Products and ideas to remodel your mid century home in authentic vintage style
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home design inspiration… thrifty finds… and a generous
community of people passionate about their vintage and
postwar homes – “modern” and “modest” alike.
I'm Pam Kueber, your mid mod mad guide. Read more
I took this photo at an estate sale last year — I loved the crystal finial (if that’s what it’s called) on this pull-down light. This fixture was in the dining room. I like how the crystal trim gives the atomic fixture a little bit of traditional formality. This also makes me wonder: Could you take a lamp finial, and use it on the bottom of a pull-down lamp?
More today from the Wilsonart laminate history archives. In the 60s, laminate colors got, at one end of the spectrum richer and earthier – and at the other end, pop-art bold. Some of the defining trends from the period, this article says: Color TV was introduced in 1965, bringing us closer in touch with design [...]
The new crop of laminates suitable for mid-century kitchen countertops continues. Reader Jon gets snaps for spotting this new “Motion” series of laminate from Pionite. Jon writes: Hi Pam, First, I love the site. I’ve been reading it since December when I purchased my teeny tiny 1946 house (originally a summer home) on the shore [...]
Reader Sarah successfully removed a layer of more modern laminate from her yummy gold-speckled mid-century laminate beneath. She wrote about her experience — and the products she used — on her blog, Sarahs’ Blue Castle. But before you jump over there, take a look at her note to me and my comments here first –> [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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Mid century lighting at Amy’s replicated with Rejuvenation’s Jantzen light 
Let there be (mid-century) light 
Hannah’s 1960s grape cluster swag light kit & a peek inside her mid century modest house 
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Huh! I never thought of that. Ours has a (rather dull) little acorn on it. I’d love to find something a little flashier. Great….another search to obsess over!
Pam, do you think that the glass in the above fixture is original? It looks cool like that but I’m thinking that it’s been replaced with a smaller piece.
Love it!
This really brings forth in my mind a question.
If you wander the aisles of your typical home store (Lowes, Home D., etc) you find a lot of dull and uninspired light fixtures.
The question is….what is it about the 50′s and early 60′s, that resulted in more ‘artistic’ and daring design?
How did ‘we’ get so dull?
Affordable lighting today, should be so sweet.