The Ralph Sr. and Sunny Wilson House in Temple, Texas: The house that that launched America’s love affairs with laminates
Mid Mod Pam on Sep 15 2008 at 8:00 am | Filed under: Inspiration, countertops, historic preservation, kitchen
During last week’s laminate ramblings, I stumbled on this incredible 1959 house in Texas - it’s the original home of the founder of Wilsonart laminates, and it’s now owned by the company, serving as their archives and a space for corporate events.
All photos: Courtesy Wilsonart - who were fabulous, very responsive! Thank you, Diana Z.!
The story of the Wilson House’s salvation is right out of a retro renovation suspense novel. 10 years ago, when there was little appreciation for this type of mid century modern design and certainly not for something as pedestrian as laminates, the company decided to sell the house. But, it needed to gut it first due to the “problem” interior. The house had been built as a showcase for the use of laminates - so the stuff is everywhere but the ceilings and floors. It’s truly incredible.
Then — someone brand new to the company is taken over to the house on the very day they are going to start demolition. She has historical sensibility - and passion - and stands in front of the bulldozer. Well, there was no bulldozer. But she did stop the demo…convinced the company to keep the house…and went on to lead the restoration of what is now the youngest-ever National Historic Landmark.
Her name, by the way, is Grace Jeffers - and I will do more features on her soon. She is my new idol (along with Courtney and so many of you readers!) She has gone on to many other fabulous projects in the world of man-made materials.
Holyoke Cindy was the first one to mention here that laminate kitchen cabinets are a great solution for our midmod kitchens - and she is absolutely positively right. Cindy’s kitchen is totally appropriate to her early 60s contemporary…and this Wilson kitchen, with its Mondrian influences, undeniably gorgeous, is further proof that laminates are a great and worth alternative for our retro renovations.
Thank you, Grace. You did a good thing.
Click here for a history of the house on the Wilsonart website, and here to a New York Times story circa 1998 on the Wilson House - well worth it.
I love this house! The restrained use of accent pieces is something I’m trying to achieve, and this house does a great job in this respect .. the blue vase next to the kitchen sink.. the Yellow Blenko piece on the bathroom vanity, and the starburst clock over the fireplace. Simple but very impactfull. I wish I could be this conservative, but I usually wind up over accesorizing my horizontal surfaces.
Looks like a copper Chambers oven in that wonderful limestone wall!
I went to see this place today - it’s truly incredible. A real time capsule! I was asking about purchasing laminate, as I’ve been on a fruitless search for turquoise laminate forever, and was oohing and ahhing over the many examples of lame laminate in the house. Diana told me that you can order custom laminate from them - anything you like. She said while they don’t do the gold flecks anymore, they can duplicate the look. I thought some of you might be interested in this for your restoration projects!
Wow, Andie - that is so cool! I actually have a lead on another laminate maker that has several colors darn close to turquoise - I will do a post on Monday, 23rd, okay? Also - it is my understanding that you really cannot replicate the gold speckle lame’ formica because the technology today is not the same. Alas. But I think you are 100% right in that Wilsonart can do custom designs of a minimum order if you are ‘in the trade.’ That is - go through an interior designer. We need to explore this some more!
OMG!!!! This is my dream home! From the mondrian style kitchen to the georgeous swirl pendant lights! It is stylishly & perfectly colour co-ordinated with all the right furniture! When I die I hope to be living like this in retro heaven! x
Hi Kevin, how are u? I love this “retro” stuff! My husband and I collect turn of the century (late 1800’s to 1920’s) antiques, and we have been seeing quite a bit of “retro” stuff for sale at reasonable prices. If your interested, check out some “small town” antique shops in your area - you just might be surprised!!! P.S. I’m proud to be a part of the “retro” generation!