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Lusterock kitchen counter tops — readers share stories about this interesting...
front of lusterock postcard for sale on ebay here One of the coolest aspects of this blog is that one reader will send us photos of something unusual that they own or have encountered — perhaps an...
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Linen laminate counter tops, another mid century favorite
The most popular designs for laminate countertops in mid century America? Boomerang and glitter certainly must be near the top — but we also believe that linen laminate countertops were top sellers,...
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Retro counter top laminates from Lab Designs
Thanks to reader Ashly for today’s tip: A new source for kitchen and bathroom counter top laminate, Lab Designs. We have not seen these designs in person, but viewed online, they seem promising....
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GE Textolite laminate patterns from 1953
This week’s vintage catalog explores one of our favorite subjects here on Retro Renovation — vintage laminate patterns. And what a terrific find this is: A catalog full of GE Textolite laminate...
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10 ways to do counter top edges — from 1953
In this morning’s story showing a complete 1953 catalog of GE Textolite laminate, we noted this graphic showing the variety of ways that a homemaker could edge her kitchen counter tops in 1953. It’s...
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Brady Bunch “bittersweet” orange kitchen counter tops — from Pionite
When reader Ann told me she had used Pionite laminate in Primary Yellow for her 1965 kitchen Retro Renovation, I jumped on over to Pionite to look at the chip. And golly, Ms. Molly, wouldn’t you know...
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Interior brick veneer made from real bricks — from BrickWeb and Old Mill Brick
Brick veneer walls and back splashes seem to have been a popular feature in 1960 and 1970s kitchens — when the movement to earthy decor took hold. Today, we take a look at a company that sells thin...
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Curved postformed laminate counter top edges — as early as 1952
Anatomy of GE’s Monotop laminate counter top with postformed edges and backsplash: Profile view of framing, circa 1953. In the early days of the blog, I recall, there was a bit of a commenting cat...
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Learn about Laminate: How laminate was invented and how it is made
Laminate basics: The invention of laminate. How is laminate made? What is laminate made of? In essence, laminate is a skin, supplying a supplemental finish that is both ornamental and lasting. In...
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New Formica 100th Anniversary book —“Formica Forever”— is out
It’s Formica’s 100th anniversary this year. In January, we saw the anniversary design collection. Now, the purty looking book is out. It promises “more than 400 images — including advertisements, logos...
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Monel — rare and wonderful vintage kitchen sink and counter top material
When we looked recently at a 1940 catalog of Whitehead steel kitchen cabinets, we also got a look at Whitehead Monel counter tops and sinks. Whitehead: A very upscale, early steel kitchen — and Monel:...
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“Cusheen” vinyl counter tops — a 1950s option for Youngstown Kitchens
Poking around my vintage marketing materials last week, I bumped into yet another counter top material used in post-World-War II kitchens. I have a complete Youngstown Kitchen salesman set, and in the...
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Lori paints her tile backsplash, using a vintage McCoy vase as her color...
“…From dour to fun” for less than $100 Reader Lori has been slowly making changes to her 1949 mid-century ranch house since she moved in about a year ago. She was featured in a Retro Design Dilemma...
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Formica 6696-46 Carrara Bianco marble — my new top-favorite marble laminate
Formica last month introduced a new Carrara marble laminate — Formica Carrara Bianco 6696-46. Previously, I had identified three places you can find Carrara-style laminate. This Formica design now...
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Earthy and colorful 1970s style wall and floor tile — pretty affordable, at...
We’ve written about Merola Tile’s great ceramic and porcelain tile offerings for vintage and midcentury bathrooms in the past. Today, more exciting news — Merola Tile has branched out into styles,...
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Wilsonart reissues two vintage laminate designs from the 1960s and 1970s —...
Big news for retro laminate lovers — Wilsonart has revived two historic patterns from their archives: Compre from the 1960s — and Daisy from the 1970s. These designs come in 12 colorways, including...
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Exclusive sneak peek: Jonathan Adler’s new Formica laminate collection — see...
Breaking news and first on the interwebs, yay: We discovered today that the new Formica® Laminate Jonathan Adler Collection — nine designs in all — was posted on the Formica website in advance of its...
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3 midcentury home design products we wish they’d bring back NOW
2014 was a great year for reissues of classic midcentury product designs. Still, there are three very basic products — I’m trying not to be greedy — that I would love to see brought back to the...
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Wilsonart Endora and Betty laminates — two terrific new retro designs for...
Photos hot off the presses! Need new countertops for your midcentury kitchen or bathroom? If so, you might want to hang on until summer, when Wilsonart will introduce two new abstract designs —...
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Vintage linen laminates — 12 colors in my collection of 1950s sample chips
Linen laminates were among the most popular in the 1950s — I will even surmise the most popular choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Continuing to fill out our historical archive, I organized...
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