Tea at Trianon: The Midcentury-Modern Colored Tile Bathroom Is Back

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Sunday, February 12, 2023

The Midcentury-Modern Colored Tile Bathroom Is Back

From Dwell:

"Midcentury-modern [architecture] was popular all across the nation, but it was especially popular in California," says Alan Hess, an architect and authority on Southern California Modernism who works with the Los Angeles Conservancy. And at this time, "colorful tiled bathrooms were a major selling point in midcentury houses." In the decades before WWII, says Hess, "the prevailing style of bathrooms in new homes was black and white, like a hospital." Home buyers in this era prioritized a clean, rigorous, "scientific" aesthetic. But after 1945, luxurious bathrooms came in flashy, coordinated colors. And then, in later decades, Los Angelans were less itchy to gut these bathrooms than people in other cities. "Midcentury-modern architecture is more widely appreciated—and so preserved—today in LA than any other major city," Hess claims.

Katie E. Horak, the principal of the Architectural Resources Group, adds "we also had a lot of tile manufacturers here in Southern California (Pomona Tile, B&W Tile, and many others)." Of course, it’s not just Los Angeles—Southern California’s postwar housing boom meant more monochromatic bathrooms. Though "other cities with similar postwar economic prosperity have great tile bathrooms too," Horak explains, mentioning that she’s seen amazing bathrooms in Detroit and Minneapolis.

The second house I sublet in Los Angeles was even better than the first. A bright orange tub-shower combination made of long vertical tiles took the place of soft greens. The bathroom was tomato orange-red, "atomic orange" as my stylist roommate called it. The tiles paraded up, from the bottom of the tub all the way to the ceiling. It felt like bathing inside a slippery orange envelope. This bathroom—my favorite truly of my life I think—also had secret compartments by the sink. If you tapped these metal pieces, a little unit with a toothbrush holder would fling out. No contemporary, chubby toothbrush handle could fit inside, but you know what? It was there to provide a delightful surprise and it did. (Read more.)

Vintage colors from Kohler at House Beautiful:

You don’t have to be a design expert to know that Kohler has been a kitchen and bath industry leader for over a century—150 years, to be exact. This year, the company is celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary with a series of celebrations (dubbed Come All Creators) and, in exciting news for vintage-lovers everywhere, a limited-edition product line featuring two beloved colors from days gone by: Peachblow and Spring Green. (Read more.)

Other vintage designs from House Beautiful:

Vintage bathrooms often take a charming cottage turn. This one features a pretty vanity built from a repurposed dresser, a surf-and-sky palette, and crisp white surfaces. Gilded touches add chic shimmer, which underscores the room's collected appeal. (Read more.)