All that was left of the original 1976 bathroom in Kathy and Ralph’s house was a Kohler Fresh Green receptor tub. There had once been matching orange sinks! What would daredevil decorator Kathy do to bring this bathroom back to the ’70s? Hint: Her ingenious solutions were found at the Re-Store, World of Tile, and a local old-time wallpaper store. This bathroom project may shock minimalists’ eyes — but it makes mine very happy indeed.
Kathy writes:
We are the third owners of our 1966 cedar contemporary, the second owners’ staying only 5 years. By coincidence, we became acquainted with a woman who grew up in the house, giving us access to valuable info.
This project was our second bath. It was originally finished a decade or more after the house was built and was done inexpensively — masonite paneling, plywood shelving, white laminate counter, tile board tub surround, vinyl floor — but the kids picked the fixture colors. They chose Kohler Fresh Green for the receptor tub and toilet and orange for the pair of oval sinks.
Unfortunately, it was all removed by owner #2 – except for the tub, which had been recoated WHITE and accented with colonial-style fixtures. Now there was golden oak everywhere. The floor was bland grey vinyl off the roll from a big box store.
At our local ReStore, we were amazed to find a vintage vanity clad all in black marble Formica with muted green and gold veining.
It came complete with TWO ORANGE OVAL SINKS with crazy gold faucets! We made a deal and took it home, where it lived in storage in our basement for 2 years.
In the interim, the white coating on our little Kohler Standish tub began to chip, then peel. With the help of a scraper, I had the whole thing back to green in a few hours. It shows the acid etching from the refinishing, but a couple of coats of canuba wax improved things enough to get by.
Pam interjects: Readers, be aware that old materials, products and their layers may contain hazards. Get with your own properly licensed professionals to assess what you are dealing with so that you can make informed decisions. For more info see my Be Safe/Renovate Safe page.
I’ve always loved exuberant wallpapered 1970s bathrooms. I couldn’t spend $600 on vintage foil or mylar, so I hit our local old-time paint and wallpaper store and was pleasantly surprised to find recently discontinued designs with a 70s vibe at dirt cheap prices. For $60, I picked out a great leafy pattern in blues and greens and had fun learning to hang it myself.
For the floor, we made a road trip to New Jersey and World of Tile just in time before they liquidated. It took less than an hour to pick out our cream tile with green accents for only $2 a square foot.
A methodical handy man friend installed it all, retrofitting the vanity perfectly, which even required some laminate to be removed and moved around. I repaired and papered the walls and changed out the tub faucet trim.
I left one of the oak cabinets, refinished in a darker color, along with the white solid surface tub surround.
Someday, I’ll find a Kohler Fresh Green toilet. For now, a fresh green Bemis toilet seat represents.
Other finishing touches include vintage Carriage House by Amerock towel bars and accessories, and a 1970s Syroco wall decoration. Mirrors from Lowe’s and a shower curtain from Target round it all out.
We love our new/old glam bathroom. I look forward to the day someone visiting our house for the first time sees the bathroom and says, “Yikes! I’ll bet you can’t wait to get rid of this!” But everyone so far seems to genuinely love it, too.
Fabulous. Just fabulous. And, you used one of my all-time favorite World of Tile tiles! Thank you, Kathy and Ralph!
Michelle says
Kathy did a fantastic job!
I laughed and laughed with tears running down my face after reading article. No, not because of Kathy or the bathroom.
But the house I bought 10 months ago is a 1970’s split level. With everything. single. thing. original. I am someone who detests the decor of the 1970’s. It is dark, cavernous, life sucking browns everywhere.
Then I believe I read an article from Pam about colors aqua, avocado green, I think yellow? Either she or a fellow commenters pointed out that this is similar to colorations-just a different ‘hue’– of the Arts & Crafts movement the period I LOVE!
After that I appreciated the original owner’s love of green, browns, browns, greens, pops of orange. I truly can not stand the hues of the 1970’s–but I will honor the house and the original owner’s intents by following her by going back to the Arts & Crafts color wheel and change the 70’s avocado to sage or “Olive Moss” and the bright, awful oranges to the “Najavo Red”, changing the dark nearly black stained paneling to pine/red oak wainscoting.
I love Kathy’s vision. It is very rare to see the glamorous 70’s. I appreciate her time and dedication. So thank you.
kathy burgess says
Delicious…simply delicious.
Joe Felice says
If you were going for the excess of the ’70s, you nailed it.
Neil says
Far out!
Sock it to me!
Jason says
My parents built a new house in 1977 and used all Kohler fixtures faucets. One bathroom has an orange sink and another bathroom has an apple green bathtub, two sinks and they replaced the apple green toilet two/three years ago with a boring white one. The third bathroom has all blue fixtures.
Love your bathroom remodel and I can’t wait for the white/stainless steel/greige trend to yield to more fun colors!
Robyn says
Dear owners,
I actually have a set of vintage late 60s,early 70s Fieldcrest towels that might match your bathroom. They are orange and green patterned.
Marilyn says
Wow I have never thought of orange sinks but I love it. Congratulations on a wonderful bathroom.
Brandy says
Fantastic! The more i look at it the more i love it!
Sanmati Mathew says
Wall design for bathroom is absolutely amazing. I haven’t find orange colour sink anywhere, but its looking gorgeous !!!
LT says
I love it! The orange sinks are amazing. So cool!
Katie says
That wallpaper is absolutely gorgeous!