Last up in our six-part series reviewing the history and timeline transformations of the most common colors used for vintage bathroom fixtures: Let’s look at the variety of gray tubs, sinks and toilets offered by a variety of manufacturers reaching back as far as 1927. Along the way, we also get great ideas about how to decorate a gray bathroom — an eminently versatile color — without going all … monotone.
American Standard: 1962 Platinum Gray
American Standard’s Platinum Gray looks fantastic when mixed with a creamy yellow and blue.
And here, they’ve mixed gray with beige, yellow and pink creating a cheery space.
Even this richer color combination of gray with avocado green, blue and cream is anything but boring.
Three images above: 1962 American-Standard catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
Kohler: 1927 West Point Gray and the 1952-1967 Argent
Although Kohler was the first company to start making fixtures in color back in 1927, the ‘West Point Gray’ in their original color lineup.
‘Argent’ was Kohler’s 1950s gray. It appears to have been quite rich in depth. Shown (above) in a 1959 catalog in the Building Technology Heritage Library, the color gets a high-contrast decorator treatment.
In this 1961 catalog in the Building Technology Heritage Library, they pair it with 60s flower power colors — orange and green. Who’da thunk it!
Over on their extensive color timeline, Kohler says that Argent was in their lineup form 1952-1967.
Briggs: 1950s Pearl Gray
Brigg’s Pearl Gray seems to be a darker gray than the American Standard Platinum Gray, definitely more declaratively gray with less likelihood of reflecting and taking on the hue of adjacent strong colors. When combined with white tile and rosy pink floors and accents, it looks very nice indeed — pink and gray is one of Pam’s favorite color combinations in a vintage bathroom, whenever she sees one. The two images above show Pearl Gray from the 1950s Briggs Beautyware catalog from the Building Technology Heritage Library.
AllianceWare: 1950s Grey
Pam found this ad for AllianceWare bathroom fixtures that includes ‘Grey’ in a 1950s Small Homes Guide. Alliance Ware kinda makes us smile, because it seems they did not have a marketing person to name their colors!
See all our stories about vintage bathroom colors:
- Decorating a beige bathroom: Color history and ideas from six manufacturers from 1927 to 1962
- The color green in kitchens and bathrooms sinks, tubs and toilets from 1928 to 1962
- The color pink in bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets — from 1927 to 1962
- The color blue in bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets — from 1927 to 1962
- Decorating a yellow bathroom: Color history and ideas from five manufacturers from 1927 to 1962
Rick G says
Carla – add one more color combo – for the Brown fixtures, Orange / peach – that is a natural pairing.
Sharon says
Our 1966 bathroom has a gray tub, surround tile, toilet and sink. We recently had the counter laminated with Wilsonart Domino boomerang. Floor is white terazzo with black and gray chips. Accents with Mamie pink towels and bath mat. Looks awesome!
Rick G says
Now that sounds nice !!! It really comes down to the proper balance of color, next time Pam offers the uploader, please share a pic or two; I’d love to see it !!
Rick G says
Hi again Carla, these are my choices for your colors ……… PINK – Pastel yellow or blue with black accents / trim BROWN – Pastel Yellow or Creme, or …. Red, ( depending on tone ) BLUE Pastel Pink or Pastel Yellow GREY – Pastel Pink with Black trim / border
Carla says
I actually have 7 vintage baths. A pinky coral and brown 3 ming green. 2blue and gray which i love. I wouldn’t consider chsnging out the baths but am having a hard time finding color combos. Want an outstanding display of these beautiful rooms. Getting help from your site. Any special advice appreciated
pam kueber says
wowowowowo SEVEN bathrooms! I will email you!
Rick G says
Hi Carla, as a custom automotive painter, ( and mid century nut ) …….. I highly suggest you go to an art store & pick up a color wheel. Ask someone in the store to explain how to use it, you’ll will help you greatly. Try and get the most simple one, on one side, there will be the tool used to formulate colors; ( such as Yellow & Blue=Green, and so on ) ….. on the other side ( the one you’ll be wanting, will have the primary colors, secondary & so forth; this tool will show you how to pick the most complimentary colors to go with any & all colors you may want to use. Let me know how this works out & feel free to ask for help if you need any.
pam kueber says
I’m a big fan of the color wheel, too. Check out this story: https://retrorenovation.com/2009/10/15/interior-design-color-wheel/
Rick G says
Wow Pam – I should known the wheel was somewhere on here – everything else good is 🙂 !!!!!! That would have been a great job, to name the car colors !! I really do feel the color wheel is a useful tool for any & all novice home decorators & hopefully has prevented many possible “Color clash nightmares” !!!!!
Rick G says
Ok Carla – one more ( I missed ! ) For your Ming Green, pastel yellow, blue, pink – used in any combo would work
Angie Garcia-Johnson says
Our 1957 custom ranch in Belleville, Michigan has a wonderful original grey and yellow bathroom. Fixtures are yellow and counter top tile is grey and yellow design, the tile floor is greys and yellows. It’s a gorgeous room! All original! I would love to post images to share but don’t see a way to do that. Let me know if you would like to see it!
Mary Jane Chapin says
Hi,
We have just moved into a very vintage home and two of the bathrooms still have the gray fixtures as shown in the Kohler ad,toilet,tub and sink with chrome legs! One bath has the blue tiles,the other all gray. The third bath has a 1920’s pedestal sink and newer tub and toilet,white.
Lynn says
This is interesting to know that gray fixtures were used then also. My only experience with gray fixtures was in my former 1988 ranch. It had all gray fixtures that were originally paired with mauve. I guess the whole house was that way. The owners prior to us started beiging everything and some fixtures were replaced with white so it just looked weird. It’s nice to see gray look good in bathrooms!
Pencils says
I have a partially original gray bathroom–the wall tile is gray, but the fixtures are white, with a floor of small black tiles. I’m pretty sure the bath is original, but I know the toilet and sink are replacements. I have to say, I hate my gray tiles, but then I hate gray walls, no matter how popular they are these days. I’m a color girl. Maybe I wouldn’t hate the bath so much if it had white or color tiles and gray fixtures. Right now I have the walls painted a strong turquoise blue with a blue, green and white striped shower curtain and matching striped hand towels. Bath towels are blue. It’s not a bad room, but with all the colors out there at the time (1953), I wish the original owners had gone with pretty much anything else!
Mary Black says
I absolutely am in love with Retro Renovation. I’m a big fan off all things retro and love retro and mid-century decor. I look forward to the emails and have a separate email folder where I keep all of them for reference and to go back to to enjoy again and again.
pam kueber says
Thank you!
Beverly Jacob says
I was born in 1953 and don’t recall ever seeing gray bathroom fixtures. Interesting.