“I think the deciding factor for actually buying it may have been to save this bathroom. That’s normal, right?” – Christina
So many years into this blog, it’s super exciting to see something never seen before: Christina’s 1964 bathroom has 4-inch by 8.5-inch pink ceramic tiles, run vertically. That’s a double-sized tile compared to what we’ve seen in millions of other bathrooms, and like I said, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this in the wild before. Very cool — and a dreamy bathroom, too!
Christina first wrote me:
Hello, I just bought a mid century home with 2 colorful bathrooms. The green one is very much of the time, the type you regularly feature on your site (though still great). The pink one seems a bit different to me. It has 4.25″ x 8.5″ tile run vertically from floor to ceiling on most of the walls. I’ve been haunting your site trying to find something like it, but not having much luck. There’s a matching pink tub and sink and a pink starburst laminate countertop. And to top it off, scalloped wooden cornices over the shower and vanity. I just love the whole thing! I guess I’m mainly just curious whether the tile design is as odd as I think it is. And, of course, most people think I’m nuts for liking it at all, so it’s nice to share with someone I know will appreciate it.
I wrote write back, excited. I pointed her to this story — the time I spotted 4 inch by 6 inch tiles in a nearby high school bathroom. But 8.5 inches? Send me photos, stat!
Christina responded right away:
Hi Pam,
I did see the story about the school bathroom. It actually made me double check the measurements of my own tile. Not the same size, but pretty close on color.
My house has really only had two owners since it was built in 1964. They each owned it for nearly 30 years. Unfortunately, it was purchased as a flip after the second owner became too elderly to maintain it. But luckily they didn’t flip it too hard. The bathrooms were barely touched at least. The biggest loss was probably the kitchen countertop, though they didn’t replace it with granite so I still consider myself lucky.
The bathroom is still a work in progress since I’ve only owned the house for a couple of months. The toilet alcove was covered in a terrible 80s pink gingham wallpaper that I’m still in the process of removing. The original wallpaper is visible over the vanity. It has a metallic gold geometric pattern, which is just great. I’m trying to decide whether to mimic it with paint or try to customize new wallpaper. The vanity has definitely seen better days. It badly needs repainted, and I’m trying to decide on a color for that and the cornices. The starburst countertop is yellowed and stained, but I love it too much to replace it.
Funny story — I first saw this place when they had an open house. The listing agent showed me around and was very apologetic about this bathroom. She even said she had told the owner they should have at least ripped out the vanity. I, of course, was horrified. I love the whole house, but I think the deciding factor for actually buying it may have been to save this bathroom. That’s normal, right?
Best,
Chris
Yes, Christina, here that “deciding factor” is not only normal, it makes you are hero of the day!
Indeed, what a rare and wonderful bathroom — it’s so lucky to have found you! Thanks for sharing this lovely story with us! xoxo, pam
Ruth. Atkinson says
I am renovating a 1963 home and would like to preserve the bathrooms. The tub, toilet and sink are fawn beige–I think.
I would like to find a new sink since there are pits in the surface.
Any suggestions for finding one?
Pam Kueber says
Peerless makes a beige, or, hunt vintage: https://retrorenovation.com/2016/02/15/pink-gold-blue-beige-toilets-where-to-buy/
KIM says
All it needs is white French Poodle statues! LOVE IT!
Christina says
Since people have asked to see more details and the green bathroom here is a link to my Google photo album:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dcgxsUU2yH7MWTTr6
Hope it works! Enjoy!
Ann says
So charming!!! Is there any chance that you can show the original gold wallpaper in the vanity area?
linoleummy says
Cupcake yes! Yay for buying the house to save the pink bathroom! Wish I could see the countertop close enough to see the starbursts though. And pics of the green bath….
Maria says
Oh my this is a gem! I love it. The cornice and diamond window are the icing on the cake!
Paige says
From the door leading in, the whole bathroom looks like a cupcake! (If one should even compare a bathroom to a cupcake)
Mary Elizabeth says
When we bought our 1959 ranch, we weren’t thrilled about the pink bathroom. Definitely not love at first sight. It was half redecorated–newer toilet, newer vanity neither of which matched the pink tub and floor tile. The wall tile was plastic, and in the light of the one dim bulb in the medicine cabinet, it looked like pink and blue. It was actually pink and soft gray. But, we had to hit the ground running when we moved in, because we couldn’t completely gut the bathroom until we had added a second one. What happened was that the pink bathroom grew on us and we found a way to embrace it and bring it back to its former glory. We found first a pink sink and then a pink toilet, and we repaired all the tile that was coming off the wall. This site helped a lot in our decision to go that way. Thanks again, Pam!
libbyontheprairie says
What a treasure! So glad that the house is being loved and appreciated =) Love the bathroom! Enjoy decorating it!
MJ says
Real estate agent took tour of my early 70s cedar-sided ranch with what looks like the same bathtub as this one. She took one look and said, “That will have to go.” Told her that if a buyer wanted it out, I wanted to have first refusal on buying tub, sink and toilet!
When we moved in the tub/shower walls in both bathrooms were made of that brown board with a shiny outer surface(the name of which escapes me at the mo’) in both bathrooms. We had those walls tiled, though not in solid pink nor solid white. The improvement was immediate. Love my pink bathroom!