Thursday, September 8, 2016

Bath tubs and shower bases in 13 retro colors — including Dresden Blue, Daydream, Shell

color-bathtubs-aker

Do you want a bathtub or shower base in an old-school color like Shell, Daydream (robin’s egg blue), Innocent Blush or Ice Grey? Following up on a lead in a reader bathroom remodel soon to be featured, I discovered that Aker — a manufacturer of fiberglass bathtubs, shower bases, and shower walls — can make them in 13 vintage colors.

Admittedly, many of these colors are likely from the late 1970s solidly into the 1980s and tapering off in the 1990s. AND: Some are still available from Kohler, on their fiberglass tubs — so cross-check there if you are shopping around.

But a few may be good enough for earlier eras. I’d love to see the Shell, which Aker Customer Service reads like a real light pink-peach leaning toward the pink. Also, that Daydream. Was that a Kohler color, a very very light blue, available until just a few years ago? Innocent Blush, too — a light pink, as I recall.

colors-akerBy rows, from top, left to right:

  • Ice Grey (17) [note: Kohler also has a color called Ice Grey]
  • Mexican Sand (053) [Kohler also lists this color]
  • Sandbar (143) [Kohler also lists this color]
  • Black (015) [Kohler has this color too]
  • Daydream [a robin’s egg blue] (023)
  • Dresden Blue (021)
  • Dusty Rose (071)
  • Glacier Blue (024)
  • Innocent Blush (066) [Kohler has this color]
  • Shell [real light pink-peach] (069)
  • Sterling Silver (006)
  • Thunder Gray (019) [Kohler has this color too]
  • Timberline (036)
  • Wild Rose (067)

Alas, Aker does not have sample chips. No photos, eithers. They said most of these are sold to folks who know the color they are looking for, and are swapping out a beat-up old tub or shower for a new one.

Other details:

  • The color is embedded into the gel coat. It’s sprayed into the mold, then backed by fiberglass; then, the whole thing cools and is pulled off the mold.
  • Whirlpools are not gel-coated, so you cannot get them in these colors.
  • There is a 4-6 week lead time, principally to allow time to get the paint for the gel coat, which is not kept in stock due to spoilage potential.
  • I asked about pricing. The list price for Prices available from retailers – List price for a T-060 alcove tub in Shell would be $462. Of course, you’ll need to work through a local retailer, who may have a different price.

Want to make a whole bathroom using new? Looks like you could do it with Dresden and Sterling Silver; maybe . Peerless has both toilets and sinks in the following colors; see our full story here:

retro toilet

Thanks to Lynne and Bob for leading me to this story!

The post Bath tubs and shower bases in 13 retro colors — including Dresden Blue, Daydream, Shell appeared first on Retro Renovation.

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