To those who share the love of vintage Formica® laminate – this is for you. As we celebrate our 100^th anniversary, we’re compiling our favorite historical images and advertisements from around the world on Pinterest. Our collection continues to grow – if you haven’t been to our Vintage Formica® board in awhile, check out what you may have missed (or follow the board for instant updates).

Perhaps you've recently moved into a 1940s bungalow that still has some original working appliances and you want to continue the vibe. Or, you're designing around a fun 1950s laminate-topped dining table you uncovered in your parent's basement. In either case, finding vintage or retro appliances that fit may require a little more legwork than a visit to a superstore.

The Shops at Target return September 9 and one in particular, the San Francisco-based Curiosity Shoppe, has caught our eye.  Its collection of travel- and diner-themed kitchenware has us a bit nostalgic for the 40s and 50s, where decorative laminates Boomerang and Linen (among others) still graced the tables of roadside diners across the United States. 

A special thank you to the generations of moms who have turned houses into homes. 

With all of the pastels popping up − from Easter eggs to spring dresses to tulip blooms – the laminate countertops featured in our 1950s advertising don’t look so, well, vintage! Here are a few of our favorite images featuring softer side of Formica …

Part of the fun of being a nearly 100-year-old company is going through the historical archives.  It is fascinating how our advertising in the 50s and 60s, specifically, reflected the pop culture of the times.   Here’s a glimpse at a few oldies but goodies.

1950s



Formica Corporation experienced a postwar boom, thanks to six million kitchens built between 1945 and 1953.  Formica® Brand Laminate, the company’s mainstay product, was promoted as a worry-free countertop solution for the modern housewife.

Early 1960s



The kitchen becomes the ultimate hub of efficiency for the lady of the house, with the focus being on various stations for prep and storage.  There also is more interest in open floor plans, which enabled Mom to keep an eye on the comings and goings of the family.  Kitchen colors are anything but neutral – many designs are overtly feminine and almost fantasy like, as seen in the pink “carousel” kitchen above.

Late 1960s



Formica Corporation responded to the psychedelically attuned late 1960s with ads featuring “Formica Girl,” who was a contrast to the happy housewife imagery of a few years before.

As the women’s movement progressed into the 1970s, our ads began to reflect the major social changes.  No longer focused on the feminine, the ads began to look much more than the ads we create today, featuring well-designed, gender-neutral kitchens with copy focusing on product benefits.

More retro Formica Corporation ads can be viewed on our pages on Pinterest and on Facebook. Which one is your favorite?

If you love all things retro, check out Pam Kueber’s Retro Renovation website, self-described as “your daily dose of mid-century resources, design inspiration, fun finds and friends passionate about their vintage homes.”  If you click around long enough, you might just find a few of our laminate countertops from the 1950s.