Comments on: Mamie Eisenhower: Unwitting creator of THE iconic color of the 50s, “Mamie Pink”

By: Regina

Regina — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:57:09 +0000

The flamingo wallpaper you show here was not only in my Nana’s bathroom in Pawt, RI when I was a child in the 50′s, but it was also in my first home in Solihull, England. Who knew it would be considered a retro phenomenon?

By: Laurie

Laurie — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:00:24 +0000

Did you see the PINK BATHROOM in Lonny latest issue out today? I nearly died!!!!!!!!!!

I just blogged about you and little miss poodle bathroom this week. Love your mission. Am having the odd desire to install a pink bathroom!

By: HipMamaB

HipMamaB — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:52:19 +0000

Just discovered your site. LOVE! We are proud of our 1957′s pink kitchen! But wow, I wish it was a bathroom so I could use that wallpaper over on the right!

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:25:39 +0000

Thanks — that just might do it. And I have a Sherwin Williams store just a mile or so away. I’m leaving on a trip tomorrow, but will check it out when I get back.

By: 50s Pam

50s Pam — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:43:57 +0000

Paula, have you looked at Sherwin-Williams’ Suburban Modern palette – Appleblossom Pink? That might do the trick for you. Here’s my Paint page: http://retrorenovation.com/product-guides/paint-colors/

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:36:26 +0000

I’m mostly asking because I’ve gotten sort of obsessed with color matching and management in the last few years since I started using Photoshop. Once you start looking at paint chips it’s kind of easy to lose perspective. I was looking at the photo of Mamie’s bathroom at Gettysburg, but it’s always hard to tell exactly what a color is from a computer screen. I’ve been thinking of painting my study and am thinking of using Mamie pink, but am still not sure what I’ll do with it. I was born in 58, and have fond memories of pink from my toddler years. Thanks for the suggestions. My husband’s aunt still has an original pink bathroom in her house.

By: 50s Pam

50s Pam — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:20:25 +0000

Hi Paula, no, I don’t know. To be sure, there were a lot of pinks, and I don’t know that there is *one* that’s narrowly defined as Mamie pink. If you want to do more research — look at Mamie’s bathroom at Gettysburg (in my other post on this site featuring an interview and photos from the Eisenhower home in Gettsyburg)…. also her other pink accessories…there is a big photo gallery on the Eisenhower National site, I think I put a link to it in the post. The tile that B&W sells — top right column photo (pink bathroom with maroon trim) is pretty darn close — and I think they’d tell you they’ve been selling it for 50 years. I don’t own the Pantone deck — I’d be curious to know why you’re asking…and what you decide!

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:55:51 +0000

Do you know what the Pantone numbers are for Mamie Pink? I can probably approximate it, but would like the additional backup if possible. Maybe it’s not just one color, but a bunch that are close to a certain color.

By: 50s Pam

50s Pam — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:11:43 +0000

Hi Amie, for sure there were pink bathrooms before Mamie. We see them going all the way to the 30s. She is the one that I credit with really popularizing them. So – your bathroom IS likely original.

By: Amie D.

Amie D. — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:58:24 +0000

Our house was built in 1948 and we too have a pink bathroom. Is this a trend that started before Mamie or is it possible that our bathroom was renovated in the 50s??