Remodeling, decor and home improvement for old homes
How is this one, Retro Renovation readers? I recently scored a full box of est. 1960-65 era GE Textolite laminate samples, absolute mint condition unused. This is the first bunch — the others aren’t so over-the-top FABULOUS, but still are great gauges of what to look for. OMG. What else do I need to say. We can all eat our hearts out, together, on this one. This post originally ran on Jan. 4, 2008
Hi Pam,
Since you just had a post on laminate counter tops I thought you’d enjoy seeing my original 1959 gray cracked ice laminate in kitchen and matching kitchen table!! When I walked into the house during the showing I knew this was the home for me. I wish I knew how to remove discolorations but I’ve heard its almost impossible.
The counter banding is also cool, chrome with a black rubber inlay. I was recently reading the fall issue of Atomic Ranch magazine and saw an article about a home where the kitchen has the exact same banding. I’ve never seen it before buying my home last October.
I live right here in Florence, MA. About an hour from you. My home is still in the process of being retro-regressed to its original splendor but luckily not much had been done to update it so most of the rooms are still original. The bathroom is the biggest exception because they tried to update it using Home Depot generic products which included replacing original tiled walls with laminate sheeting made to look like marble. REALLY BAD!!!!! I plan on having it re-tiled again and brought back to 1959 aesthetics.
Incredible laminate pattern, jsnugbear, thank you!
High-res scan - click to enlarge
Okay, this is the last day of my little fixation with retro laminates. (For now.) As you know, I am a devotee of the Sherwin Williams Suburban Modern palette, both interior and exterior. So, I have gone through Arpa’s line of solid-colored laminates and for the most part, been able to line up 10 colors that are pretty darn good matches to the 10 SW mid mod interior colors.
Virtually all of these colors were used on postwar kitchen cabinets by about 1955, lilac and rose red/pink flamingo a little later.
A few notes:
Ooooh. Look at this – a St. Charles kitchen with wood fronts! As longtime readers know, part of the history of steel kitchen cabinets was their fight vs. wood cabinets. Toward the end … as steel started to lose out… you started to see the mash up of wood and steel. In particular – wood doors, with their painting and repair flexibiity, onto the strong steel bases.
Click thru to read on, and see 12 photos in all —>
In this kitchen, note the cool Railite countertops – Jennifer, I would be forever indebted if you could send us a clearer photo, we are all diagnosed vintage voyeurs — and the Revco refrigerator-freezer looks quite terrific as well. All for sale now, retro renovators.
Pam,
I’ve attached a PDF of the cabinet documentation, which was done in 1956. Basically the kitchen has:
- a built in Tappan EoLV-10 oven (stainless steel) – it’s the first thing that caught my eye! That’s cool – very retro… someone would like that… I said…
- a built in Tappan ERF cooktop (SS)
- a Revco fridge/freezer – like a soft brown colorCountertops – Railite – white with like a gold pattern on it
Stainless steel sink – fan above stovetop.
Cabinets – see the attached for the actual count of units. The fronts are wood, the inside is like a harvest gold color. The lady had covered each shelf with contact paper, so it came off and the insides are in really good condition. The outsides of most of the cabinets look really good. There are a few cabinet fronts with some wear.
I suppose I could try ebay or craigs list, but then I came across your site. You have great taste. I’m not retro, but am artsy and appreciate good style – you’ve got it!!
This 92 year lady kept everything. It’s like walking back into time…. Her daughter who sold it to us said that her mother got this state of the art kitchen in the 50′s… It’s held up well.
Jennifer Whiteford
Rockford, IL – about 90 miles northwest of ChicagoThank you so much!
If any readers are interested, contact Jennifer directly at cjjwhiteford@mac.com. Good luck and thanks for working with us to find this kitchen a happy retro home, Jennifer.
Following up on Monday’s exciting post about the Arpa USA palette of solid-color laminates, let’s take a look at how to use this material to recreate this 1959 Ma Bell kitchen. It would be oh-so-easy! Elements include:
I have been working on retro laminates lately – and originally thought there were only these big five: Wilsonart, Formica, Pionite, Nevamar and Arborite. But – I’ve now discovered a 6th company – Arpa USA. They have a terrific-looking portfolio — of solids, in particular. Some of the greens come darn close to that famous 50s pistachio… there are some pinks that are pretty good… ditto, blues. And, if you’re looking for that 60s Brady Bunch orange – Fiesta, baby, you’ve got it!
I emailed Arpa and asked if they could send me their ring of solids…and they did! Very exciting as this is the first product that I’ve ever asked for as a blogger – and received. I have several more posts planned on some of these colors and how to use them for retro kitchen and retro bathroom renovations. Thank you, Arpa USA!
Website: Arpausa.com
During last week’s laminate ramblings, I stumbled on this incredible 1959 house in Texas – it’s the original home of the founder of Wilsonart laminates, and it’s now owned by the company, serving as their archives and a space for corporate events.
All photos: Courtesy Wilsonart – who were fabulous, very responsive! Thank you, Diana Z.!
The story of the Wilson House’s salvation is right out of a retro renovation suspense novel. 10 years ago, when there was little appreciation for this type of mid century modern design and certainly not for something as pedestrian as laminates, the company decided to sell the house. But, it needed to gut it first due to the “problem” interior. The house had been built as a showcase for the use of laminates – so the stuff is everywhere but the ceilings and floors. It’s truly incredible. Heck yeah there is more →
Isn’t this laminate vanity terrific? Pink – and Speckle Sparkles – and those Atomic handles – oh my! It’s from Roezee on flickr - thank you, R! – who reports that the label reads: “Star Vanity Bathroom Furniture for Modern Living.”
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