The Inspo for This Retro 1967 Bathroom Makeover Came from a Record Store
A secondhand find in an unexpected place was the inspiration behind Madison Zavoda-Brennan’s (@midcentury.madison) entire bathroom makeover. When Madison saw a yellow vintage toilet paper holder at a record store, she knew it belonged in her 1967 house. “That quirky thrift find set the tone for everything that followed, guiding the palette, finishes, and details of the entire space,” she says.
She and her husband, Jack, started with a bathroom with chipped paint and poorly grouted tile floors, likely last updated in the 1990s or early aughts. “We talked to a few neighbors who used to come to parties here back in the ’70s, and we were relieved to learn that the original bathrooms weren’t anything special to begin with,” Madison adds. “I’d worried that the previous owners might have ripped out some amazing vintage features, but it turns out that wasn’t the case.”
The one vintage feature they did like (that was still there) was “the awesome tongue-and-groove ceiling,” Madison says. She and Jack gave the bathroom a $5,000 reno that adds retro vibes back in.
The vintage yellow bathroom fixtures came from everywhere.
“If you are considering a vintage retro renovation, my biggest piece of advice is to start collecting your vintage finds long before you plan to begin the project,” Madison says. She found a vintage yellow sink (without legs) on Facebook Marketplace for $50, then later found legs for it from Pasadena Architectural Salvage.
“Around the same time, I came across yellow tile on Marketplace as well, which tied everything together perfectly,” Madison says. “The matching yellow toilet and tub came from Florida.” Jack surprised Madison with them for her birthday, and even with shipping, they cost less than a brand-new tub and toilet would have, Madison says, adding that it took about a year to source the yellow fixtures before the demo began.
The wood-paneled walls were a game-changer.
Madison and Jack did all the demo themselves. “We relied heavily on YouTube tutorials, a lot of trial and error, and plenty of determination,” Madison says.
“The original space had paneling, but it was buried under layers of paint,” Madison says. She restored the texture and warmth with wood sourced from a cabinet supplier that she finished herself. “The walnut-toned paneling now gives the room the charm of a 1967 A-frame cabin bathroom, and I love how the bright colors of the fixtures contrast against it,” Madison says.
The homeowner’s favorite detail? The tile floors.
Another standout for Madison is the penny tile. “I originally planned on doing all yellow tile, but I had to pivot when I couldn’t source enough pieces that matched,” she says. “In the end, I’m so glad I went with the green accents; they look incredible against the yellow and give the whole space a vibrant, retro energy that makes me smile every time I walk in.”
The only thing she would change about the bathroom is the door because when she and Jack were doing the demo, they realized the space once had a pocket door. “I am on the lookout for the perfect vintage pocket door, and I cannot wait to bring that detail back into the space someday,” Madison says.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.