A house with a Naughty Pine err Pecky Cedar Lounge downstairs surely has a pink bathroom upstairs, wouldn’t you think? Yes, Amy of newfound Polkaholic fame also sent photos of her delicious pink and gray bathroom, complete with the highly sought-after American Standard Gracelyn sink with super-hard-to-find original vanity.
Amy writes:
Hi Pam, got it together to take pix of the bathroom today – hope you like it! Here’s some info:
I bought a 1916 bungalow in 2011 from the estate of the family who had been living there since 1947 – I was only the 4th owner.
I fell in love with the house immediately – it’s a funny mix of original 1916 details (mostly original moulding, windows, doors, and door hardware) mixed with 50s updates – some glass block windows, atomic light fixtures, a knotty pine basement with wet bar, and this amazing time capsule bathroom with American Standard Venetian Pink toilet, “Gracelyn Cabinet-Lavatory,” Contour Bathtub, and Heritage faucets.
The cabinet is missing the rows on thin trim on the front, but is in otherwise remarkably great shape.
The tile walls and floor are also original – I had to retile the two walls near the tub this year since they were crumbling, but was able to match the tile almost identically.
The bathroom also has the original chrome medicine cabinet with adjustable side mirrors and an amazing light fixture with 180 individual glass prisms (no fun to clean!).
The homeowner even saved the extra prisms for the light in a little box in the basement.
I tried to keep the bathroom as true to the original as possible. When I first moved in it had metallic floral wallpaper on the walls and ceiling with a ceiling fan (never saw a ceiling fan in bathroom before!) – it was a little claustrophobic, so I removed the wallpaper, painted the walls dark grey to match one of the shades in the floor tile, and replaced the ceiling fan with a light fixture that picked up the chrome accents.
I know most of the other people who looked at this house probably wanted to rip out this bathroom right away, but it was one of the things I loved most about this quirky house.
Andrea Burlison says
My mom and dad have this same sink, but the fixtures don’t work anymore. Any suggestions? Every plumber they have had look at says it can’t be fixed. I think it can. They love the sink. It was in the house when it was bought almost 40 years ago.
Pam Kueber says
Try deabath.com and see if they have any solutions – they are my first go-to in situations like this.
Michele DeGroat says
I have the same sink! In Ming Green with toilet and tub to match. Circa 1962 custom home with only one previous owner.
Evan says
I’m sick with envy! I’ve been searching for a mid cent bathroom sink/vanity for SO long. I’d give my eye teeth….*sigh*
Brenda says
O M G! They should start making this again…i would buy it in a ny minute! ????
Cece DuBois says
As would I!! I love it!!
Michele DeGroat says
I have the same 1962 Gracelynn sink and vanity in my 1962 custom home. Mine is Ming Green. Strangely the owner chose not to tile around the sink so I had to do so. Made up my own design painted the sink white with chrome handles. Not a pure replication of the era but still a nice look. I love that the sink has space on both sides to put down a few things.
Cheryl Montenguise says
I have an entry way floor in these tiles. Brown and rust tones. My home is from 1937 but can anyone date these 1″ tiles? I am trying to keep the oldest design and remove a 1964 remodel. Thanks!
Pam Kueber says
I don’t give dating advice, but going out on a limb here: Dinner and a movie are classic.
haha I don’t get much fun some days, can ya tell?
That said, the sink is ’62, so the tile likely went in at that time. I can’t see the detail, but we have sources for speckled versions of this same sort of square tile, which seems to have been made continuously for decades — https://retrorenovation.com/2017/11/13/five-places-find-colorful-mosaic-floor-tile-1960s-style/
judy says
Amazing! So happy you kept your bathroom true to its original beautiful self!
Jeffrey says
The prism light fixture in the bathroom is one I have been in search of for (something, something) years. My Aunt Bunny (yes, Bunny) had a similar, if not the same one in the powder room of her 1958 split level in Whitehall, PA. I am literally stalking the house on Zillow if it ever comes up for sale to see if it’s still there as I haven’t seen it in over 20 years. Do you by chance know the manufacturer of the light fixture?
Thanks.
And great job with the bathroom!
Lisa Compo says
Why don’t you just gather up courage one day and sit down and write a nice hand written letter to the owner of her house? I did it with the people who bought my Grandparent’s house. They had owned it for 10 years but ironically the pull down light fixture I was so fascinated by as a child had been removed and boxed up in the basement. They were happy to give it to me as well as several chrome kitchen chairs, a piece of countertop etc….
Never hurts to ask, all they can say is it’s gone, still in place or come get it. Best of luck.
Nancy Herbert says
It’s in the vein of a Sciolari, but I’ve not seen one quite like this one on the internet.
Kara says
Absolutely fabulous
Joe says
Love it, but the vanity and the sink with its integrated faucet blew me away!