Matt has been constructing this blue and gray tiled bathroom in his 1959 home — all from scratch — oh my — it’s fabulous! Now, it’s time to choose wallpaper. He’s found a contender but sends in this question: Does his wallpaper choice have an authentic midcentury look? I opine.
Matt writes:
I’ve been recreating a blue / gray bathroom since early last year, and I’m finally at the point where we choose wallpaper. We found a pattern we really like that has a blue / gray scheme that’s similar to our tile and fixtures with a yellow accent.
You would have to see the colors (I have a couple of pictures) but I’m wondering how authentic this might be? I don’t see very many blue bathrooms, let alone blue with a hint of yellow anything mixed in there. For what it’s worth If we go with this I’m thinking white towels so it would be just a pop of color.
Our goal is something that looks like it’s been there since the house was built in 1959. It’s basically down to wallpaper, building the hamper, someone changing our salvaged green bathtub to blue, and small details so we’re getting really close to the end!
The bathroom is changing quickly though, for example if our two year old cooperates the countertop may be tiled by the end of the weekend. Likewise the tub I’m hoping can be enameled in blue soon.The tile and plumbing supply fixtures are new. Cabinets, lighting and other fixtures are salvaged. We’ve used a lot of the resources available here for tile and fixtures, by the way. We’re definitely glad all of it was available.
Choosing wallpaper that looks authentic to the midcentury era
“The look” of vintage wallpaper vs. much of today’s wallpaper
I am not expert on the technical language, but here goes:
- Old paper was printed using actual rollers — actual ink laid down, layer after layer until the desired design was achieved.
- The paper stock also was — pretty paper-y — they can be tricky to install for that reason — they may tear or otherwise be brittle or fragile.
- From a design perspective, old wallpapers also often had metallic inks…
- They often had striations in their background…
- More typically than not, I’d say, they had relatively small patterns… and, I’ll say:
- Few bright (blue) whites / mostly yellowed pinked off-whites.
So… If you want a paper that looks truly authentic to the time — if you want time-capsule look — look for vintage or a paper that’s still printed with real inks using rollers or similar technology.
- 7 places to buy vintage wallpaper
- Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpaper still does old-fashioned printing with inks and has retro designs
- See all my wallpaper stories / research here
- Tip: Get samples of true-vintage or layered-ink and you compare them with digital, and you will see the difference
C.S. Miller says
Just my opinion, but I would paint the walls with something washable. And then hang pictures, or decoration that could be switched around. Those squiggly Atomic wallpaper designs are much too busy looking.
Jocelan says
There is a lot of Kohler bathroom ads around the Net to help your vision for a fab bathroom. I love what you picked, just not in that room. Think mermaid maybe! Lots of luck.
Tess says
I actually love the wallpaper you picked, Matt! It gives it that retro feel and gives a big nod to the designs that were popular in the 50s and 60s. The paper itself may not be the same, and the inks, but do you really want them to be? In the bathroom a more modern kind of wallpaper would be more practical. I do love the original ones too, but I think yours is fun and most people would get the 50s/60s connection! Just my two cents! Good job on the reno!
Tess
Deborah Olle says
Beautiful job! I would have to say that the geometric designs were used in kitchens/kitchen diners and not bathrooms so neither design would be ‘authentic’ in a bathroom. Florals or even plaids were the go-to for high end bathrooms! But regular bathrooms were just painted. All that being said, do what you love!
Laura Ainsworth says
This paper is “WOW,” certainly an homage to atomic style and I love it, but if you’re going for a “time capsule” effect, I tend to agree with Pencils that it’s not what people would have chosen then. It’s too large-scale and just not bathroom-y. A light background color that’s a little softer in tone, maybe with blue water and some pretty swans or fish or shells or aquatic plants or seahorses or sailboats (or fashion or flowers or bluebirds or Siamese cats or…), drawn in the ’50s style of illustration and not too busy, would look so much more original to your wonderful bathroom. (Great job on that!!)
But the paper you have — I’m crazy about it. Do you have any other place in your house you can use it? Hope so!
Jon Ritt says
Bradbury “Atomic” is my preference. I don’t know if it’s a matter of lighting, but I prefer the clear whiteness of its background. If your choice (first shown) has same clear, clean white background, go with it — it’s your choice and you’ll be living with it.
Robert E. Oakes says
Matt, the paper pattern you’ve selected capture the feel of the era, is very attractive, and you like it. We don’t live in museums. Your choice is sensitive to the aesthetic, so go for it. It’s just wallpaper.
Nancilee Iozzia says
Love all three, but only one of them for your bathroom. I like the third one (the one from Rosie’s Vintage Wallpaper). It has a nice clean look, the background is not too light or too dark. The colors in the print compliment the blue tile and the brown tile. While I didn’t see any yellow in the photo, I think the soft yellow would be beautiful for towels (and other accents). For the counter top, I would choose one of the colors in the floor tiles.
Cyd says
wow, the comments about the different wallpapers made me look up sanitas. I have a couple unused rolls from the 60’s from my mother’s house. When I called it “wallpaper” she corrected me.
This is what I learned: “The wall covering you have is probably vinyl (Sanitas is a brand name), which has some special problems, because wallpaper removers and steamers don’t penetrate it easily. Use a wide joint knife or a sharp wallpaper scraper to loosen the top corner of a panel of vinyl.”
Since I don’t remember, I need to find out if it was used in the kitchen or bathroom of our 1900 house. I don’t think it would have been used in either the blue or pink bathrooms.
Sojourner says
I love old houses, and respecting their era when renovating and
decorating. But I’ve also recently learned that getting everything
“period perfect” can result in a space that was perfect for people
and a culture that existed a long time ago, and can feel stale or
static to people of today. You picked that wallpaper because you
loved it, and wallpaper is not an irrevocable choice! Your choice
may not be historically exactly correct, but it is period inspired and
respectful. Its energy also speaks to people of today. My first reaction was “Wow– I love that.” We all know about the experience
of houseguests coming out of a carefully restored mid-mod bathroom saying, “so, are you guys going to renovate the bathroom
too?” If you use your beautiful, dynamic wallpaper choice, it will
bring the midcentury into this century, bringing out its beauty for
the people of today, who will leave your bathroom saying “wow-
that wallpaper is awesome.”