“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 its side, especially for late 1960s and 1970s homes. I even put some in my house. I asked Formica, and they report that their butcher block laminate — the pattern shown at the left — has been in production since 1972. How is that for enduring! I did some research, and found only two manufacturers that still make 1970s-era butcher block laminate: Heck yeah there is more →
Butcher block laminate — a ’72 classic
Posted by: • October 6, 2011
Reader giveaway: Win a Walter Crane Lion & Dove poster from Bradbury & Bradbury
Posted by: • October 5, 2011
Update: Entries closed. I selected the winner via Random Number Generator: Natalie. She responded… and the poster is on its way to her. Congrats, Natalie, and thanks to Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers for the prize, and thanks for playing, everyone!
Did you know that Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpaper also offers several posters made from their document wallpaper reproductions? I am launching another new feature — more frequent reader giveaways — and asked owner Steve Bauer, who I have known since like Day 1 of the blog, if he’d like to offer up our first prize. He was happy to oblige. This poster — The Lion and Dove — comes from an original illustration by Walter Crane in 1901. While not 1950s or 1960s mid mod — it certainly was the kind of neo-Victorian revival we saw in the 1970s. It’s always fun to mix things up — and hey, it’s free if you win. Click on through for more info on the poster and how to enter to win it –> Heck yeah there is more →
Moe honeycomb lighting: The full line, from a 1968 catalog, plus 4 hilarious room shots
Posted by: • October 4, 2011
I just scored a 1968 Moe Lighting catalog, and it is 102 pages of sheer beauty. Peoples: If you are not keeping your eyes open and wallets stocked with just a little extra something for the most fabuloso vintage lighting that you can get your hands on, well, then, I feel bad. Because there is probably no feature that can have the biggest impact on the sparkly-ness of a home than lighting. I myself am guilty: The light in my dining room is a piece of inexpensive whatever that we hung in there when we first bought the house 10 years ago. I am ashamed of myself. This is going on The List tout suit. Today, from my 1968 catalog: Moe’s complete Honeycomb line, including the new-for-’68 cranberry-pink … and 5 rooms shots sure to make you smile bright as a tangerine-gold pendant. Heck yeah there is more →
“Finish What You Started” Monday Weigh In
Posted by: • October 3, 2011
In general, I continue to be pretty disgusted with myself for the chaos I continue to bring into the house and, hence, into my life. I love to begin all sorts of new house projects… I love to find treasures at estate sales and Re-Stores to integrate into my decor… but honestly: My “to do” list of un-finished projects, including processing the stuff I’ve brought into the house, has reached the point of “not healthy.” Like: Any strength taken too far… becomes a weakness. That said, I am not going to wallow in the situation — I am going to buck up and Finish The Projects That I Have Started. Eat the elephant — one bite at a time. Want to play along? Heck yeah there is more →
An affordable substitute for pastel Formica boomerang laminates? Two new designs with potential
Posted by: • October 2, 2011
Arborite has two new laminates in their 2011-2012 collection that just popped onto my radar. I haven’t seen these as actual samples yet — I’ll order them this week. Meanwhile, I wanted to put them out there, because I know that many Retro Renovators have been left kind of up a creek since Formica discontinued their pastel boomerangs. These two new laminate designs — one that looks to be channeling both blue and aqua, and the other with a soft avocado vibe — have some pattern to them that provides additional dimension along a long run of countertop, and it appears that the textural pattern does not ‘scream’ one era over another. That is: It looks like it would work fine playing along with a retro theme. The aquamarine or turquoise is called Sky Tulle, and the light green, Honeydew Tulle.
The most popular colors for mid-century bathrooms? Take our poll!
Posted by: • October 1, 2011
These 1949 Briggs bathroom fixtures — tub, sinks and toilet — are the same design that I had in all three of my original 1951 bathrooms. And: I had two bathrooms full of this green. In fact, I tend to believe that this shade of green was #2 in popularity behind Mamie Pink throughout most of the 1950s. But let’s get all scientific-like and start collecting data. Henceforth, I invite you to take our two official polls, which seek to answer the urgent question: What were the most popular tile and bathroom fixture colors for mid-century bathrooms?
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