
The original, mid century ceiling fixture (above) in Amy’s house has a pretty darn good match in Rejuvenation’s Jantzen lighting fixture (left). Amy’s 1962 light looks to me to extend about 12″ from the ceiling. You can customize the Jantzen starting with a 12″ drop —
all the way to 200″ drop. The Jantzen also can made with your choice of 12 different finishes. To get Amy’s, I’d say brushed brass (shown in ‘branded’ R) is the way to go. Note: The Rejuvenation light holds three bulbs, which is a lot of light, but this is a fixture that provides “semi-indirect” illumination — meaning it is going to provide a wash of light for the whole room. But look, the light is pointing *up*, so if your goal is to get a lot of light onto the kitchen or dining room table, you might want to consider another fixture with that specific goal in mind. Jantzen light, $475 at Rejuvenation.
Retro Accents
Kitchens – Countertops

This week I heard from Jeff, who uses vintage speckled laminate for his banjo finger boards. I just think that is so cool… you know I am part Kentuckian. P.S. Can someone tell me how to get the accent mark over the ‘e’, as in lame’ … as I am dying to write lame’ laminate? [...]

I have been on a tear, of late, researching laminates. Considering how Greige and Granite-y 99% of what’s out there is, I want to provide Retro Renovators with the broadest researched selection possible of designs that have a more historical, retro appeal. After I learned that Formica’s butcher block laminate has been in production since [...]

ALAS: DISCONTINUED! The website says that these are for “contract” jobs — that is, interior designers working on commercial projects. But hey, if you really like these retro laminate choices, go after Nevamar and get them! Remember: The only way to do these…is to pair them with authentic steel countertop and backsplash edging available from [...]

Over at her blog The Home Project, reader Linn and her husband continue to chronicle the remodel of their adorable bungalow kitchen. Recently, they rolled up their sleeves and installed a stainless steel countertop right over the old, existing laminate countertops. The headline: When first considering the stainless steel countertop option, Linn contacted a big [...]

Formica last month introduced several new laminate designs that I think could be great for a Retro Renovation kitchen countertop or even a bathroom vanity. In particular — I’m loving the new “dogbone” design, and the new Warp and Weft designs. Dogbones are a classic midcentury motif — as in “dogbone sofa” … and Warp [...]
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Should we use recessed can lighting in a mid century living room?
Breaking News: Authentic vintage lighting, from the team at Barn Light Electric 














Hi Pam,
Just want to add a couple of comments about this type of lighting — where the light points up instead of down. In my dining room is just this sort of light, with 3 light bulbs and I love how it lights the room, and not the table. Also, it is on a dimmer so if I need a lot of light — say, to do some work at the table — I put it up full force. But, when I have company for dinner, I dim the light and light the candles as well, getting the perfect amount of light.
My only real concern is what I am going to do when one of the bulbs dies and I have to figure out how to get over the glass shade and into the inner workings to change it — all without standing on the table, which will be sort of in the way. So, I am hoping that day does not come very soon.