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 July 5, 2008
These are new from Formica. Both look like they could swing either “warm” or “cool” – that is, work across the spectrum from reds (and pinks) to blues.
I really like the Linen – a very typical look for the 50s — Hey, Formica, can we have it in green, blue, pink and yellow?!:
And, the Brescia marble is getting closer to the vintage crackle ices of the day:
More tools for our retro renovation toolbox!
by Pam Kueber on March 1, 2008
This vanity and mirror are great. Bill in Kansas City: Maybe next you want to put some cool vintage style laminate over your white vanity? Seriously, I think it would be great – maybe in a 50s wood tone to match some of the adjacent woods in the house?
