Mid Mod Madness
Kitchens – Countertops

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 [...]

Update: Almost all of these designs are now discontinued. See my up-to-date stories on all retro laminates here: Kitchen/Countertops Category. UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate. The countertops I removed from the two vanities in my 1951 bathrooms were [...]

Several readers have asked me how to install the stainless steel countertop edging from New York Metals. In this post, I’ll take you step-by-step through the process that we used to install the metal edging in my kitchen.

A reader wrote to ask how to bring the luster back to her vintage laminate countertops. Paste wax, maybe? To get the answer, I turned to expert Grace Jeffers. She is the writer, design historian and materials expert responsible for restoration of the Ralph Sr. and Sunny Wilson House – including its gorgeous Mondrian-style kitchen, [...]



























