How to paint and decorate a beige bathroom? We get this question a lot from readers who may not be accustomed to the warm and sometimes pinky-beiges in midcentury bathrooms. So, continuing our series looking back at the colors of vintage bathroom tubs, sinks and toilets, let’s take a look at how beige has evolved from 1927 to 1962 — and along the way, we’ll see the colors that designers were choosing to complement and accent beige fixtures back in the day.
American Standard Beiges — St. Porchaire Brown, Persian Brown, Fawn Beige and Spice Mocha
Above: Check out this bold color combination from 1930 — St. Porchaire Brown fixtures with a dark purple wall tile, black floors and green and yellow accents — nothing boring about this beige! Images from 1930 American-Standard St. Porchaire Brown bathroom fixtures from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Above: By 1950, American Standard had modified their available brown/beige color to be lighter and have a more pink cast, renaming it Persian Brown. From 1950 American-Standard catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library showing Persian Brown as a bathroom fixture color choice.
Above: Here’s a fun green, gold and Fawn Beige combination that feels very lively. Note: When Pam remodeled her bathrooms in about 2003, one of them got Fawn Beige tiles that were available from Home Depot then. She says the color is lovely.
Above: Check out the rattan covering the vanity, cabinet and walls. Mixed with a yellowy peach tile and aqua laminate countertops, this Spice Mocha bathroom feels downright tropical.
All six images above of American Standard’s Fawn Beige and Spice Mocha fixtures are from a 1962 catalog in the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Kohler — Autumn Brown, Tuscan
A few years ago, Pam wrote about the very first year — 1927 — that Kohler offered its bathroom fixtures in colors besides white. One of those first colors offered was “Autumn Brown” a light brownish beige.
Above: Autumn Brown fixtures from a 1928 Kohler catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Above: An Autumn Brown “Mayfair” bathroom was also spotted in this 1929 Kohler catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library. Note that Mayfair sink — we’ve spotted a similar American Standard sink and others like it only a handful of time over the years — they can sell for quite a bit of money!
Above: We see Kohler’s color lineup in this 1936 catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library. The company added a new lighter beige called Tuscan that became one of their four most popular colors — along with Spring Green, Lavender and Peachblow. Autumn Brown, while still on the color line up, was less popular.
Above: This beige bathroom above mixes the lightly colored neutral with a punchy navy blue and red accents, making quite an impact. Above: In this 1948 Kohler catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library, we see the whole palette for the year, which includes two beiges: Tuscan and Autumn Brown.
Above: By 1949, Kohler had reduced its color offerings to just four: Spruce Green, Peachblow, Cerulean Blue and Tuscan. Two images above are from a 1949 Kohler catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Above: By 1950, Kohler was still producing Tuscan — but is it still beige or has it become yellow? It could be a printing anomaly, but we don’t k now for sure. Above images from: 1950 Kohler catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
To see more of the evolution of beige from Kohler, check out their extensive color timeline.
Crane — Sun Tan
Above: In 1940, Crane offered a beige called Sun Tan along with Orchid Pink, India Ivory, Citrus Yellow, Pale Jade, and Lavender as part of their lineup. Images above from a 1940 Crane catalog in the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Above: This Sun Tan bathroom fixture suite is surrounded warm sunset tones of coral, red and brown offset with a few medium blue accents. From this 1940 Crane catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Briggs — Sandstone
Above: Beige and burgundy and yellow (chartreuse maybe even?) and red! What a fun, punchy combination — the wallpaper makes it all work.
Above: For a rustic coolonial look, why not match beige with brick red and a green stained pine? Don’t forget the tree stump stool! Four images above of Briggs’ Sandstone Beige from this 1951 Briggs Beautyware catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Above: Sandstone from the 1962 Briggs Beautyware catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Eljer — Tuscan Tan
Above: Pam spotted this 1939 Eljer catalog on the Building Technology Heritage Library featuring Tuscan Tan.
Alliance Ware — Tan
And finally, Pam found this ad for Alliance Ware porcelain enameled bathroom fixtures that includes ‘Tan’ in a 1950s Small Homes Guide.
See our other stories about vintage bathroom colors:
- The color green in kitchens and bathrooms sinks, tubs and toilets from 1928-1962
- The color pink in bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets – from 1927-1962
- The color blue in bathroom sinks, tubs, and toilets from from 1927-1962
- The color red in bathroom fixtures through 1950
John says
Some of the early bathrooms have shiny floor tiles. I wonder if that was just for the advertisement sparkle effect or they really were shiny. They look slippery! Gotta love a tree stump stool. 🙂
Paul-CT says
I am the very proud owner of two beige half baths in my 1961 mid-century split level house. Two years ago, I redid the countertops in both bathrooms. I kept one original sink and replaced the other but went with the same color, of course, as it has to match the commode. (BTW, the commodes were in perfect shape but needed new toilet seats so I had a body shop paint two new seats to match).
Anyway, I wanted a laminate that would look nice with the beige/Tuscan sink and I came up with Wilsonart HD Sedona Spa! All the Sedona’s (there are a total of 3) are very nice and there is even one with a touch of blue in it as well. Here is how they came out:
Entrance Half Bath:
https://retrorenovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/midcentury-peach-bathroom.jpg
Kitchen Half Bath:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img921/8475/KdWF0N.jpg
The kitchen bath wall treatments were redone as it had a late 70’s foil paper with orange bamboo motif and I just went with plain white walls as I had a lot of extra paint. I tend to be too conservative!
P.
Debbie in Portland says
So you could’ve had Royal Orchid or Cerulean Blue or Pagan Red or Ming Green or Rouge….and you went with beige. Slowly shaking my head, trying to justify that one.
OK: it’s timeless. You can still replace your beige fixtures. And it does look pretty fabulous against the burgundy and brick red. Trust Pam to make me rethink “getting over” being “so over” beige!
Ravyn Guiliani says
my dream bathroom would have beige fixtures and be done in shades of turquoise and coral and gold….like a tropical beach!
Ranger Smith says
I especially like the “beige” fixtures paired with either purple/lavender or brown colors. It would be so much fun to have colored bathroom fixtures.
sherree says
I love all of these! Before beige became boring 🙂 I am still trying to find the color name of my 1953 peachy tan Universal Rundle bathroom. The wall tile is accented with soft chocolate brown trim tile and the tiled vanity top is minty aqua. I have had fun decorating it.
Suzy says
Sheree … There is a company on ebay (dpf-plumbing) that I ordered toilet bolt caps for my Universal Rundle Toilet from … They helped me identify my Universal Rundle toilet as Verdant Green (1960) and my Eljer toilet as Coral Blossom (1956 – it’s a peachy pink beige color). Maybe they can help you.
sherree says
Thanks Suzy! I will check it out. Hope you bath reno is going well; I can’t wait to see it with our old/ your new green sink.
John says
Kinda crazy your story is on beige bathrooms today. I woke up to find the tank of our original beige Rheem Richmond toilet had cracked from top to bottom overnight!! Yikes!! Now, how do I go about finding a tank? All the fixtures match in our beige and brown bathroom. No way can we replace with a white toilet!
pam kueber says
As I recall there is someone who just sells tanks. Work the Google.
Margie C. says
My orig 1958 Rheem-Richmond tank cracked and I ended up replacing the whole toilet with “bone” which blends into the wall’sIt still works. The plumbing supply house showroom staffer thinks my original field tile (pale yellow speckled) and goes nicely with the new floor tile I put in.
See: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/10/16/margies-peachy-keen-penny-round-mosaic-bathroom-floor-tile/
Don’t settle for white!
Kelly Wittenauer says
Try Peerless Pottery. They show a beige. And I believe you can purchase the tank & lid without the bowl.
Karin says
There is a lot of “wow factor” here. I will never look at a beige bathroom fixture the same way again. Who knew beiges and tans could play so well with blues and greens? Most beige bathrooms nowadays are paired with white and look safe compared to these beauties. The illustrators were really talented. They made these bathrooms look like works of art and the height of luxury. Great post. I can’t wait to see what it inspires.
ineffablespace says
This is one colored bathroom you should be able to replicate, at least for a while:
Kohler offers Almond, Sandbar, and Mexican Sand.
Now that I mentioned the colors they will probably all be discontinued 🙂
The 1940 Crane bathroom looks like it inspired the Kohler Saile and Reve toilets, as well as the base of their newer skirted version Memoirs toilet
Janet in ME says
I love these old bathrooms! That 1940 Crane bathroom in Sun Tan has to be the strangest I have ever seen. The sink is really unusual with that cobra hood faucet area, and the toilet is odd as can be. It doesn’t look very comfortable and I would bet it didn’t sell and didn’t last long. I wouldn’t reject any of the other ones at any time, now or then!
la573 says
Weird, but not as weird as the toilet in the 1950s Briggs illustration – i mean, the tank is lower than the bowl. How does that thing even flush? The water would have to flow upward from the bottom of the tank.
The 1940 Crane bathroom does have a nice deep tub though….
CyberCraft Robots says
The toilet may have been pressure assisted and/or use the Venturi effect to flush.