My taste is most certainly evolving to the wackier and wackier. It’s like: Show me something I haven’t seen!
Mid Mod Madness
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Vintage Witco tiki bar – the greatest one ever? 
Witco tiki wall panels — unused, he thinks 
The fabulous Witco tiki bar goes to: Reader “Ghost of Elvis” 
Become a fanKitchens – Countertops
“…Eliminates the final telltale sign of laminate – the brown line.” I am a big believer in the idea that the most significant design shifts tend to come from technological breakthroughs. The advance of laminate kitchen countertops — replacing linoleum and wood in most kitchens in the 1950s — came as a result of the [...]
Where to find speckled gold laminate? Also called “lame” (with an accent on the “e”, as in “lam-ae.”) A typical reader question, like this one: Hello – I really hope you can help me. I have been searching for weeks with no luck. I have an old trailer from the 50′s and need to replace [...]
A reader wrote to ask how to bring the luster back to her vintage laminate countertops. Paste wax, maybe? To get the answer, I turned to expert Grace Jeffers. She is the writer, design historian and materials expert responsible for restoration of the Ralph Sr. and Sunny Wilson House – including its gorgeous Mondrian-style kitchen, [...]
Wowza — here is a ton — several tons, actually! — of vintage Consoweld laminate likely to come on the market soon. I never cease to be amazed at the retro treasures out there, yet to be unearthed. Interestingly, this seller first posted this on our Forum — but then got so much interest, put [...]
I spotted this vintage salesman’s sample showing different styles of metal edging for a kitchen countertop, and it reminded me that I wanted to do a story showcasing some other varieties beyond the stainless steel edging that I used for my kitchen. First off, thanks to Hard to Find House Parts for letting me share [...]
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I need speed and up-time — so I use WP Engine
The “Tiki” furniture is a great example of fun design gone bad. I have trouble identifying the set as “tiki,” despite the seller’s claim that it is. That chair haas Chinese dragon heads on the arms, and the faux fur upholstery is not a true Tiki element. The Polynesian Islands did not have furry animals large enough to create fur anything … and it was too hot for fur, anyway.
It’s an African motif, as is the fur shield and spears on the wall. The only “Tiki” things Ii see in the room are the lamp bases. What gawd-awful furniture! It makes me laugh, it’s so awful.
PSS, I agree – this stuff is way over the top. I definitely have a defiant streak – so the “so awful it’s wonderful” aspect is very appealing to me.
Oh, wow…That dragon chair is something else! (Though not Tiki, clearly.) It’s like some sort of throne from a Narnia or LOTR movie. It’s so awful it’s really likable!