I’ve been in Kentucky all weekend — my Dad’s 80th birthday is today — and while here, I’ve been staying with my brother and his family. About two years ago, they bought a 1962 midcentury modern house that needed a ton of work. They have now lovingly restored it — and it’s an absolute treasure. One of the things they left virtually untouched — for me — was the pink bathroom in their guest room. This pint-sized pink potty space is so darn cute I could bust! And the sink and toilet, in particular: These are spectacular designs!
Above: The sink, toilet and tub are all American Standard. It’s difficult getting the color right with my iphone camera. The fixtures are decisively pink!
The sink is quite tiny — a petite lavatory on beautiful, hefty chrome-plated steel legs with an integral towel bar. All the fixtures are in near-perfect shape. I don’t think the bathroom was used much over the years.
Above: I edited this photo to be black and white to spotlight the lines of the toilet. Gracious, I think I will declare this the most beautiful toilet design in American history. I am too lazy right now to go looking for historical info, but I am pretty sure this design was available for decades.
The wall tiles are salt-and-pepper. They are mud-set, I think. I tend to believe that salt ‘n pepper tiles came more into fashion around this time, the early 1960s. They are a nice way to do “white” but knocked down a bit so’s you don’t get a big slab ‘o white. Over the years, I’ve seen salt ‘n pepper tiles with a variety of ‘dots’ combinations: Golden combos, black combos, blue combos.
Note, when I retiled the bathrooms in my house, circa 2002, I had not started the blog yet… I did not know where to get Mamie pink bathroom tiles. If I had, for sure I’d have a B&W Tile pink powder room paradise in my own little palace!
I did go retro, though. One of my bathrooms has heron blue field tile, trimmed in white; another, rose beige trimmed in white; and the third, peach trimmed in black. And they all have wallpaper!
Above: There’s a recessed medicine cabinet, sliding doors.
Above: The floor is a random mosaic. I think you could replicate this one, more or less, using Dal-Tile’s Mosaic Design Tool. World of Tile used to have lots of 12″ x 12″ sheets like this, in colors like this, and older. Alas, the company is gone now.
More stories about designs using Daltile’s Mosaic Designer:
- Lookie the floor that Lauren created for her bathroom.
- Natalie and Graham use the Designer to create a floor for their doggie shower.
- Pam designs a pink-gray-cream mosaic tile floor using the Mosaic Designer, when we first discovered it.
And:
- Nicole pieced together a mosaic floor DIY — “the meaning of insanity or dedication,” she asked!
It’s the honorary Aunt Pam’s Vintage Pink Bathroom! #sohappy
Ack! I need to make some art for the bathroom to thank my brother and his family! xoxo family!
Maria says
My grandparent’s house had/has a pink bathroom upstairs. Certain fixtures have been replaced with less-appealing items (an ’80s cabinet and sink, a newer toilet, a more modern over-the-sink mirror/cabinet), but the original tub is still there, as are the square wall tiles and brown edge tiles. Restoring it would be relatively easy and it’s overall still in great condition!
But what scares me is that the fate of the house itself is in limbo, a “custody battle” of sorts between my uncle and his three stepchildren who he is at odds with. I fear that one or the other might decide to renovate it, as it’s more than likely that the house is due to be sold. I’m a bit bitter that it’s not going to me, the only grandchild without a house and one who was raised in it, but Uncle never bothered to give me the time of day, so it’s not like it’s even a minor shock that I wasn’t considered for ownership. I am genuinely pained by the thought of the stone fireplace being ripped out, the clear doorknobs being replaced, walls being knocked down, solid wood windows being replaced… ugh! All of which would absolutely ruin the charm of the 1954 ranch house, in an effort to make it more “appealing” to modern buyers!
Lisa Compo says
Perhaps you could consult an attorney to see if it’s possible to contest the will, I believe it’s possible in some states. Would at least make you feel better knowing that you made the attempt.
And…maybe you could offer to purchase some of the items they plan to discard during renovation. I do this all the time. I don’t usually get much success, but once did receive medicine cabinets, light fixtures, a Hall Mack cup holder and various odds and ends. Some folks are glad to have someone take it all away. Family dynamics are always a sore subject, I have been through that bitterness myself once. Best of luck.
Maria says
My 1959 mid century modern have that same floor only in Lino.
Paul - CT says
That American Standard low profile one piece toilet is a work of art! One should be in the Smithsonian! I still wake up in the middle of the night screaming after seeing the next door neighbor pull out two of the toilets in a stunning dove grey. They were left at the side of the road and removed. Such a shame! When I finally asked him why he got rid of them, he said that they were, get this, too low! I told him they were worth a lot of money!
Oh well, getting back to the guest bathroom, the mosaic floor is the same style as my bathroom. I would suggest a simple re-grout in a light color. Mine had the same dark grout that always just looked dirty. The new almond grout made it look brand new!
Melinda says
What a wonderful brother and sister in law you have!
My favorite part of that little pink perfection is the floor.
Sully says
That set is actually just “Standard”, not “American Standard”. Though American Radiator merged with Standard Sanitary in 1929, their plumbing fixtures were marketed under the Standard name until 1967. I would estimate that this set is from circa 1950. The toilet really is the greatest toilet ever made, sometimes referred to as the Standard Master One-Piece toilet (model # F-2000). My dad has a white one in the elongated bowl model, and he has moved it to every house we ever lived in. It’s super-comfortable and low, and has a mighty flush. It has never clogged to my knowledge. They’re extremely hard to find, and when you do find them, they cost a fortune.
Here’s a link to an ad featuring the toilet: http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/me4AAOSwA3dYVfuu/s-l1600.jpg
pam kueber says
I need to do this story just for the keyword: “The greatest toilet ever made.” 🙂
pam kueber says
I just looked at the toilet – it says “American Standard” on it….
Lisa Compo says
What is the date inside the lid? If I may be so nosey to inquire. Just curious since you are near where mine was located.
Sam R says
Some products (including some toilets) were being marked as “American Standard” long before 1967. They seemed to do it both ways, and logos often overlapped for long periods of time: http://toiletguide.weebly.com/standardamerican-standard.html
Lisa Compo says
I love this comment. I giggled out loud a few times. Maybe we could start a Proud Owners Club. Ha ha ha
Carla says
Here is a 1953 vintage dollhouse with the same toilet! I didn’t know where to post this, so here it is: a two-story colonial dollhouse purchased new in 1953 at Frederick & Nelson. It has the same beautiful toilet as s little pink gem, and many other mid-century furniture pieces. Someone should grab it, if you live in the greater Seattle area. It looks like a museum piece.
https://skagit.craigslist.org/clt/6040850721.html
And FYI: this is not my listing, nor that of anyone I know, and I would not profit in any way from its sale. I just thought folks here would love to see it!
pam kueber says
And a Cinderella tub!
Carolyn says
How in the world were they able to keep all those pieces intact?! I’ve seen the dollhouses, a little worse for wear (love) but few pieces of furniture, etc.
Mike says
Ah, those salt & pepper tiles are sooo close to the ones used for the backsplash in the kitchen of the ’62 ranch of my childhood home. Never knew they had a name! Perfect for a kitchen, I’d say. Am reasonably sure the commode design is the same as the one in my grandparents’ late ’50s ranch, only it was gray.
Lisa Compo says
Welcome to The Old KY home. 🙂 Howdy from Union, a couple hours north. Please wish your Dad a very Happy Birthday, he raised one heck of an intelligent, resourceful, influential and beautiful daughter. ❤
Oh, that bathroom is a cutie pie. I have the same toilet waiting in the garage for it’s forever home. A proud find on CL with the matching Gracelynn and cabinet. Had to drive to Nicholasville but so worth it. The date on mine is Jan 25 1960. I did days of research and believe it’s called American Standard Master lowboy in Venetian Pink, but I’m not the pro here.
I agree on a wee bit of wallpaper, maybe just an accent wall. Do one of your mock ups, they’ll be convinced. Hee hee Enjoy your stay.
pam kueber says
“Master Lowboy” – makes sense
Heidi E. says
Lovely to see things being kept nice instead of torn apart just to be “fashionable”.
But am I just really, really tired, or did anyone else look at the caption on that last photo with the two dogs, and assume that the dogs were named Natalie and Graham and wonder how even clever herding-type doggies would manage to design tile?
pam kueber says
🙂
I guess I should update the caption!
Jeff K says
Had to do a double take! I have the same toilet/sink/tub in my guest bathroom. I believe the color is Coralin and the walls are gray tile, with a pink and gray tiled floor.