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DIG THESE 1961 MIDCENTURY PENDANT LIGHTS from Progress. Which one do you like the best? VOTE now.
Thanks! And if you have another minute – tell us why you voted the way you did.
Update: Almost all of these designs are now discontinued. See my up-to-date stories on all retro laminates here: Kitchen/Countertops Category. UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate. The countertops I removed from the two vanities in my 1951 bathrooms were [...]
Many thanks to Whitney, who just tipped me that Wilsonart has introduced 11 new colors of boomerang laminate. There now are a total of 14 colorways — the most of any manufacturer. I am quite liking the “butterscotch” above — looks like you could use this in a kitchen with yellow kitchen cabinets. There is [...]
Our arsenal of suppliers for metal kitchen countertop edging continues to grow — with the addition of Eagle Moulding, a distributor in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Eagle Mouldings’ large inventory includes a two styles of aluminum countertop edgings, in a variety of sizes.Eagle Moulding is the direct supplier to many furniture manufacturers and, in fact, I see at [...]
Retro Renovation’s Countertop & Metal Edging Design Tips from pam kueber on Vimeo. Laminate countertops with metal edging are among the most popular choices for homeowners updating the kitchens in their mid century homes. In this video, I show you the Formica Skylark boomerang countertops in my aquamarine kitchen… We take a look at the [...]
I am updating this Retro Renovation “Classic” post for Tiel, her husband, and all readers looking for classic 50s and 60s metal countertop edging. Trust me – this is the real deal: My husband hunted down the only place left — in Astoria, Queens — that still made the exact stainless steel edging on 50s [...]
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For Karmi – 1961 Progress lighting close to her ebay find 
Great retro pull down lights for your kitchen, from Progress vintage 1961 
$30 mid-century modern pendant lights from Menard’s 
Become a fan
#1; I like the contrast in materials, and it looks like it would provide nice warm light (but I think I have #5 in the foyer right now).
#4 because, well, duh. Dots.
The lace one is so irresistible.
I voted for #6, since it, or a dead ringer, is hanging in my parent’s foyer!
Love them all
Voted for the Danish pendant because it has the cleanest lines & I think it would look best in a mid-century modern setting. But the hourglass cylinder runs a close second. I know I’ve seen the scrolled sphere in homes here in Western New York. Wish they still made these.
#1. I liked the Danish pendant, but felt it was too clean. I am trying to move away a bit from what seems to be an increasingly bland mid-century influence that I see a lot of in Atomic Ranch interiors (love that magazine, but it is just too expensive and ultra-clean a lot of the time). I picked #1 because it has interesting angles and the beads would add a texture and color in the refracted light. Now where can I get it?
***Note: Digging around last night in the shed, I found the original glass shade for the outdoor back porch door light! Right when I was about to go looking for a new one!***
@Kristin…”digging around in the shed” — I love it!
I voted for the one with the starbursts, number 3, because I am a freak for starbursts, love them! They all are cool!
I have something similar to #6 in my bathroom.
I voted the Danish modern style, as I like the clean, simple lines, But it was a tough choice. I also like the hour glass (#1) as it’s symetrical but has texture and is interesting and I like the last one, as it’s sort of space-age looking (jetsons!),
I like the Danish pendant for its clean simple shape: we’re all about simple and sleek in the Elvis household. For an accent, though, I really like the red dotted sphere. Simple, symmetrical and fun!
I almost went for the spotted sphere — love the color and perforated circles in ascending size. But the danish pendant got me because I love the shape and simplicity.
Forget simplicity! I’d go for the jeweled, perforated brass sphere – it’s groovy and colorful, and our house is much more like that than the clean, spare minimalism!
#1 for me. I’m such a sucker for the middle class flair: lines that are clean but not too clean.
So most of them look like something the three wise men would have taken to Jesus, but I dig the Danish one.
Jeweled sphere, perforated bottom diffuser, P4404 – Why? Because my grandparents had lamps just like that in their old ranch.
-Dave
I picked number three because I have not seen that style out there. One and two are really cool but more of a mass produced look. I acutally have number six and have it over my wrought iron porch table and chairs.
it was between 1, 4 and 8 for me. I ultimately picked 4. I love perforations and the salmon interior was really cool.
I’m most attracted to #2 myself but for a 1960s house I voted for #4 – groovy!
I liked #3 because I thought the black and white would pop against bright colors and plexiglas. I agree with another poster who says #2 looks two generic repro type.
i love them all but #1 really grabs me, just the right about of funky lines…….so unique. oh I want them all!
I voted for #6 because it’s a bit fancy without being over the top. But, I also really like #1. I sure wish I had a foyer with one of these lamps suspended in it.
#8 because there were 3 of them in a row in the
foyer of the house I grew up in. Our house was
in Danville, IL. Built in ’64, it was a tri-level with
2 master suites, another 3 bedrooms, total of 4
baths, and a full basement. N-ni-i-i-i-i-ce !!
I voted for #4 for it’s funk factor.
I voted for 6 because I have the very ones in my house! How exciting!
I forgot to say that I have 3 of #6 lights going down my hallway to the bedrooms in the house we recently bought and are renovating.
hi pam!
i had to go with #2.
we used to rent a house at the beach every summer, and those lamps were hanging above the dining room table and in the hallways.
sadly, the owners sold the house and it was torn down to build a giant mcmansion. of course, i’m kicking myself for never taking pictures of the incredible time capture that was our home every summer.
Jeweled sphere, perforated bottom diffuser, P4404, because I have three of them!
Does anybody know where I can get two of the perforated bottom diffusers, to replace ones that are missing?
hehe…I’ve got a horizontal shade in #7 style as my bathroom vanity light. : D
Farmtruk, I am SUPER JEALOUS – can you send me a photo to post? retrorenovation at gmail dot com? Many thanks! Pam
Hi I have 3 different type of pulldown lamps, one of them needs to be put back together. Does anyone know were I can get info on putting the tension mechanism back together? and is that what its called.
Thanks
Juan — This is not a DIY site, please consult with a licensed professional regarding vintage wiring and their mechanisms. Please know also, I have been told that pulldowns are no longer to code — all the more reason to consult with a pro. Good luck.