Midcentury bathrooms trimmed in maroon may not have been as popular as their pink cousins, but there are still plenty of homes built from the late 1920s – 1950s that featured this bold color. Today, we mostly refer to these bathrooms as ‘maroon’ or ‘burgundy,’ but the marketing names for these colors were much more romantic: T’ang Red, Rouge, Persian Red — even Pagan Red!
American Standard burgundy — T’ang Red
Our favorite restoration supplier, deabath.com, recently scored the American-Standard Towerlyn pedestal sink — in T’ang Red. They say it is from the late 1920s. So, this color goes back that far, at least.
I first spotted this rich red in a 1930 catalog — American Standard’s T’ang Red. Above images: 1930 American-Standard T’ang Red bathroom fixtures from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
… And the color had legs: 20 years later, American Standard’s T’ang Red was still going strong. Above from: 1950 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing T’ang Red bathroom fixtures.
Kohler — Rouge
A few years ago, Pam wrote about the very first year — 1927 — that Kohler offered its bathroom fixtures in colors besides white. While there was no deep red in that first palette, it wasn’t too long before Kohler added Rouge to its lineup.
Kohler had it own competing red, Rouge. Above: We see Kohler’s color lineup 1936 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org. Note that while Rouge was not one of their four most popular colors — it was subsidiary to the more popular Tuscan, Spring Green, Lavendar and Peachblow illustrated in the larger swatches shown above.
Rouge looks to have continued until 1948. Above: In this 1948 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, we see the whole palette for the year, which includes Rouge. By 1949, Rouge was dropped from the Kohler color lineup.
Crane — Persian Red
While I can’t find any actual images of Crane’s fixtures in Persian Red, this 1940 Crane catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org lists it as one of the color options.
Above: The color was still available in 1956 — and you can get a New Old Stock Crane Marcia in Persian Red from deabath.com!
Eljer — Pagan Red
Pam spotted this 1939 Eljer catalog from the MBJ Collection on archive.org showing Pagan Red as one of the color offerings.
Reader’s vintage burgundy/maroon bathrooms
These reds are what Pam says she considers “deco” colors. High-contrast bathrooms were more popular in prewar America and the early postwar years. After about 1953, the high-contrast palettes start to fade in favor of lighter pastel combos. Above: Jodi’s 1949 maroon and pink bathroom with amazing vintage tile.
Above: We gave Naomi ideas to decorate her vintage pink, maroon and white bathroom. Pam says she thinks that’s a Crane sink — if so, this would be Persian Red.
Above: Kate spotted a maroon and gray bathroom during her visit to the Comer House in Tennessee.
Above: Dana built her own pink and burgundy bathroom to reverse a bland, big box remuddle.
Above: Marsha saves her maroon and peach tile bathroom with help from B&W Tile. Yes, B&W still offers a rich maroon color tile.
See our other stories about vintage bathroom colors:
Mag says
Just a few days ago, on denver craiglist, there was a set of THREE coloured bathroom sets. One teal, another dark red, and I forget the other. They are all gone from the listings, so I assume vintage lovers snagged those in a heartbeat. It was amazing to see. They weren’t mid-century, maybe the 80’s or 90’s, but for anyone looking for colourful bath fixtures, they were treasure.
Penne says
My sister’s house has a bathroom with a 1973 Crane Anniversary Edition bath tub in bright red. There is a small gold plate that denotes this anniversary status. It has oversized claw feet in bright gold. This tub sits in the center of a nearly round room with rock walls. The water flows out of a long rock protruding over the tub. The double sinks in the vanity are a pinkish mauve. The toilet is white so I can’t help but think that it is not original but can’t imagine what the original color was. She is keeping all of this and will probably do some redecorating with wallpaper and paint–just to spiff it up a little.
Diana says
That sounds fascinating! Was the home built in 1973?
Penne says
It was built in 1974. When I first saw this tub and commented on it, my sister stated that it was a commemarative edition. I thought that it had to be a Bicentennial Commemorative Edition. But on closer inspection saw 1973 embossed on that plate. It is unique and I’m looking forward to see how she decorates this room.
Joe Felice says
Who knew? We always just called it plain, ol’ burgundy. It was immensely popular, especially with pink and/or gray.
Ranger Smith says
My grandparents built a home in 1952 that had maroon tile trim in one of the bathrooms. I wonder if they’ve kept the bathroom intact. I’ve often thought about sending the current owners a letter giving them a bit of history on their home. Maybe they’d even invite me to come take a walk-through. Perhaps they’d find that a bit creepy though. Hmmm
Geronimom says
LOL! I’ve often thought the same thing about the house my grandfather designed and built back in 1956/57… complete with pink & black bathroom which he tiled himself – and an amazing stone fireplace, which he also planned & built . I have a number of photos of that house from back in the day – including Grandma bathing my older brother in the pink bathroom sink – and even Grandpa’s original hand drawn designs for the fireplace. Google maps shows the house is still there (Hamilton, Ohio), but whenever I start to get my nerve up to contact the current owners I chicken out thinking they will surely believe I’m some kind of nut – not everyone has my love of vintage and history, unfortunately!
Ethan says
That’s funny because I have also had that same desire to visit my grandfathers house. I would love to see what remains from when I was a child and what has been changed. I also am afraid that the current owners would think I’m crazy or up to no good.
Neil says
I’d give somebody else’s right arm to walk through my Kentucky grandmother’s farmhouse again. But not to see the bathroom, which didn’t even exist until I was around 15 or so; the tile was faux-tile sheets of something, the fixtures the cheapest white.
It replaced the charming ante room which contained the head of the well, and the bucket on a pulley from the ceiling, where I drew up water from the ground under the house; and…replaced the outhouse down at the terminus of a footpath, at the back corner of the chicken yard.
THAT’s the house I want to revisit.
Diana says
I have also thought of contacting the current owners of my grandparents 1910 house. I have tons of pix I could share. Unfortunately it went through some rough years, going through foreclosure at one point. The bank completely re muddled removing all charm and character except for my moms knotty pine bedroom added on in the 30’s. The current owners seem to be trying to keep it up now but you never know how people will feel about previous family contacting them. Some love it (I would). And some could care less.
Penny says
We actually were contacted by the new owners of an old family home from the 30s – and were delighted about it. My sister-in-law showed them old family pictures showing the house before later owners “improved” it. My husband had been to his aunt & uncle’s house many times so could tell them what & where the rooms are/were used for.
The new owners are trying to restore the house (gave me thrills all over to hear it). They’re in another state, and when we go back to that city we are going to arrange to visit them to see progress.
I’d like to see if they could help me with ideas for sprucing up my in-law’s house in the same town.
pam kueber says
The previous longtime owner of my house made a cold call to my house shortly after we moved in. We became fast friends. I LOVED IT! Try it!
Ranger Smith says
OK, you all have given me the courage! The letter is written and will be mailed tomorrow! I wonder if the knotty pine kitchen remains.
Alyssa says
You never know! My grandma’s family was from Tennessee, when her mother was a child, they bought a house in town for her father to be closer to the mines. That house was a major part of my grandma’s life, and stands across the street from her aunt’s (who grew up in it, too) house. The current owners love when the family ask to see it, and were proud to show what they did with it. Hopefully, I get to go see it next time we go down there. They’ve kept the outside pretty original.
Suzy says
I have a Coral Blossom (peachy/pink) bathroom set I recently purchased. Was planning on doing gray tile with black trim HOWEVER now I can think about gray & maroon instead .. ahhh decisions decisions … LOVE to see all of these pictures for color ideas !!!! Thanks for sharing these beautiful works of art.
Leslie says
My grandmother’s home in Lansing, Michigan was one of these reds. I remember best the pocket door it also had as I’d never encountered one of those before. I remember EVERYTHING being red-even the tile walls. Other than that the home was pretty bland though.
Marilyn says
That sounds like my kind of bathroom I would love to see one like that…
Carolyn says
You usually think of red as being the star but don’t consider it could be a supporting player too.
I’m glad to see Marsha’s bath – never would have paired maroon with peach, would never have crossed my mind as a possibility.
Robin, NV says
Drool. I wonder why people were so much more comfortable with color than we are today.
ineffablespace says
I agree that this is one of the “Deco” colors. The only real life examples I have seen of these have been in houses with distinctly deco period bathrooms. One house had what appears to be had baths in Pagan Red, Midnight Blue and a Green that I can’t identify. The house was large, had staff bedrooms, and at least half a dozen bathrooms total, all compact.
These Oxblood colors aren’t my favorite in overall decor, but I love bathrooms in these colors.
This house was way out of my budget but I went on an open house. The agent said “of course the baths are way too small and need to be gutted as well as the kitchen.” And I said ” Yeah, I wanted to see this house before someone came in and ruined it.” I think that puzzled her. (I did agree about the kitchen, it was under the dining room down a set of steep narrow stairs, and there was an actual warming/butler’s pantry off the dining room, the only house I’ve seen in the city with a kitchen clearly for servants).
I used to participate in a different design forum and a lot of people seemed to have become convinced of the notion that white toilets are “more hygienic” than a colored toilet and that colored toilets are “gross”. I know as a society we’ve gone a bit overboard in the anti-bacteria arena, but that is one of the ideas that I didn’t get at all.
pam kueber says
I am guessing that as indoor plumbing became more common, people actually CELEBRATED their bathrooms by playing them up with lots of color. We Have An Indoor Bathroom — Wooot!
Barbara says
I’ve got a maroon and gray half bath from 1960. The fixtures are American Standard and are in better shape than the wall tile.
pam kueber says
Congrats. I’m thinking this is a pretty rare color for bathroom fixtures.
Barbara says
The fixtures in the main bath are white. Back in the 80s, a former owner put up white plastic panels over the tile. I’m dying to find out what color is underneath, but I have to wait until I have the money to fix it.
Jay says
My neighborhood of ranches ca 57/58 had A.S. fixtures. I went to an estate auction on the next street. I was surprised to see the hall bath fitted out the same, maroon fixtures and gray tile. I hadn’t know that such dark colors existed. The house was to be auctioned after the contents and I know this bath was gutted, the house was sadly run down.
Kay says
The only bathroom in my little 1950 ranch is gray with maroon trim. The original sink and toilet are gone, but I’d love to have matching red ones!