation between Lavender and pink by creating a peachier pink named “Peachblow” which — along with Tuscan, Spring Green and Lavender — became one of their most popular colors. Above: We see Kohler’s color lineup and a Peachblow bathroom in this 1936 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.

1948 Kohler colors bathroom vintage pink bathroom vintage pink bathroomAbove: In this 1948 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, we see the whole palette for the year, which included Peachblow, which Kohler says is a “..more restrained, almost beige” pink that is a toned-down version of Lavender.

vintage bathroom colors vintage pink bathroomBy 1949, Kohler had reduced its color offerings to just four: Spruce Green, Peachblow, Cerulean Blue and Tuscan. Two images above: from a 1949 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org. 

Kohler colors 1950s vintage pink bathroom

Above images: In this 1950 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, Peachblow is still going strong.

kohler bathroom pinks 1970-2004According to Kohler’s excellent color timeline, Peachblow remained in production until 1973, when it was joined by Pink Champagne, a much bolder pink. In the 1980’s Wild Rose and Innocent Blush took over, though they were much more beiged-out pinks. Antique Rose was added in the mauve crazy mid 1990s and then Vapour Pink, a light pastel pink similar to their vintage pinks, was around for a short while before Kohler completely removed the color pink from their lineup.

Crane — Orchid Pink

vintage Crane bathroom colors 1940

vintage pink bathroomIn 1940, Crane offered Orchid Pink along with India Ivory, Citrus Yellow, Pale Jade, Lavender and Sun Tan as part of their lineup. Images above from: 1940 Crane catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.

Montgomery Ward — Tropical Coral

coral pink vintage bathroom

This 1955 Montgomery Ward catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org offers fixtures in Tropical Coral.

Briggs — Coral

Vintage pink bathroom Vintage pink bathroomThe two images above show Coral from the 1950s Briggs Beautyware catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.

Eljer — Old Rose, Royal Orchid and Coral Blush

vintage bathroom colorsPam spotted some Eljer catalogs from 1939 and 1940 on archive.org that showed several shades of pink — including Old Rose, Royal Orchid and Coral Blush.

Alliance Ware — Pinkalliance ware vintage bathroom fixtures

Pam found this ad for Alliance Ware porcelain enameled bathroom fixtures that includes a pastel pink in a 1950s Small Homes Guide.

CATEGORIES:
Bathroom Favorite stories from Retro Renovation Pink Bathrooms Pink bathrooms - popular

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92 comments

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  1. Andrew Mayer says

    June 8, 2020 at 9:25 am

    I am looking for a replacement toilet seat for a pink “STANDARD” toilet. Tank cover says “made in USA November 13, 1940”. Among seats currently available, which pink would be the best match? I’m thinking Corallin, but folks on this site are much more fully acquainted with what “STANDARD” (a predecessor name for American Standard?) made at that time, as well as what is currently available. Although it says “compact” on the surface of the bowl, the bowl is what is currently called elongated.

    • Pam Kueber says

      June 8, 2020 at 12:23 pm

      Hi Andrew, I don’t know the answer to this question. Does Bemis have a color matcher?

  2. John Galbraith says

    April 26, 2020 at 9:51 pm

    The 1955 toilet stamped is Alliance Ware.
    Pat 2334855

  3. John Galbraith says

    April 26, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    I have a 1955 Vintage American Ware bathroom Toilet and Tub and wall and floor tiles. I need a color match for the tub for touch-up and toilet seat. The color looks like a soft pink, peach or champagne?? Sub contractors wanted me to spray over the color.
    Similar to this color in this comment block.

    • Pam Kueber says

      April 26, 2020 at 9:37 pm

      Hi John, I don’t know the company American Ware. Do you mean American Standard?

  4. Rick Vickers says

    February 27, 2020 at 1:37 pm

    I need to replace a 1955 Briggs toilet tank. It’s one of the pinks but right now any color will do. The numbers in the tank and lid are 32-28-55. Any leads would be helpful.

  5. Rachel says

    September 8, 2019 at 9:49 am

    After months of searching, I finally found a toilet seat to match my American Standard vintage toilet/tub. I found that there were so many variations of pink/peach. Bermuda Coral (classic colors) seems to be the perfect match. I am drawn more towards a modern/contemporary design, but didn’t want to go to the expense of removing the old tub. I’d like to find a modern looking drop in sink in the Bermuda Coral- as currently it is ivory. Do you know of any places carrying sinks in vintage colors?

    • Pam Kueber says

      September 9, 2019 at 7:42 am

      Yes, there is at least one company that I can think of off the top of my head that may have this made-new in the color you want.

      And, you can always seek out vintage, lots of potential sources there.

      See bathroom help/sinks category: https://retrorenovation.com/category/bathroom-categories/lav-sinks/

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