Friday night we met up with reader Cindy for the James Taylor concert at Tanglewood. It was great fun, even with the hurricane-quality rain. Hey, it makes for a better story if there are trials to be endured (just like a retro renovation project…at times). The band was the best of the best, my music-loving husband told me. He also knew that the saxophone player, Lou Marini, was the same one who popped out of the sarcophagus as King Tut in the famous Steve Martin Saturday Night Live routine. Oh, and to continue the coinkydinks, Steve Martin was the special guest at Prairie Home Companion at Tanglewood in June. “He gave his life for tourism.” Well, that night, at least.
Mid Mod Madness
Kitchens – Countertops

Following up on Monday’s exciting post about the Arpa USA palette of solid-color laminates, let’s take a look at how to use this material to recreate this 1959 Ma Bell kitchen. It would be oh-so-easy! Elements include: Laminate cabinetry using Arpa’s “Jardin” colorway. Cabinet pulls: Rejuvenation’s new midcentury “sharp arch”, in satin chrome Countertops are [...]

UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate. If you are planning Formica Boomerang countertop in aqua for your kitchen renovation, you’d better order now. Alas, if you were planning the skylark (light blue) or coral, it’s already too late. Following up on [...]

“Fake butcher block countertops” are another one of those original vintage house features that I often hear called “hideous” on other websites. (Crikey, how I have come to despise that word — it is overkill, please refrain.) I, on the other hand, not only have “no problem” with butcher block laminate, I am 100% on [...]

The most popular laminate design in mid century America? Boomerang Formica? Nope, guess again. According to materials expert Grace Jeffers, the most popular design was actually linen. You know what I’m talking about — that kind of tight-to-medium-weave with nubblies stuff. I had it both my bathrooms with vanities. In pistachio green = absolutely iconic. [...]
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Steve McQueen (and his houses) in 1963
King & Queen of Hearts stamps: 18th century meets retro
James and Robi’s 1949 ranch house with 1964 St. Charles kitchen cabinets 















That’s fun! Thanks for the flash from our past.
Thanks Pam. We should all share a moment of silence for tourism. KING TUT!
I would like to be buried in my jammies in the bomb shelter behind the sphinx, please…
Not my Hello Kitty jammas!!!!!