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.
Carolyn says
Amy, cool bathroom and easy to see why it was a selling point. Using that dark gray is so “today” judging by what I’ve seen on tv & magazines.
IF at some point you get the refurbishing bug for the vanity (the pics show some heavy layers of paint) wait for those trim pieces to come to you, if you wanted to bring those back (to me, they’re dust and dirt collectors) to add pizzazz from the original. Just wait for a reasonable facsimile to cross your path cuz you just never know what your eye will catch on. Maybe discarded office furniture, walking down the hardware aisle, welding rods, piano hinge, those fiberglass tubes Pam found, chopsticks/plant sticks, that aluminum trim Pam used in a way in which it was not intended for K counters…
Some might say having a ’50’s bath in a 1910 house is re-muddling but I see it as “modernizing” in a modest home. It could be the owners couldn’t afford a bathroom until the 1950’s (and neighbors in the same financial situation), wouldn’t have been able to find period fixtures, or codes didn’t allow. Keeping this cutie is a heckuvalot better than tearing it all out, putting in penny and subway tile, a white pedestal and toilet and a massive glass shower. Why, yes, it would then be “updated” but it certainly wouldn’t be charming anymore.
I vote charming over “update”!
RAnderson says
Such a sophisticated and gorgeous color palette in the bathroom! And a great choice of d/w, Pam, those KAs are wonderful! Best of all parts for it are still generally available, and information and expertise is only a click away on http://www.automaticwasher.org!
Karin says
Amy, congratulations on saving another pink bathroom! This is one of the most elegant pink and grey combos I’ve ever seen. I especially like how the dark grey is repeated on the vanity and upper walls. The dark gray really showcases those amazing pink fixtures. Bravo.
Pam, congratulations on the “new” Kitchenaid. It looks great and probably is a workhorse. Your story is making me reconsider buying a new one. Great post, thank you everybody!
Retroski says
Yes, this bathroom is so sharp and elegant. And the grey/pink is elegant.
Glad there are still jewels like this in Chicago!
Barbara says
Dear Amy’s Pecky Happy Hour Lounge,
Attention: BFF AMY!
Little chatty-Cathy is speechless…!
Little chatty- Cathy is so…jealous!
OHOHOH, and all under the same roof.
And…a box, kept stored, with extra prisms in it. WHAT NEXT?
Previous owners out there, I would like to introduce myself as a huge admirer of yours!! WOW!
Amy, just when it couldn’t get any better.
You go and blow me away with this bathroom. It’s perfect! It’s beautiful! It’s all yours dear!!
Happy living!
Lynne says
I love grey in a bathroom. Working on one right now, as a matter of fact.
I have to say, I think I’d be stripping down that vanity and get my grooves back!
MJ says
Love this one.
My pink fixtures are more traditional looking. Had a fit when a RE agent told me they would be the first things to go with new owners. With that attitude, I’m glad she didn’t find any potential buyers.
I would comment that an electrician needs to bring the outlet by the sink up to code, since it’s so close to water.
Amy says
Sharp eyes! It actually is a GFCI outlet – hard to tell from the picture, though. Thanks for mentioning…
Laura says
I did not realize until now I have a Gracelyn sink! It’s Regency blue. My faucet handles are different, though.
One thing I really like about vintage toilets? They use plenty of water. Enough said. (I have my own well and septic and live by the ocean, so I’m not worried about water use.)
Jay says
I like the counter top aspect that such a large one piece porcelain sink affords a place for items. Nice bath! Pam you are too much; I admire your energy to go to such lengths to obtain the dish washer. It will right at home in your kitchen. Will you leave as is or color match to your cabinets?
Pam Kueber says
I will use metal from my cabinets, which was cut to fit the front of the existing d/w, on the front of the new/vintage d/w. Have to get it cut into two pieces, though. The d/w I am buying comes with three sets of interchangeable front panels @ black, white, and almond. But I will use my original finish aqua.
Jay says
Sounds nice! I forgot they used to come with changeable panels.
Andréa says
This is so timely, I have been searching for a gracelyn vanity for my mid mod remodel. Maybe the next one I see will be for sale!
Dan says
I doubt many would have gone dark grey here, but it works wonderfully, making for a very dramatic, almost glamorous room. That prism fixture has more of an 80’s vibe to me, but it’s part of the history of what sounds like a merrily mixed up house.