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 Pink
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.
Above images: 1930 American-Standard Orchid of Vincennes bathroom fixtures from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above: 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.
By 1962, Corallin was out and a very similar pink — called Venetian Pink — had taken over. In fact, Venetian Pink fixtures could still be found via Peerless Plumbing through 2021. Alas, now discontinued.
Five images above: 1962 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Venetian Pink fixtures.
Kohler Pink — Lavender, Peachblow
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.
By 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.
Above: 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.
By 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.
Above images: In this 1950 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, Peachblow is still going strong.
According 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.
And in 2023 — Kohler brings Peachbow back for a run!
And big news in more recent years, as part of its 150th anniversary celebration in 2023, Kohler reintroduced the color Peachblow on selected products. They even had a contest to decide the “heritage colors” to bring back — and Peachblow — which they say was originally introduced in 1934 — was one of the top two choices of the puplic. Kohler on the Peachblow win::
Our new limited-edition Heritage Colors collection is here. In celebration of Kohler’s 150th anniversary, more than 100,000 votes were cast to bring vintage colors Spring Green and Peachblow back from our archives to modern-day glory.
Crane — Orchid Pink
In 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
This 1955 Montgomery Ward catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org offers fixtures in Tropical Coral.
Briggs — Coral
The 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
Pam 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 — Pink
Pam found this ad for Alliance Ware porcelain enameled bathroom fixtures that includes a pastel pink in a 1950s Small Homes Guide.
Judy H. says
What a fun history lesson! I love learning things like this, something, had I not read this blog, I would have never, ever known. My pink bathroom, wall tile, floor tile, toilet, tub and sink are identical to the “present day” picture above. I have loved it for the 20 years we’ve lived here and I will continue to love it. Some of those other pink shades are so pretty, it kind of made me go “hmm-m”.
Courtney @ Foxwood Forest says
Our home was built in 1938 and definitely featured a rose/blush sink in one of the bathrooms! While a beautiful color, we had to replace it because there was a faucet leak (and the sink/faucet were attached). Definitely had that retro vibe though!
Suzy says
I have a 1960 Universal Rundle toilet in Verdant Green (they also had another shade I believe it was called Green Ice) I have a possible handle on a sink (should know in the next few days if it’s a color match) for my 3/4 master bath
Heidi E. says
Such cool things we don’t get to have anymore! I want the 20s Lavender and green bathroom, nothing says luxury like tiny mosaic tiles all over everything!
But apparently I am enough spoiled by the current era to have momentarily mistaken the folding vanity with electric shaver in the first Corallin pic for a laptop and mouse and thought a bathroom was bad place for that. I am home sick with a nasty cold, though, and can blame that!
Carolyn says
Heidi E. you are so lucky I wasn’t drinking anything when I read that about the laptop!!! You obviously have “medicine Head” going with your cold.
Mary Elizabeth says
My 1959 bathtub is Venetian Pink (Briggs), my 1983 drop-in sink is Gerber Venetian Pink, and my toilet is the same color, renamed by Gerber Bahama Pink in 2013 or so.
Mary Elizabeth says
I forgot to say that in natural light (from the window), they all match each other and the Venetian Pink toilet seat from Bemis. In artificial light the porcelain sink and toilet and the cast iron tub with ceramic finish look slightly different. But it’s nothing that bothers me.
Paul says
Oh, you forgot one. Crane introduced “Shell Pink” in the late 1940s. It’s a nice shade, I think you should add it to this line up when you can.
Paul says
Pam, please can you also do stories on yellow and blue?
pam kueber says
Coming!
Paul says
I think you should also do a story about red, like T’ang Red and Persian red. I love looking at these old catalogs! I wish the fixtures in them were available.
pam kueber says
It’s coming!
ineffablespace says
The number of colors Kohler offered in a particular decade can be a bit misleading because some of the colors were discontinued and others added, and they are sometimes variations of each other.
What I find interesting (and other people may find really boring) is, that if you analyze the Kohler color time line for the 1990s, they offered the most colors ever–some Sixty in all–it really was the decade when colors started disappearing.
Two dozen of those were specialty colors for specific items, and may have been available only on one or two specific things (sinks, mostly).
Nine of the colors introduced in the 1990s were variations of white.
Ten of the colors introduced in the 1990s were non-neutral. Several of these didn’t last out the decade,
Four of the colors were dark blue, three variations of cobalt, and two were light blue.
Excluding some of the super-specialized color finishes of the 2000s, a solid Dozen were essentially white. Add in the specialized colors, and there is another half dozen.
If you look at what has been dropped in the 2010s, we are back to what was being offered at the turn of the twentieth century: variations of white, plus greys to black. There are a few “Vapour” colors available on a few specific items. Innocent Blush remains on a few items in inventory.
Laura M. says
LOVE 1930’s bathrooms. They are all so happy looking, fun and inviting. Trendy all neutral bathrooms of today are SO BORING! I look at stuff like this and wonder why seemingly everyone in todays world is so afraid of bold colors. I’m so tired of home renovation shows where homeowners are encouraged to rip this kind of stuff out in favor of bland and neutral and uncreative.
ineffablespace says
Don’t forget about some of the later Kohler offerings. According to Kohler’s site they offered more colors than are shown on archive.com: Nine colors in the 1940s, seven in the 1950s, and back up to sixteen in the 1960s.
Suez Tan and Coppertone in the 1960s were pink undertoned browns in addition to the Peachblow.
If you extend the mid-century to include the 70s Kohler added Pink Champagne which harkened back to the more purple colors of the 1920s.
In the 80s, which are really the post-modern period there were about Eight red-toned colors available through Kohler, including the pale Innocent Blush which survived until about 2012. But these colors were less modernist than they were Art Deco revival influenced along with the other neo Deco influences of the late 1970s and 1980s.
pam kueber says
Thanks, ineffable! We’ll go take a look at Kohler’s site and add to our story accordingly!
Reader Deb says
I think they were the company that made a drop in rectangular sink in the late 60s mid 70s that was large enough to bathe a baby in and had a spray attachment on the left side. Don’t see anything close to that on their site now.
pam kueber says
The Men’s Lavatory and Ladies Vanity sinks — yes, no longer made — but can be found vintage — spotted here not sure if any are still available https://retrorenovation.com/2013/08/08/discontinued-kohler-kitchen-bathroom-sinks-faucets/
Reader Deb says
Thanks for looking that up for me. They have one in Wild Rose, but not the faucets. Maybe Stephanie will find some in the warehouse. Can’t understand why no one includes a sprayer anymore. Made the sink so easy to clean.
Reader Deb says
Just found a website that has a picture of the Kohler bathroom sinks from the 60s and 70s:
http://clickamericana.com/eras/1960s/colorful-kohler-bathroom-suites-1967-1975
meb says
Thank you for posting the link, Deb. I’ve bookmarked the site.