Margaret Lowe -- another color stylist in the 1950s. I only found a little online.

20th century materials expert Grace Jeffers recently wrote a story explaining the difference between vinyl and vinyl composite tiles — including their different grades today — of interest to homeowners with vintage floors or pondering new floors. Grace also reminds that asbestos was a common component of resilient flooring throughout most of the 20th century. For example, the advertisement I found for this story — for 1956 Matico tiles — is for vinyl-asbestos tiles. If you own a vintage home, make sure you consult with a licensed professional to find out what is in your old floor tiles, including any backing and the materials used to adhere the tiles, so that you can make informed decisions how to handle them. Meanwhile, if you are looking for new tiles, Grace’s story is a good first step to beginning to understand and distinguish among the different grades in today’s marketplace.

And… remember the story I wrote about 1950s color consultant Beatrice West and all those amazing NOS pink caloric appliances? Well, here we have another stylist, Margaret Lowe. The only thing that I can find out about her online, is a copyright notice for her book, The Marglo Principle of Color Programming, either originated or renewed in April 1971.

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That is a serious price difference, to put it mildly. So, Linn and her husband figured out how to do the job.. In fact, they make it look pretty in the click here --> step-by-step tutorial on how to measure, prepare for, and install a stainless steel countertop. Nicely done, Linn — you two have mad skills, and the countertop really turned out beautifully. Your little bungalow kitchen, and your little (974 s.f.) jewel box house: simply lovely.

Update: A reader asked, in comments, how I incorporated stainless steel in my kitchen — here’s the video I made about my countertop. The stainless steel and butcher block I added shows starting minute 5:00. See all my stories about ideas for retro kitchen countertops here.

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I am a big believer in the idea that the most significant design shifts tend to come from technological breakthroughs. The advance of laminate kitchen countertops — replacing linoleum and wood in most kitchens in the 1950s — came as a result of the very invention of plastic and then, the ability to manufacture it in long thin sheets with colorful designs laminated on to the top layer.

Originally, countertop edges could not be bent or rolled, so that’s why we always see metal edging in early kitchens. Later, around 1957, the countertop industry developed the ability — called thermoforming — to “roll” the edges and the backsplash in one continuous piece, eliminating the need for metal edging and introducing a big shift in the way kitchens looked. Homeowners who didn’t choose rolled edges chose flat edges, and metal edging faded from use.

Now… 2012… we have another advance: Formica this week is introducing new laminate edging technology that allows us to have more intricate “ogee” or “bullnose” edging profiles on our Formica countertops — complete eliminating the tell-tale brown line that comes from a typical 90-degree edge. And, their new “Ideal Edge” — in these two curvy two designs — can go all the way around corners and ends, adapting to any cabinet or turn-the-corner configuration.

Don’t want to take out a second mortgage (if you can get one, ha) to afford granite or marble countertops? Now, get the Ideal Edge… combine it with today’s laminates — which are remarkably realistic… and the bankrupt Joneses next door will have to look twice to see the difference. Note: Wilsonart’s “Cascade” edge, introduced in September, seems pretty similar to the Formica Ideal Edge/Bullnose and like the Formica technology, eliminates the brown line. So I’m not declaring Formica gets all the props for the innovation — they just did a good job catching my eye with this announcement, and with sending lots of great photos pronto.

You know my general aesthetic when it comes to midcentury modern and midcentury modest houses: Granite isn’t *authentic*, and in unpretentious midcentury houses, it seems out of place (to me). But, I certainly like the idea off-white-and-gray Carrara (and if it’s not available, okay, Calacatta) marble — in particular in bathrooms, but also on a section of kitchen countertop, or on all of it, depending on how high falutin’ your house and your style is. The beauty part of faux-marble laminate is that it is going to be (1) way easier to maintain than marble (2) way less expensive and (3) a more environmentally sensitive choice. Carrara marble has been around forever in homes — it’s one of the few things that makes my “timeless design” list. Again: I particularly like the idea for bathrooms. The greyish-off white should go with virtually any pastel bathroom, which will likely also be chock-a-block with chrome and likely, gray grout in the floor tiles. Set in a Kohler hudee-rimmed sink, and you are ready to party like it’s 1959 or 1969 or 1979.

ogee edge profilebullnose edge profile

Which laminates and edges do I like best?

• Note, the two Formica laminate designs shown in this story are not Carrara — they are Formica’s Calacatta, which is a larger veined marble, and Formica’s Bianca Luna, which seems to have heavier darker graining. For classic midcentury style, among these two, I’d go for Calacatta with the ogee edge — it’s less honkin’.
• But, my favorite vintage-style-marble-laminate still is Carrara marble laminate — I recently found three companies with this style. Yes, you can get Wilsonart’s “Carrara Santorini” laminate with the new, seamless bullnose edge.  But, if you want the seamless ogee edge, you have to go with one of Formica’s choices.
• So… it’s a tradeoff. Get samples. Go see the edges. Agonize and torture DH. As usual.

See more information on Formica’s website here. And, read on for Formica’s complete news release:

Formica Corporation, the inventor of high pressure laminate and the first to pioneer large-scale laminate design, introduces another breakthrough in laminate with IdealEdge™, decorative edges suitable for curved, clipped or 90-degree corner installations. Available in two versatile profiles – Ogee and Bullnose – IdealEdge™ transcends the customary limitations of laminate by eliminating flat edges and brown seams.

“Laminate has benefited from major innovations in the last few years that have revitalized the surfacing material; IdealEdge™ is yet another one of those breakthroughs,” said Brian LaDuke, senior director of marketing at Formica Corporation. “IdealEdge™ profiles are fabricated like a bevel edge, which allows for more installation flexibility, and have the ability to curve and encase all sides of countertops, islands and tables. IdealEdge™ eliminates the final telltale sign of laminate – the brown line.”

Available in hundreds of Formica® Brand Laminate colors and patterns, IdealEdge™ profiles are produced in 12-foot lengths and are customizable to design specifications.

Formica Corporation continues to lead the industry with innovative designs and green building solutions. Formica® Brand Laminate is available with FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification and is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute under the GREENGUARD Standard for Low-Emitting Products, including the requirements for Children and Schools.

In addition to IdealEdge™, Formica Corporation expands its 180fx® Collection with five new lighter, more neutral options. The patterns feature the premium finish Etchings™, a softly polished finish etched and dappled with highlights from tiny fissures reminiscent of those found in real granite and stone, or Radiance®, a high-gloss finish that is punctuated with texture and features holographic facets that refract and reflect light.

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