When readers Amy and Mack were searching for a new home, they knew they wanted something built in the 1960s without a lot of remuddling — so when they toured a house with a lavender bathroom, Amy knew immediately that it was meant to be.
Amy writes:
We recently relocated to Raleigh, North Carolin,a and had a hard time finding a suitable house – translated – built in the 1960’s without a lot of remuddling. At the last house on the 3rd day of searching, the house found us. When I got to the top of the stairs, there it was – a bathroom with lavender tile! I thought of SaraRoundhouse and her lavender bath and knew this house was the one. The realtor was yammering on about ripping it out – I wasn’t listening because I was too busy wondering where to find a lavender toilet to bring this beauty back. A year later it’s ready for its closeup. nd yes, I found that toilet! Folks laugh about lavender, until they see it — then they want one!
Did you know you can’t find lavender toilet bolt caps anywhere?! I had some enamel paint matched to one of the tiles, prepped and painted them myself. Bemis has come out with classic color lids and seat – perfect match! The toilet was found at Habitat after stalking them for several months.
The vanity had to go into a space that was of course non-standard sized. Lacking Kate’s woodworking skills, and refusing to buy big box cabinets, I got to thinking, what would look period? I’ve always loved gold and white French Provincial furniture, so I found the one French Provincial style vanity in the USA that would work in the space. (No skills to tear up and rebuild a perfectly good original dresser.) Since the vanity would mostly cover the typical hole in the flooring under the old vanity, we used plywood and concrete board to fill it, and then installed white tile. The baseboard that is visible is lavender tile. The part behind the vanity is just regular baseboard painted lavender. The mirror is classic 60-70’s – just toned it down with a little silver paint.
The pictures over the loo belonged to my mother-in-law. I’ve hauled them around for years and guess what – they have the perfect shade of lavender in them! The wall paint was supposed to be a pale gray blue (winner out of 47 tries). It turned green. But looks good with the lavender.
If you are going to have a lavender bathroom, you have to have a lavender chandelier (you can tell I lost the plot with that).
Amy, your lavender bathroom looks fantastic! The French Provincial style vanity works well in the space, and we just love your lavender toilet and original matching tile. Kudos on a job well done. And heck — if a purple chandelier makes you happy, why not? There are so many ways to retro — and we love them all!
Lynn Reina says
I did the same thing at the Restore with a pink toilet to go with my pink tub and tile. It was $12! I took it to a car wash and dumped bleach on it and hosed it down before I brought it home. It is an American Standard and works perfectly.
Lynn from St. Louis
Angela says
Perfect “remodeling”. I never would have thought of lavender but it is beautiful with the green paint and dresser/sink cabinet.
Thank you for the pictures and information on how you did it.
Jo Anne says
Awesome job. I absolutely love it! Wish I had one. 🙂
Priscilla Lynch says
I grew up in Queens NY in a Sears house. Our purple and black bathroom was described as a Hollywood Bath. There was a giant purple pedestal sink and very deep tub. I love seeing people appreciate these bathrooms.
Carolyn says
Hmm, in the Washington Post, read the comments and look who is mentioned?!
Amy and Mack – hats off to you for having beans in your ears when the realtor was blahblahblah-ing. All these people who “know” the buyers market either are letting their own prejudices seep through or are simply clueless. I think there are more young people aged 21 to 40 who arrive at the party too late after houses get “updated” or get talked out of buying MC homes because they’re “dated” (a word that REALLY NEEDS TO GO AWAY!)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/where-we-live/wp/2016/08/01/dont-resist-your-real-estate-agents-suggestion-to-upgrade-that-dated-decor/?ref=yfp#comments
pam kueber says
🙂
Data do not indicate investments are recouped: https://retrorenovation.com/2011/11/14/remodel-and-watch-your-investment-plunge-in-value-2011-2012-data/
Stephanie in MD says
Ugh, I read that article yesterday and it made me so sad. I wanted to comment but knew I would get backlash. I live in the DC metro area and there was an enormous housing boom from 1946-1970, but so many people have renovated everything to non-period appropriate finishes, including the Charles Goodman houses, that it is so disappointing. I want to buy a house that hasn’t been renovated but they are few and far between – or the ones that haven’t been renovated haven’t been taken care of, and we just don’t have the time or money to fix 50 years of water infiltration, mold, new roof, new HVAC, etc. while taking care of two little ones. And PS – I’m 35! So there is hope for my generation, yet!
Carolyn says
Did you notice our blog was in the comments? (Yes, Pam and Kate do the heavy lifting but, in sharing, it has become ours.)
Erik in Minneapolis says
Lavender plastic bolt caps are available here – scroll down to “orchid” once page opens:
https://www.plumbingsupply.com/toilet-bowl-caps.html
Enlarged photo:
https://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/toilet-bowl-cap-set-orchid.jpg
“Misty Lilac” on eBay but very twice as much as above – sample is shown in white but color shown in second photo:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacement-Plastic-Toilet-Bolt-Caps-Set-of-2-Richmond-Rheem-Misty-Lilac-/151893127845
Cindy Schenker says
Amy and Mack – you should be so PROUD of your accomplishment! IT LOOKS AMAZING!!
Robin, NV says
I’m not usually a chandolier person but I love it in this space. It says, “Yeah, we have a lavender bathroom – and we love it! Eat your hearts out people of the greige nation!” ????
medtech says
OMG. I have the exact same bathroom toilet. If fact my batroom is lavender, with white and lavender trim tile, and white and gold cabinets. And yes I don’t have any toilet caps. Exactly what brand and color of paint did you buy
Amy says
Since the pricey caps offered on the internet would be a ‘close match’ and I wanted to be sure they matched, I purchased some plain white ones, scuffed them lightly with 220 grit sandpaper and applied 2 coats of paint (color matched). I used an 8 oz. sample size jar of Behr Ultra Pure White Interior / Exterior satin enamel. Colored: CLRNT 384th: BL 12, FL 5, JL 15.
You can always top coat after the paint has cured 7 days with a couple of coats of water based, clear poly.
Phyllis says
One of our bathrooms was lavender and white when we moved in, alas we did tear it out. No hate please! 20 years ago it was impossible to save MCM features because the internet had not developed into the resource it is today. The toilet and sink were lavender and the wall tiles were a combination of lavender, white with light brown flecks in them (think vanilla ice cream) and best of all white accent tile that had a large single gold leaf sputnik motif in the center. We tore this bathroom out and moved it because it was just too small for a growing family and there was a lot of water damage too. But I still think about that tile from time to time.