by pam kueber on August 17, 2009
Reader Lee B. shares this find: Men’s neckties in fabric replicating our favorite Formica Boomerang laminate. $42 from the Brooklyn Museum. The site notes that the boomerang, or skylark pattern, was first designed by Brooks Stevens in 1950 and updated by Raymond Loewy in 1954. The intertwined shapes are called ‘biomorphic,’ and reflect the nation’s fixation at the time with atomic particles & aerodynamic styling. Thanks, Lee. Mr. Retro Renovation is for sure going to get one of these for Christmas.
by pam kueber on September 10, 2008
More today from the Wilsonart laminate history archives. In the 60s, laminate colors got, at one end of the spectrum richer and earthier – and at the other end, pop-art bold. Some of the defining trends from the period, this article says:
- Color TV was introduced in 1965, bringing us closer in touch with design inspiration from other cultures.
- The Mediterranean look – more specifically, Spanish Colonial — gave us both colors and textures like faux leather. “Corinthian leather!”
- The op-art, pop-art world was a-flutter. Hence, the iconic oranges, yellows and lime greens of the period.
- We loved faux everything. The future is Plastics.
- Oh yeah: Squint and you can see avocado green and harvest gold… two colors that stayed with us well into the 70s.
by pam kueber on September 9, 2008
As follow up to my post yesterday – with a round up of all the laminates for bathroom counters that are on my radar today – I also recently found this great little history of laminate in the 1950s, from Wilsonart. Click through to read the complete story, but here are a few highlights:
- Laminate was so popular in the 50s, that a chrome-and-metal dinette cost four-times more than a wood dinette.
- Plastic laminate was desirable for its impermeability – easy to clean up.
- Another reason for the bright, exuberant colors of the 50s: Colors were rationed in the 40s during the war, when the color du jour was battleship gray.
- Speckled laminate — also known as lame’ — was made with real glitter, which was invented in the 30s.
- Marble and wood-grain were popular – with many choices still available today.
by pam kueber on September 8, 2008
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Arborite Arctic Angora
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You know I like this pink one!
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I have this one in one of my bathrooms. It is beautiful. Matches a soft blue tile perfectly.
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These three Wilsonarts are my favorite. They are not online or on display – you have to special order them. I hope they are still available.
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I really like this one, too, for the linen texture, which I think is spot-on 50s. Might only be available in Canada – beg, cry, get hysterical
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Remember how, heading into the 60s bathrooms took a real turn toward the “Roman”? All these marbles and onyx’s definitely lean you right into that trend.
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The name says it all: Classic
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May possibly be available only in Canada. Check. Cry. Beg.
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Hmmm. Maybe for a bathroom. For sure good for a kitchen. This is a reproduction of a European design. Also available in a darker grey.
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Maybe. For a really “fun” bathroom. Wall tiles — should match, e.g. PINK of course!
Maryland Nancy is searching for laminate for her bathroom reno, and alerted me that the colorful Nevamar swirlie’s are discontinued. Alas.
So, I did another survey — and here is an update of the laminates landscape for bathroom vanity countertops, as far as I can determine. Scroll over each image with your mouse to see the name of the design, and the manufacturer. You can also click on each image, and the name/manufacturer are there just below the image.
Over the coming weeks, I will do similar updates for kitchen countertops, for laminated kitchen cabinets, and for laminated bathroom cabinets. I also will be comparing these to some vintage Textolite samples that I have, to help suggest the most authentic matches. A big topic, my eyeballs are popping out of my head just from this one!
I also want to point out that:
- I have found these online. Please test them in your house for color correctness!
- I can never vouch for whether they are still available. Argh. They do get discontinued with some frequency, it seems…
- You also always have the choice of solids. Although I personally have a big fondness for anything with texture.
- You can do your own search by surveying all these manufacturers: Wilsonart, Formica, Pionite, Nevamar, Arborite and Arpa USA.
by Pam Kueber on April 8, 2008
![Graphics Continuum-Formica 40 Tiles \](http://retrorenovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/atomic_orangespecifications0006largeimageimagegif.jpg "Graphics Continuum-Formica 40 Tiles \")
![Graphics Continuum-Formica 40 Tiles \](http://retrorenovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/atomic_turfspecifications0001largeimageimagegif.jpg "Graphics Continuum-Formica 40 Tiles \")
Seems like I’m starting the week off with the spotlight on RESOURCES! I was checking out Formica’s site recently – and saw these two new laminates. They both have a nice retro groove, underscored by their names, Atomic Orange and Atomic Turf. Back in the postwar era, there were a number of laminates that had a scratchy-burlap feel. These two remind me of those.
by pam kueber on March 20, 2008
Magbot writes:
Pam, I’ve been following your saga since you first found your kitchen cabinets (can’t recall how I found out, probably mentioned in some other design blog), and swooning over your gorgeous reno. I fervently hope to someday redo a mid-C ranch as impeccably as you have.
My question: I’ve owned several of the 1950s dinette sets with chrome/formica tables and chrome/vinyl chairs, but recently I found (and snatched up!) a dinette unlike any I’ve seen, neither in person nor in vintage ads. The entire set, table and 4 chairs, is ENTIRELY formica, every surface completely covered with light grey woodgrain formica. I love its curvy legs, the spacers on the chair backs, and its original retro-tweed green vinyl seats, plus it’s in superb condition. Two pix are attached.
It has no maker marks of any kind. Would you know anything about its possible age or background?
Much thanks for your wonderful, inspiring blog,
…Maggie
Thanks, Magbot/Maggie #2! I have never seen a dinette like this. Incredible! Maybe another reader has?
by pam kueber on March 15, 2008
Anyone out there experienced in this issue? How great it would be to help Gail save her vintage “Twilight” (See my post of a few months ago – this stuff is AWESOME!):
We peeled back an ugly putty colored laminate backsplash in our kitchen and lo! The whole thing is covered in Azure Twilight GE Textolite! It’s stamped on the top with “years of wear. . . minutes of care.” The problem is that it’s covered with a yellowish glue. Does anyone know if Textolite can hold up to strong solvents, like Bix stripper or something? I would love to be able to save the Textolite, but it needs a strong cleaner. Goo Gone didn’t even budge it.
Thanks,
Gale
by Pam Kueber on March 14, 2008
I’m having kitchen and bathroom withdrawal, so for Friday how about this most excellent bathroom lav – courtesy Formica, 1952. Seems to me this is something we could absolutely replicate today. Also, a great solution for a small bathroom – if you need the storage space but want the ‘lightness’ of a vanity that does not create a huge square block in the middle of your space.
Other similar vanities that we have recently looked at – in Australia and the U.S.
