UPDATE: This company seems to be no longer operational. The links to its website are broken…. I will leave this story up for historical purposes.
Do you want a kitchen or bathroom sink in a real color, made new? Whyte & Company makes 16 bathroom sink designs and eight kitchen sink designs in 30 different colors. Colors include 1950s retro favorites like blush pink, mint, and what looks on screen to be an aqua and a heron blue. There also are 1970s kapow colors like tangerine and red, and I would call that kelly green a 1980s color.
2020 update: This company’s website is no longer functional. As such, I am discontinuing all links. For now, I will leave this story up for historical reference.
I am not a materials expert, but these seem to be made of ‘stone composite’ — stone suspended in resin, like quartz countertops, etc. From the company’s website:
Our products are made with the highest quality liquid pigments that permeate throughout our proprietary WhytestoneTM substrate. Whytestone is a blend of stone minerals and resin that makes the product colorfast throughout while being incredibly strong. Meaning scratches merely sand away with a few swipes.
For a Retro Renovation, I would favor the countertop-style sinks and especially the Betsy, which has its faucet holes designed into the sink itself. Sinks with faucets set into the countertop (rather than on the sink itself) were not common until the 1990s or so, when solid surface materials like Corian and then granite came on the scene. Up until then, laminate countertops were ubiquitious. And they require the faucet be a part of the sink.
Whyte & Company also says that it will design custom sinks — illustrated by the pink sink above designed to include that deck-mounted faucet (and your laminate countertops. Now we’re talking! Hey — I wonder how that pink sink would look with Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart®First Lady Pink!
UPDATE Nov. 13: The owner of the company wrote to tell me that indeed, they are about to introduce a kitchen sink with a deck faucet. Responding to some comments also about color choices readers said they would love to see, she said:
We can do those colors! And we are introducing an authentic drop in with a deck mounted faucet this month. I would love to have the Retro Renovation readers help us name our new unit! Thanks for this write up and sharing our love of color!
Hooray!
Link love:
Alisa says
Does anyone know where I can find a bathroom sink drop it 20×20 in any color of blue. I have a retro countertop It’s white with blue starbursts I think an blue sink would set of the countertop. I’m willing to have it custom made. (If not to expensive). Can anyone help?
Really want blue bathroom sink
pam kueber says
Hi Alisa, check the Bathrooms / Sinks subcategory for ideas and potential sources. https://retrorenovation.com/category/bathroom-categories/lav-sinks/
Pamela Teske says
May I get a sample of the color Bh pink send to me?
Pam Kueber says
Pamela, I don’t sell anything here — click the hotlinks (in blue) to the companies I profile to get to their websites.
Brenny says
I’m looking at the Harry in the Breakfast At Tiffany’s color. Will the Harry fit a Dishmaster faucet? I already have my Dishmaster hooked up and running, but am interested in this sink.
Pam Kueber says
I think you need to discuss this question with the Dishmaster folks.
Katharine Carroll says
Happy dance!!!! Very exciting news!!!
Donald says
I already have Big Chill appliances in buttercup yellow so something close to that would be awesome. As for names, I looked at the most popular names of the 30’s figuring these ladies would be buying houses in the 50’s – 60’s. I liked Mary, Betty, Dorothy, and Doris.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/names1930s.html
Karin says
I think I may reconsider my stainless steel kitchen sink. The colors are exquisite and the quality is there too. Also, it’s great to see a Canadian distributor
Kim says
I love this! I’m going to have to get the Retro Renovation readers to name the latest retro kitchen drop-in we are about to launch. That would be fun! I’ll send it to Pam 🙂
Rebecca Prichard says
I would like one with a Hudee ring!
Cindy says
What type of sink would a Hudee ring be used with? Is it an Undermount sink?
Pam Kueber says
Hi Cindy, no it’s not an undermount sink. It’s a sink designed to fit a metal aka hudee ring, like the Kohler Tahoe (bathroom) or Delafield (kitchen) or other such sinks by other makers. Type hudee into a our search bar and you will get the idea — https://retrorenovation.com/?s=hudee
Cindy says
I would love to see some sinks that match 1950s SMEG appliances.
Pam Kueber says
I think that is a genius idea — the two companies should partner in color selections. That said, I am pretty sure Big Chill would do a custom color to match the sinks…
Kim says
I’m working on that as we speak! I’ll keep you guys posted.
Cindy says
Choosing between the BigChill “Slim Fridge” and SMEG was a difficult decision. I want an Italian style 1950s kitchen so I thought the Italian brand was a better fit.
BigChill Slim Fridge dimensions (h x w x d) are 65-inches tall by 25-inches wide by 30-inches deep.
While the SMEG dimensions are 75-inches tall by 23-inches wide by 21-inches deep.
Since I’m staying with the original square footage of the kitchen and not knocking down any walls, I thought the slimmer fridge would do.
I’m also hoping the Whyte & Company’s blue Sink is a match with B&W’s (discontinued) Blue Ripple 4×4 tile.
I just hope it all comes together.
Pam Kueber says
Sounds great!
Tarquin says
How do we convince them that they wouldn’t be able to keep up with the sales orders if they had harvest gold and avocado?
Pam Kueber says
I bet they could do it!
Kim Vance says
We can do those colors! And we are introducing an authentic drop in with a deck mounted faucet this month. I would love to have the Retro Renovation readers help us name our new unit! Thanks for this write up and sharing our love of color!
Pam Kueber says
Woot! Hi Kim, I saw you were the owner / mastermind behind Whyte & Company. Way to go!
Kim says
Thanks Pam! I am the girl who had a dream to make pink sinks and now I’m living the dream. People like you and your readers keep me energized. Viva color!
Andrea Weir says
Ideas for a new sink
Doris
Ginger
Debbie
Donna
Harriet
Nancy
Connie
and my favorite Pam!
Pam Kueber says
Awwwwww
Kim says
I love these!
Karen says
Definitely Pam!
Cindy says
“Rosie” after Rosie the Riveter
🙂
Diana says
The link to the website says it’s not private and may be impersonating something. Are they still in business?
Pam Kueber says
I think the company has gone out of business. I removed the links and updated the story.
Amber says
I think the Ap color could be used in an avocado kitchen or bathroom.