2014 was a great year for reissues of classic midcentury product designs. Still, there are three very basic products — I’m trying not to be greedy — that I would love to see brought back to the market, mass produced for cost, quality and availability. My list is based on seven years of blogging about midcentury modest and modern homes, hearing about what Retro Renovators need and have been excited about whenever the products come up.
1. Glitter laminate:
The absolutely positively #1 item on my list is glitter laminate.
Update, March 2018: Susan has brought this back! See the complete story here.
Made with deco paper — with real glitter inclusions, just like they were starting around 1950 all the way through the early 2000s — yes, this stuff was available for more than 50 years, non-stop. Today, this deco paper is still available — I have personally seen where it is made! Laminate manufacturers: I won’t even be greedy and ask for different colorways. Just give us a white (check the historic examples to get the rightish white) with gold glitter. The white field glitter laminate will solve for MULTITUDES of Retro Renovator kitchens and bathrooms.
Alas — this neeeeds to be a production laminate — it can’t be digital special-order run. As far as I know, the metal glitter cannot be replicated with current on-demand digital printers. That means this must be done with paper with real glitter inclusions. Laminate manufacturers must buy minimum (lotsa) size rolls of the deco paper… once they make the laminate, the sheets must be stored flat, in climate-controlled warehouses… and then there’s the whole marketing machine to get it out to the public. Note, I also tend to think that laminates made with deco paper (on a rotogravure press or as in the case of sparkle laminate, with real inclusions) are nicer looking — the ink saturation will be more intense… AND production laminates are much less expensive than on-demand digital prints because they are mass produced.
Pretty please with sprinkles on top: Will some laminate manufacturer take a big gulp and take a market risk on this? We’ll buy it! Maybe there are enough of us!
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2. Double-bowl, dual-drainboard, metal-rimmed, cast-iron kitchen sink:
Number two on my list: A double-sink, double-drainboard, hudee-rimmed, porcelain-on-cast-iron kitchen sink. The photos above show vintage Kohler sinks from our story about 16 vintage Kohler kitchen sinks.
And above: A 1956 ad for the Kohler “Clearfield” sink — now we know its name. Thanks to ebay seller splittinimagecards for giving us permission to show this photo of this ad for sale, we love having it for our archive.
Note, we love the hudee-rimmed Kohler’s Delafield sink currently available today — it’s a go-to recommendation for a replacement kitchen sink. But oh dear Kohler, can we have a design with drainboards?
Hey, I’d even settle for a double bowl with one drainboard. OR, a single bowl with one or two drainboards. Must have the metal rim, though!
3. Armstrong #5352:
Armstrong Floors, can we have #5352 — believed to be the most popular flooring of all time — back, please? Unbelievable: This floor was made from at least 1935 through to the mid-1990s — 60-some years!
This classic rich brick red color would be fine if we can have only one color. But if you can do other colors, how about something light and creamy (predominantly warm, rather than cool)?
Note: I am not saying Armstrong #5352 floor should be paired with a glitter-on-white laminate countertop. To me, the brick red screams “put me in a warm cozy midcentury modest kitchen” with a rich-colored countertop. But maybe I’d pair glitter laminate with a light, creamy colorway of the floor.
Updated: Like in Lori’s kitchen, photo below, thanks, Lori! Well, she says that floor originally had green squares, but they’ve faded with use. Still, you get the idea of how a monochrome meet-up between a beige 5352 floor and the glitter laminate could look:
And another update:
Reader Jan provided this photo (above) and the history:
Re: the Armstrong Brick flooring among the things we’d like to come back – I found this photo of the side porch at my grandmother’s house. This photo was taken in the late 1950s. My mom can’t remember when this floor was put down – she was born in 1934 and just always remembers it being there. I remember that it was a green colorway -very pretty! (The dogs are Come Here on the bench, Buster in the middle and Kilts on the right – Kilts was a full Scottish terrier and mom to the other two, who were “accidents” with a neighborhood dog – before spaying and neutering was the right thing to do!)
Thanks, Jan!
Some historical images from our files:
What do you think of my list, readers?
I’m wary of pushing our luck by being *too greedy*…
but for the “next wave” of we-wannas, what else?
Rebecca says
9″ composite floor tiles. Please.
Richard says
Great post, Pam,
The double drainboard sink looks great. I am a single person who gave away the dishwasher and does his own dishes. Sill, I do not want to give up the two or three feet of counter space that these drainboards would take. The right side would really cut into my food prep area. So I agree with Jan. I’ll use drainboards like the Rubbermaid when I need them and have that flat clean counter space the rest of the time.
Meanwhile, has anyone noticed the Revere Ware sauce pan on the Kohler sink? This line was launched in 1939, and went on a rocket ride after WWII. IMHO the pre 1968 examples are as good as anything made now. (The later ones were made lighter not so gwell) I have a number of Revere Ware pots and use them all the time.
I am in the midst of kitchen renovations and likely would not choose the metal ring again. I am constantly digging grunge out of the spaces that are not quite tight. Will go with the Kohler Delafield if one comes along on sale.
Keep up the fabulous work, both of you!!
Richard
In the Washington with three National Parks and other fun places.
Jeanette Ranow says
My favorite kitchen ever had the glitter laminate in pink! My mission is to restore my beach home to it’s 50’s glory! You make the products and I will buy!
Lisa Hendricks says
I want all three and would be happy to pay a premium price for them. We had the linoleum in the house I grew up in. It was still in perfect condition twelve years after it was installed. I want the pink pattern. Thank you for this post- maybe we should start a petition!
Mandrake says
Who do we have to harass to get glitter laminate back on the market? It’s too late for my bathroom. I need it before we get around to our kitchen! (seriously we could probably justify a new line of production if we ganged up on a few companies)
Brittney says
I would love to have the glitter gold laminate! I currently have it as a kitchen counter top with the metal edging but we are needing new cabinetry and it’s starting to show some wear. I don’t want to remodel yet though because I don’t want to be without my glitter gold laminate!
Susan says
I would so desperately love some white glittered laminate for my 1967 kitchen, it would look great in the bathroom vanities too!
Nancy says
I loved the old houses we lived in with the built in drain boards! They were so useful. My brothers kitchen still has that floor tile!
Patricia says
Glitter laminate and the ceramic double sink with double drain boards. I am doing my kitchen over this year. If you find an East Coast distributor I will buy both!
Angela says
YES GLITTER!!!
My bathroom and kitchen are white with gold glitter but the kitchen has some pretty worn places. A patch by the sink has all the glitter worn off. 🙁
I will replace them ONLY when white with gold glitter is remanufactured!!!
(Although I’d prefer it with crackle if I had my druthers.)