Wow, does anyone know about countertops like these? Becky recently bought a time capsule and her french provincial kitchen (I’d call it) includes these countertops. Reminds me of these Fritz floor tiles. Anyone work with this back in the day who knows? Kind of, an early-days version of Silestone or the other composite-quartz countertops sold today. I love it!! And that kitchen, too (nix the carpet and get a counter-depth fridge.) Note: These are photos from the walk-through before Becky bought the house. She is talking about gutting — argh! Becky: Live with the house a while, I implore you — I sure bet you can learn to Love this House You’re In!
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I bet it’s bumpy. It’s chips of plastic floating in a clear acrylic coating. I had some floors in my house with similar construction. You threw the chips of color all over, then poured the acrylic over it and let it set. I don’t know what the product is called though. Have seen it many times.
I see this occasionally in homes that I show. It seems to be a plastic version of terrazzo.
They look like headcheese
The aggregate looks like mother of pearl (available for countertops here: http://www.walttools.com/servlet/the-334/crushed-marble-mother-of/Detail) embedded in acrylic rather than concrete, but the uniformity of size and color leads me to believe that jdill is right, it may be plastic chips rather than shell. I vaguely recall seeing something similar in a bathroom many, many years ago.
I think that it is more similar to cultured marble, in that it is a plastic / acrylic material. I seem to remember seeing this as morer common in bathbrooms…Unusual in the kitchen, and not quite as durable in regards to heat or scratching. Fun, nontheless!
Oh, I think that’s fantastic! Beautiful with the right things complimenting it! It really reminds me of the window sills in my grandmother’s/mother’s home that was built in the early 70′s. I always admired those.
My sister has these. It doesn’t yellow or scratch…makes me wonder if it’s actual acrylic. It is some type of plastic, though.
I loved this! I wanted an RV sooo bad in the late 60s – early 70s, but of course, no $$ for a new one. There was a high middle range maker that had Class B van conversions and Class Cs with this kind of counter. When I saw the picture above, I went right back to the RV show where I first saw it. It was really different and looked so rich. It is acrylic with colorful plastic chips. It was not molded on site, but factory made and brought in to be fitted. Different colors were available. to coordinate with appliances. Remember Harvest Gold, Coppertone, Avocado?
PS, the RV company was Cobra, and the surface is not bumpy.
I remember these things back in the late 60′s early 70′s. But I remember them more as paperweights and desk items, usually with a tarantula, rattlesnake or scorpion embedded in them on top of the chips. Fascinating for a 10 yr old boy.
I think the kitchen would look FABULOUS with granite counters, dark cabinets, and stainless appliances! (A little tongue-in-cheek humor there)
Shane! We’re going to have to send you back to remedial retro-renovating!
Vintage Thermadore appliances could be used……vintage Nutone stainless steel range hood…..vintage stailness steel sink…….vintage stainless steel paper dispenser….and, of course, stainless steel countertop edging!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Ooooo! I am so utterly jealous! I would happily get rid of my mustard yellow counter tops for this! It is amazing! I also love the white cabinets and fabulous light over the dinette. I agree with Pam: get rid of the carpet and put in some appliances that are in scale with the room. As an at first unhappy owner of a very very cute 1956 kitchen, I now love it and highlight it. Makes me feel like Mrs. Cleaver. Does anyone know where I might be able to have counter tops like these made? Gosh, am I jealous!
I’ve mainly seen this material used to make the ugliest clocks ever. It’s so awful it’s actually cool looking. And definitely a conversation starter!
I hope the home owner takes your advice and lives with it for a while. There must have been something about the house that spoke to her, else why would she have purchased it to begin with?
Or am I the only one who’s house totally charmed me right from the start? Love at first sight!
No, Amy, I think you’re far from being the only one whose house charmed them from the start. My 1956 ranch certainly charmed me four years ago! That said, it’s true many here seem to have taken awhile to “come around” to appreciating their lovely retro and mid-century homes.
My grandmother’s bathroom sink was comprised of this same material. The house dated back to the 1930s, but I think the sink was installed in the late 60s or early 70s (she moved into the home in 1977). I used to fill the sink with water and pretend that my Barbies had the coolest pool around. Great memories for me.
i’d be inclined to poke my head in under the cabinets and see if i could find any product info – stickers, or whatever. the demo i am doing on my ranch now is lousy with product info – stamps on studs and pywood, stickers on backs of laminate, etc. pulling dishwasher etc. might provide further access.
It looks a lot like those Lucite collectibles from the fifties and early sixties: [link gone]
I ADORE the countertops. I wouldn’t change a thing in that kitchen other than the flooring and possibly the wallpaper. It’s really hard to see in the photo, but the wallpaper looks pretty eighties to me, and not in a good way. I might paint the wall behind the table another color. But it looks like such a cheerful, bright kitchen as is. I’d love to sit down at the table with a cup of coffee and the morning paper.
What an adorable kitchen! That countertop is wonderfully unique, and if it’s endured this long, it is probably going to stick around awhile longer. I think that kitchen is precious. I agree with Pam on the few changes to make – carpet and fridge. Can’t really see the wallpaper, but you might want to look at something retro-parisian as a replacement. Thanks for sharing the photo and let us know if you find out the story behind the countertop!
Looks something like the shower in a house my aunt owned way back when. That had sheets of resin with pebbles in it. Pretty neat.
I recently saw a spoon rest at a thrift store that might have been made out of this very stuff, with the word Florida and a seashell or two floating in with the little chips. It seemed like acrylic with all the little things floating in it. I passed on it, because my kitchen has more of a colonial or country theme, rather than beachy. But I would not pass on these great counters. The entire kitchen (minus dark floor and giant fridge) is really wonderful. I remember visiting the homes of friends as a teen in the 70s — the ones who lived in new homes — and seeing such lighthearted kitchens. I think my husband would hate the girliness of this kitchen, however.
This kitchen is so adorable. I love those kind of countertops. My parents have a 1962 home with those kind of countertops and they look great even after all these years. I really like the lamp hanging over the cute table and chairs.
I love your kitchen! What I find funny is that the trend today is to renovate to brand new. Then, when the trend comes back, we all want to buy the new stuff that looked just like what we ripped out! I admit that changes should be made, but remember, we only get original once! (Good luck in any renovations you do! They can be a doozy!)
P.S. As Lynn said, it appears to be Lucite chips. I’ve never seen this in a counter before. Probably makes it pretty rare!
Remember, sometimes, “renovating” means returning things to their original appearance, but in new condition. Sometimes, we’re lucky, and we can get vintage items in good shape, but usually, it means buying newer imitations based on what we remember things to have been back then. It’s terribly fun to do this. I’m always on the look-out for both vintage and replica items when I’m out and about. But I cringe when I look on the bottom and it says “Made in China!” And it has become easier to find them, as we Americans have seemed to want to make a connection with our mid-century lifestyle. I know, for me, having retro things helps ground me and hearken to a simpler and more-pleasant time, with memories of sitting in the kitchen watching grandma bake.
Kinda looks like that fancy clear glycerine soap with cut up squares of multi-colored glycerine soap in it!
I can tell you exactly what it is, since I have table tops made with a variation of the same thing- it’s a composite of Capiz shell, and Paua shell set in resin. It was used in many applications in the 1950′s and 60′s.
Outdoor tables and tops for vintage built-ins were the most commonly found applications, not to mention the dozens of display trivets and pairs of seahorses found on bathroom walls!
In Florida I have several tables on the terrace of my condo made of this material used as “grout” inbetween slabs of onyx.
The resin is dense, transluscent, though prone to scratching and burns, so handle with care, and it can last a lifetime.
I recommend cleaning only with soap and water, though it can be professionally polished with a marble grade polishing pad and the appropriate crystalizing agent to remove fine scratching. Believe it or not, but any good silver paste like Simichrome can take out fine scratches as well.
Enjoy- it’s rare to find them in countertops!
Hey Jeff, I know you posted this a couple years ago, but I grew up with a kitchen table just like this in the70′s, in shades of orange that I am desperate to find again. Would you know where I could find one?
I have one of these tables in pink! It was my table growing up, so I think we got it around 1973. When I was a little girl, I thought it was cool, and I spent countless hours learning every shell and stone in it. As I got older, it simply emabarassed me. It has been in storage since the early 90′s, and now I think it is the coolest thing ever, and cannot wait to have dinner with my kids around this table. I am working on getting it out and getting a base built for it. If anyone knows somone on the east cosast who can build a base for it, let me know.
I have been searching high and low for someone who knows what I am talking about. I am so glad I found this site!
Those are awesome! I have a coffee table that is similar, except rather than small chunks, it has what looks like larger pieces of broken shells. It’s 5′ or so long, shaped like a surfboard, and pink
Those who want a sort of similar look, only with glass, google Recycled Glass Countertops. Cool stuff.
I LOVE that countertop! I’d never get rid of that.
AWESOME. It’s a keeper. As one who has lived for 20 years with early 60′s white/gold-flecked Formica counters, I am envious. I’m also very happy to see that there are many of us who wouldn’t rip it out to put in g****** (won’t even spell out the dirty word).
I believe this product was called Targinol – spelling may be incorrect, but that was how it was pronounced. My parents installed in on a kitchen floor in 1963. The floor was the concrete slab that had been painted red and this was a new product being touted by a flooring store in Beaumont, Texas. My parents chose chips that were mostly white with some black and gold flecks added. The chips were plastic. It looked great for a few weeks and then some of the red from the paint began to bleed through and when we moved out of the house the floor had several pink spots in it. The floor installer did not know how to fix the problem without removing the entire floor and I don’t remember why that wasn’t done at the time. It was not totally smooth as I remember, but had a somewhat nubby texture to it. The care was easy – just a damp mop and no waxing required.
My friend’s parents’ house had the same counters. Her dad was a pharmacist and the counters in the back of his drugstore where he worked were made of the same resin but instead of rocks and pebble-like things, it was filled with all kinds of different pills. I was always fascinated with their counters at home and the store. Her parents had them both specially made.
Gayle, that sounds like a fabulous countertop — pill-filled — wow!
Becky is lucky to have this counter. It’s awesome! She could easily find coordinating kitchen accessories on eBay: napkin holders, trivets, spoon rests, etc. The eBay sellers will usually identify these items as lucite or acrylic with embedded abalone, mother or pearl or shell chips. There are cute acrylic wall plaques too: fish, sea horses, etc.
The counter tops are fantastic.
Only thing I would change, if it were my man cave, is the chandelier.
Looks like a great place to put a vintage fixture….or a ceiling fan if I’m going for function over design.
love that counter! I want some. And thanks for the fritztile link…I can’t find the royal-pink one on their site, but don’t worry about it, just sayin’…
lineups always changing from these manufacturers, Atomic Tucson…. If you luv something you gotta nab it.
You’ve just upped the ante. I thought I could re-retro my kitchen with concrete countertops with glass chips set in to create a terrazzo look. Now I have to find someone who still works in resin. Thanks a lot!
For the first time EVER I am not too crazy about something posted in this blog. I don’t loathe this counter top but to me it looks like rice and lentils stuck in resin or seeds of some type. The reason it does I think is that was so popular at the time, to stick things in resin and using beans and seeds to make stuff (if you were in montessori school in the 70′s). Still if this were in my home and original to it, I am 99.9% sure I’d live with it.
Hi everybody, thanks for all your input…I Love it! I am sorry to say, though, the countertops are not my style, (sorry Pam)! Sooooo–if anyone is interested in them and the yellow sink. Make me an offer I can’t refuse!!! Or, I will probably make stepping stones and or a cutting board out of them!!! I do LOVE the kitchen and will be putting a new refrigerator on the other side…oh there are more of the counters on the other side of the kitchen. Not sure if I sent a picture of the other side to Pam or not.
I think it looks like ‘headcheese’, too, Priscilla!!
No buying/selling on the main blog. Becky – you can post the countertops for sale over on the Forum. But, I also recommend craigslist…
My parents have these countertops in their kitchen….they remodeled the kitchen in the 1970′s…I believe it’s called Luster Rock…they get lots of comments on it…some good some bad…..I didn’t like it!! Ha Ha
It’s definitely Luster Rock, we had it in our house, (just finished remodeling and replaced it with boomerang countertop!). My friends dad was an installer in the 60′s and said the stuff was indestructible, which I can attest to. I did everything to it and it always looked the same. I saved some of it to try to make a bar top for summer entertaining. Mine had more brown chips to it, and my problem was finding wall colors to work with it.
Our bathroom counter top and half way up the wals are gold Luster Rock. We have a country house in the mountains and think it is a great fit. We would like to add a second sink in the counter top. Did you cut your Luster Rock when you removed it? If yes, what tool did you use. I am concerned it will crack or fracture if you try to cut it.
Thank you!
Rhonda
I don’t know, Rhonda. Please also know that I advise that whenever you start messing with old materials, you consult with a properly licensed professional to ensure you know what’s in it…
Don’t gut the kitchen!!!! Replace the light fixture in the nook and the window coverings. Get a vintage kitchen table & chairs, X the carpet, and you’ll be good to go with your lovely retro kitchen! The counter was made of imbedding stones in liquid plastic, then left to harden. Once Americans discovered plastic and how to work with it in the ’50s, our imagination was the limit, and this was one of the things we came up with. I believe this process is still used in some places for bar tops, and yes, it is virtually indestructible. The one problem was that it tended to yellow over time. Also, it cut and scratched easily, but these are just superficial, and probably can be buffed out.
I have one in my bathroom. Sink and counter. Brownish color with shell pieces embedded in it. Anyone interested in it can contact me.
Oops. Sorry, just read that you can’t offer things for sale here. I apologize.
not to worry. i left yours up though because it sounded so rare. would be better, tho, if you put it on Forum, that’s where folks look: http://retrorenovation.com/forums/
We built our house in l968 and put it Luster Rock counters. The have bits of shells and mother of pearl in an almond-colored acrylic They have very few scratches and have kept their beauty for 42 years. I wouldn’t think of putting in new ones. It’s too bad they are no longer available.
I have the same stuff in my kitchen also, and also on the walls. Trying to find more
Contact me.
I have a section that needs to be coated over, does anybody know what to use?
Rebecca, you have to register.
Yes, it is called luster rock. My mom’s neighbors in LA , CA ran a small business out of an El Sereno warehouse where they made these countertops. They also subcontracted through Sears until I believe it became against the law to obtain shell in these quanitites for these purposes. My mom sold her 1924 home in 2005 and the kitchen was done in the yellowish whitelusterock. Two houses to the right is where the luster rock couple still live and their 2 story home including, kitchen and bathrooms were beautiful in the best of ltheir work and luster rock. The house in between belonged to the wives’ brother (was a wrought iron artist) and that house was also complete with luster rock counter tops. We are selling some unique pieces (stereo unit and curio iron stands) that were made by brother and the tops are luster rock – white yellow and a long piece made with a bluish lavendar shell that looks like carnival glass. Wonder what they are really worth…. they have kept their luster and beauty.
My step-father made and sold that in Arlington VA back in the 60′s and 70′s. I remember that he had to go away someplace to learn how to do it and buy the rights (I guess it was a franchise type of thing.) They used real rocks and shells, even fossil shark’s teeth and coins. Their house was full of it – they made shower stalls, sinks, counter tops, floors, paper weights – you name it they made it. I do not know why they stopped making it. It was beautiful then and it still is beautiful now. Probably found out it was really toxic or something – or like someone above said maybe it was illegal to get the shells in such quantity. But they used a lot of rocks, and it doesn’t make sense that it would be illegal to get rocks!
My grandparents house in Orange County, CA was built in the ’60s and one of the bathrooms had a countertop and matching toilet seat that were made of clear resin with embedded abalone shell. It was absolutely stunning. The embedded pieces of shell were numerous and had the full range of rainbow colored shine that abalone shell is known for. There were also little flecks of gold “sand” inside the resin. It was gorgeous, the whole thing was so captivating. You felt like you were swimming in the sea when you were in that bathroom. I have such fond memories of that countertop & toilet seat, as silly as it sounds, because they were just so unique and beautiful, despite having a somewhat dated feel when I would visit them in the 80s. I was just googling to find an abalone shell countertop or toilet seat like the one they had, but I haven’t found an exact match. None of them ones I’m seeing online measure up to how beautiful theirs was.
It sounds very cool indeed, Ro! Let me know if you find it online after all!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Houston-TX-Lusterock-Table-Ad-Postcard-/350500507326
This recent ad on ebay shows a postcard from the Lusterock Company and provides further insight into their product.
“Lusterock”, a product of modern engineering and chemical research, combines and enhances the natural beauty of natural marble slices and chips, granites, Mother of Pearl, Italian quartz and an infinite variety of other stones with permanent polyester resin.
Designs, textures and patterns – limited only by your imagination – are available in a wide variety of foreign and domestic simulations.
“Lusterock” captures the beauty of natures stones …even to the third dimension. Yet it’s built-in resilience reduces the breakage factor so common in other stone products.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/93472967/sale-vintage-lusterock-stove-top-spoon
Excellent close-up of Lusterock
Thank you, Lorri! We are chasing permissions so that we can show archive your Lusterock research. Many thanks!