Our miniseries on vintage bathroom colors continues! Blue bathrooms may not be quite as prolific as their cousin pink — but there were still loads of beautiful blue vintage bathrooms installed in homes all over the country in midcentury America. Today, we take a look at some of many shades of blue that were produced from 1927-1962, along with their pretty names — like “Clair De Lune.” There are even some dark navy blues in the mix.
American Standard Blues — Clair De Lune Blue, Royal Copenhagen Blue and Regency Blue
In 1930, American-Standard offered two blues — one lighter pastel blue called ‘Clair De Lune Blue’ (above) and one darker blue ‘Royal Copenhagen Blue’ shown below. Above images: 1930 American-Standard Clair De Lune Blue bathroom fixtures from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above images: 1930 American-Standard Royal Copenhagen Blue bathroom fixtures from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
By 1950, American Standard had removed the darker Royal Copenhagen Blue color from their lineup in favor of the more popular lighter Clair De Lune Blue. Above from: 1950 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Clair De Lune Blue bathroom fixtures.
The 1960s ushered in ‘Regency Blue’ which looks very similar to its early sibling ‘Clair De Lune Blue.’
Three images above: 1962 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Regency Blue fixtures.
Kohler Blue — Horizon Blue, Cerulean
A few years ago, Pam wrote about the very first year — 1927 — that Kohler offered its bathroom fixtures in colors besides white. One of these original colors was ‘Horizon Blue.’
Kohler’s 1928 ‘Horizon Blue’ must have been a very pale blue/gray color because it appears to be almost white in the catalog illustration above. The exact same image and color also appears in Kohler’s 1929 catalog. Above: Horizon Blue fixtures from a 1928 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above: We see Kohler’s color lineup 1936 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org. While Horizon Blue was still offered and may have been darkened, it was not one of their four most popular colors as indicated by the larger swatch size above.
Above: In this 1948 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, we see the whole palette for the year, which includes their new, brighter blue Cerulean showcased here with a lovely deep red and white themed bathroom. Also, note the dental sink!
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, Cerulean Blue is still going strong.
You can see Kohler’s complete color offerings — including all of their different blues — in this extensive color timeline found on Kohler’s website.
Crane — Lucerne Blue
Above: This 1940 Crane catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org shows their blue as “Lucerne Blue.” Just check out the use of color in this bathroom — purple floor, black wall, pink walls and gold towels with blue fixtures. What a bold arrangement!
Montgomery Ward — Sky Blue
This 1955 Montgomery Ward catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org offers fixtures in Sky Blue.
Briggs — Sky Blue
Three images above of Briggs’ Sky Blue from: A 1951 Briggs Beautyware catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org show off some inventive decor ideas for a blue bathroom.
The two images above show Sky Blue from the 1950s Briggs Beautyware catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org. Check out that low profile blue toilet.
Eljer — Midnight Blue and Twilight Blue
Pam spotted this 1939 Eljer catalog in the MBJ Collection on archive.org that shows their color offerings, which include a dark blue called ‘Midnight Blue’ and a lighter pastel ‘Twilight Blue.’
Alliance Ware — Blue
Pam found this ad for Alliance Ware porcelain enameled bathroom fixtures that includes a pastel blue in a 1950s Small Homes Guide.
Reader’s blue bathrooms
Above: We just love Kristen and Paul’s aqua blue 1940s bathroom with black and white accents.
Above: Nanette and Jim built a lovely blue and white bathroom from scratch in their basement.
Two images above: This 1950s time capsule house had seven vintage bathrooms — two of which are blue.
Above: The Comer House in Gallatin, Tenn. has a lovely blue and white vintage bathroom.
Above: Alice’s 1950s blue bathroom has a fun mosaic floor tile pattern that we figured out how to replicate.
Still want more blue? Check out Pam’s story: Scenes from 22 blue midcentury bathrooms
Carolyne says
I am really enjoying these features on colored fixtures! I actually have a vintage copy of the August 1929 issue of Better Homes and Gardens which has a wonderful full color ad from Crane for fixtures in “Lucerne Blue” -specifically their Elegia lavatory and Corwith Bath – beautiful. The blue actually looks different in this 1929 adthan the 1940 Lucerne blue shown above – it’s less gray and more like the “Clair de Lune” blue from Standard from that earlier period. I wonder if the color was tweaked? If you would like the ad for the blog or just to see or for your archives, I am happy to scan and send. Same magazine has a fantastic Standard ad showing a huge kitchen sink in “Orchid de Vincennes” (LIKE WOW!!!PURPLE!!) and a fan of all the standard colors of that year.
Amanda says
Here are some pictures of my blue bathroom. The bathtub has sliding glass doors on both sides, with a bathroom on either side. It’s funky but a lot of the MCM homes in my neighborhood have this bathroom configuration.
Hall Bathroom: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v149/iheartmyTHO/Northcrest%20Tour%20of%20Homes%202010/hallbathroom.jpg
Master Bathroom: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v149/iheartmyTHO/Northcrest%20Tour%20of%20Homes%202010/masterbathroom.jpg
pam kueber says
A Jack ‘n Jill bathroom of a sort — like this one! https://retrorenovation.com/2009/09/29/susans-pink-jack-n-jill-bathroom/
Also of interest: https://retrorenovation.com/2009/09/29/mid-centuryjack-n-jill-bathroom/
Elizabeth from Texas says
I recently rescued a blue Kohler toilet out of someone’s front yard! As I drove by I saw the plumbers delivering new white toilets, so I stopped and asked the owners what they were doing with the old ones! They encouraged me to take them–originals from when the house was built by this couple in 1969! I am having it installed in the laundry room of the 1965 house I’m restoring nearby! According to the Bemis color chip, it is “Cerulean”. I rescued the gold potty also. It is now in the yard sporting marigolds.
pam kueber says
Yay for the dumpster diving!
yellow says
Nice article and pretty shades! Still trying to figure out the blue shade in our new house (1954). It’s a blue-green “sea glass” shade. Kind of looks like the clair de lune swatch with a touch more green, but not the wider image which shows that line to be a more standard blue. Will keep looking, and enjoying your articles!
Nina462 says
Heck Yeah! I love my blue bathroom! Blue tile/yellow walls/blue countertop/chalkware fishies/big mirror etc. I love my blue bathroom – thanks Pam.
I think somewhere I’ve sent pictures before to you.
lisa in Seattle says
Wonder if this one at the Second Use salvage yard in Seattle is Copenhagen Blue? http://www.seconduse.com/inventory/items/454460/unique-vintage-bathroom-sink/
They have a pink one that appears to be the same model: http://www.seconduse.com/inventory/items/451624/pink-bathroom-sink/ but it looks like it came from a different job site. Interesting!
jaybake32 says
Love the blue – I just wish I could find a blue cast iron kitchen sink! Too many shades of white these days….
Felicia says
Thanks to this delightful post, I’ve been able to identify the bathtub in my previous house as an American Standard recess-style Master Pembroke tub. Mine was white, not the beautiful Clair de Lune Blue shown in the ad, but it was a wonderful tub–deep, long enough to stretch out in, and because it was enameled cast iron, it retained heat so you wouldn’t be sitting in lukewarm water after five minutes. They sure don’t make ’em like they used to.
PaulaMS says
In these remodeled bathrooms, I’d love to know where people get the towel bars for the sinks! Can you do a story on that?
pam kueber says
Which ones?
Heather L says
You have just solved the mystery of the tiny second sink in the house I grew up in. No one seemed to know what it was! I always just thought, how awesome was it that I had my own tiny sink?! When we were moving out of that house to build our own, all the blue fixtures came with us. Thirty years later, they’re still in use in my parent’s house. And the house I have now also has an original blue bathroom. Thanks for showcasing the blue!