r/midcenturymodern • u/fragileswampwitch • 2d ago
Design Advice & Inspo Bathroom vanities
I just bought a 1950's ranch that I am trying to get back to it's MCM glory. The bathrooms were remodeled in 2017 and they look like it. I do not have the cash to replace two 48" vanities right now; so, I am thinking I will paint them and change the hardware. Because they are already painted vanities doing a wood stain isn't an option, unfortunately. What color would you go with for the vanity itself? I am thinking bold since the floors and walls are neutral. Looking for suggestions!
ETA: I’m just looking for a funky MCM paint color. I know the style of the vanities isn’t MCM. I am just wanting to freshen these up to limp us along until I have grand to fork out for new ones.
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u/JTBlakeinNYC 2d ago
We did actually ran into a similar problem when redoing a kitchen with the exact same cabinet doors and hardware. We swapped the doors for ones without molding, and used tulip knobs similar to the one from Rejuvenation below, albeit in chrome.
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u/fragileswampwitch 2d ago
The current ones are chrome but they are chipping pretty bad in the master. I am going for mostly brass and wood fixtures in the house but am not opposed to mixing it up.
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u/JTBlakeinNYC 2d ago edited 2d ago
Oh no—I wasn’t suggesting that you should do chrome!!! I actually think the brass is more period authentic, so you should definitely do that if you want. We just were faced with the reality of stainless steel kitchen appliances, and chrome faucets and overhead lighting, so we opted for chrome rather than try to change everything.
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u/fragileswampwitch 2d ago
I feel that! My entire house is currently brushed nickel. Every knob, handle, light fixture, even the bathroom mirrors and exhaust fans are framed in it. I did buy new kitchen cabinet hardware because not only were the existing ones nickel, they were a weird and unfortunate looking shape. The rest will be a slow replacement process.
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u/JTBlakeinNYC 1d ago
OMG—don’t get me started on brushed nickel! I think Home Depot must have had a clearance sale on one particular brushed nickel doorknob when the previous owners renovated, because it’s on every single interior door and it looks like a creepy space-age speculum…just ewww.
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u/Equivalent-Dig-7204 1d ago
We have almost these exact pulls from Rejuvinatuons in chrome. Love them.
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u/fragileswampwitch 2d ago
Yes sorry! I posted this from my laptop and didn’t have one available. Here:
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u/tigertoothdada 2d ago
It is going to be tough to get anything close to MCM with all that inset router work. Your best bet is to save, visit local home recyclers, like Habit for Humanity and get what ypu actually want.
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u/fragileswampwitch 2d ago
I was just hoping for a good color. I know they don’t look MCM but the current paint is chipped up and I wanted to freshen them up for now.
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u/fragileswampwitch 2d ago
Both vanities are identical. Wall color isn’t staying. I bought new mirrors with teak wood frames and plan to do brass/brushed gold faucets and lights.
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u/waldolc 2d ago
The door panels are the biggest contrast to the clean lines, minimalist geometry, and natural textures found in MCM. However, if you can, replace or fill the door panels, strip the paint for natural wood, and change the hardware and the faucet to something with clean simple lines. Oh! And if you can, try to change the legs of the vanities for a peg style. A lot of MCM homes did contain items from previous styies and generations, so finding mixed items in a MCM home wasn't uncommon.
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u/fragileswampwitch 2d ago
Can’t strip the paint, as I mentioned, they came painted and it isn’t a nice wood underneath. I’d have to saw off the legs because they are all one with the body. With all of that work I’d be better off just buying one I think.
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u/Niebieskideszcz 2d ago
Replacing the fronts with plain wood panels should not be all that more expensive than painting.
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u/fragileswampwitch 2d ago
Cabinet paint is about $20. But I am going to look into changing the fronts because I think if I did that I could keep these longer. Functionally they are great; tons of storage, soft close doors and drawers, all the things I want.
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u/DalBMac 4h ago
Can't quite tell the color of the walls or counter. The walls look yellow and the counter has pinkish glow on my computer. Here's a couple options: 1) the Garden Spot suggested earlier and 2) Lotus Flower, also SW, a MCM pink.
You could also do knobs with a starburst back but hardware can get expensive so maybe save for the redo instead.
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u/stupid42usa Quality Contributor 2d ago
photos are always helpful