A Century of America's Formica® Fascination

[caption id="attachment_1215" align="aligncenter" width="678"] The iconic kitchen from The Brady Bunch TV Show featuring Formica in earth-color laminates of Pumpkin and Avocado.[/caption]

If you're a baby boomer or child of the 60s & 70s, TV shows such as the Brady Bunch probably evoke a bit of design nostalgia. Those  mid-century modern TV kitchens inspired many imitators and weren't complete without Formica®  countertops. This year, Formica® , the inventor of laminate, celebrates 100 years, a huge milestone in a fickle culture where trends tend to dictate home style.

[caption id="attachment_1190" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

Today, decorative laminate commands renewed respect, on trend again in kitchens with bold new colors and patterns. To celebrate its centenial birthday, Formica launched a new line of laminate, The Anniversary Collection, with 12 new graphic patterns in four collections.

 

[caption id="attachment_1205" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Red Ellipse Formica countertop from the Anniversary Collection.
Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

Ellipse™ is the most emblematic of Formica’s Anniversary Collection, incorporating the “hidden oval” Formica brand logo as a nod to the company’s century of surfacing residential, commercial and industrial spaces.

[caption id="attachment_1209" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Endless Greytone Formica countertop
Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

 

Formica’s storied history begins in 1913 when Herbert A. Faber and Daniel J. O’Conor discovered that high-pressure laminated plastic sheets of synthetic resins could be used as an insulating material for electrical and industrial uses in place of the mineral mica. The inventors coined the name “Formica” as a literal riff on “For Mica.”

[caption id="attachment_1177" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo courtesy of Retro Renovation[/caption]

In the early 50s, Formica advertised heavily to brand its laminate for household use. Through the years, the company’s advertising campaign has been a barometer of the American household reflecting the culture and sentiment of quintessential American life. The vibrant colors, whimsical designs and advertising, embodied America’s spirit of innovation and optimism.

[caption id="attachment_1187" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

Browsing Formica’s collection of vintage ads available on the website www.formicaforever.com and on its pinterst board is like opening a time capsule of our collective life and times. “Great advertising in the 50s accounted for the overwhelming perception that Formica laminate is for kitchens only,” says Renee Hytry Derrington, Vice President of Global Design for Formica Group.  Today, Formica actually sells more laminate in commercial markets around the world than for the kitchen.

[caption id="attachment_1178" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

 

By 1978, the Formica brand was so popular that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sought to cancel the Formica® brand trademark, charging that the word “Formica” had become a generic term. Ultimately, the FTC dropped its efforts to cancel the trademark and today Formica remains synonymous with decorative laminate.

 

[caption id="attachment_1180" align="aligncenter" width="483"] Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

Used in both high-end and budget-conscious design, Formica laminate is one of those rare products that straddles all spectrums of design. During the 2013 design and trade show season, Formica in woodgrain attracted a lot of attention as an on-trend material in kitchens and baths.

[caption id="attachment_1199" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Black Walnut Formica countertop
Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

Designer Alexander Butler used Formica in a wood grain pattern to create this seamless, ultra-modern kitchen with the look of wood yet without the maintenance issues associated with wood.

[caption id="attachment_1196" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen in Formica woodgrain pattern, designed by Alexander Butler
Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1197" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen in Formica woodgrain pattern, designed by Alexander Butler
Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

There's also a lot of buzz about faux natural surfaces in the design world. Countertops, such as laminate, fabricated to look like marble, concrete, stone, metal or wood are showing up in the latest kitchens, favored for their durability and affordability.  One example is Formica's 180fx® patterns that mimic the scale, color variations and veining of a full-size natural granite slab.  The laminate is printed five-feet wide by approx. 4.5’ long with no repeats. Other large-scale examples are the Anniversary Collection’s Endless™ and Ellipse™ with a pattern repeat every 500-700 sheets, the equivalent of 1.3 miles.

 

[caption id="attachment_1211" align="aligncenter" width="560"] White Ellipse Formica countertop
Photo courtesy of Formica
http://www.formica.com[/caption]

 

For more on the Formica brand’s past, present and future, check out the commemorative website www.formicaforever.com

 

 

The DNA of Design

Using the Laws of Nature for Kitchen Cabinet Configuration

[caption id="attachment_2850" align="aligncenter" width="600"] photo courtesty of Mark Rosenhaus[/caption]

We all know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but there is at least one universal truth that most people find appealing. Geometry, as found throughout nature and enlightened by a basic math equation draws the eye—provoking admiration, envy, and awe.

[caption id="attachment_2849" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The Golden Rectangle applied to the design of this kitchen. In this photo, three glass squares and a glass Golden Rectangle surround horizontal lift-up doors. (photo courtesy of Mark Rosenhaus, CKD)[/caption]

Certified Kitchen Designer,  Mark Rosenhaus, coined the concept the DNA of Design—the perception of beauty based on proportion—and uses it as a guiding principle in kitchen and bath design. Rosenhaus is an expert on the subject, presenting his insights at designer workshops and events including the Kitchen and Bath Show. This idea of applying Mother Nature's engineering techniques to modern-day design intrigues me. I wanted to learn more about how we can all use the DNA of Design as a filter to view our own design projects. Here is my exclusive interview with Mark Rosenhaus as he deconstructs the DNA of Design. 

 

 

You say that the DNA of Design manifests itself throughout history in some of the greatest works of art and architecture. Please give us some examples.

“Look at the symmetry of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, follow a seashell's spiral, count the seeds clockwise and counter clockwise on a sunflower and a pineapple, marvel how proportion and placement highlight details of Notre Dame Cathedral. When you look closely at our fingers, face and a beautiful body, you will find similar geometry as well as in so many other objects throughout the universe from the microscopic to the telescopic," says Rosenhaus.

 

You refer to this geometric configuration as the Golden Rectangle. Please explain.

"The Golden Rectangle is where the width is 62% of an object’s height.  The arithmetic is derived from what is known as the Fibonacci Sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89… whereby adding two consecutive numbers equals the third; and dividing any number by the following number produces 62%. With practice, the trained eye will discern and enjoy the 62% proportion compared to almost any other dimension. DNA is the building block that determines preferences for all nature’s living organisms.  Interestingly, the DNA helix module has the same proportions as the Golden Rectangle, therefore if it’s in our DNA it stands to reason we have a predilection towards Golden Ratio relationships."

[caption id="attachment_2851" align="aligncenter" width="600"] photo courtesy of Mark Rosenhaus, CKD[/caption]

 

"We all know that a skinny cabinet is neither the best shape for function nor looks good. Using the Golden Ratio takes the guess-work out of sizing cabinets and answers the question of why one design is more appealing than another," says Rosenhaus.

 

How does one find the Golden Rectangle in icons of world design?

"Without even knowing the proportions of a Golden Rectangle, we are aware of it.  A Golden Rectangle is comprised of a square and a smaller Golden Rectangle. A face with proper proportions will just naturally be more attractive, as will art, architecture and music. Additionally, animals and plants are also created with Golden Rectangle proportions.  But, and it’s a big but… perfection in anything, including proportions are rare— in nature and man-made. The benefit of recognizing this proportion will enable you to augment a subjective reaction with an objective eye to determine why you like or don’t like what you’re looking at."

[caption id="attachment_2854" align="aligncenter" width="600"] photo courtesy of Mark Rosenhaus, CKD[/caption]

In the photo above, each upper cabinet is a Golden Rectangle of varying sizes yet the same proportion. The diagonal lines cross in the center of the middle of the cabinet, right where the eye wants to go.

 

Why do we do this?

"Our subconscious, natural instinct is to look for objects having Golden Proportions.  Honed over the millennia, we have learned how to accentuate appealing features.  Our face is a prime example: as in repainting the eyebrows higher on the forehead to delineate a more visually pleasing Golden Rectangle encompassing the width of the mouth. In art, as in life, we want people to feel comfortable being with us.  Beauty and familiarity create the first and lasting impression."

Rosenhaus cites the works of Piet Mondrian as an example:

[caption id="attachment_1784" align="aligncenter" width="400"] photo courtesy of Mark Rosenhaus, CKD[/caption]

"To understand how Mondrian applied the concept of the Golden Rectangle in his art, start with the red square, which is 62% of the width and height of the main portion of the painting; then follow the curving movement of the blue areas leading to the yellow and beyond."

 

Two designs Rosenhaus calls 3 dimensional Mondrian

[caption id="attachment_2840" align="aligncenter" width="600"] photo courtesy of Mark Rosenhaus, CKD[/caption]

Notice the geometric proportions of this kitchen cabinet configuration: Golden Rectangle, squares and double squares—our most pleasing shapes—in a spiral arrangement.

[caption id="attachment_2861" align="aligncenter" width="600"] photo courtesy of Mark Rosenhaus[/caption]

"The spiral movement of the composition begins at the focal area recessed cabinet with three frosted glass panes that are the same proportion as the door itself. They lead to the increased depth double square horizontal lift-up doors; across to the Golden Rectangle; down to the horizontal cabinet and wind around to the final square and knob as the period."

 

Why and how is the Golden Rectangle proportion an aid in kitchen design?

"Proportion and placement are at the forefront of better compositions.  The Fibonacci Sequence is a great tool in figuring cabinet sizes which create vitality and movement to avoid monotony and predictability. Adjacent cabinets must be as rhythmic as notes in a musical score.  The number of doors or cabinet sizes in the arrangement of 1-2-3; 3-2-1 or 1-2-3-2-1 create familiar progressions that are livelier than having all the doors the same size."

[caption id="attachment_2853" align="aligncenter" width="600"] photo courtesy of Mark Rosenhaus, CKD[/caption]

In kitchen design, proportions create a natural balance. The dimensions need not be perfect as our eyes make adjustments to feel most comfortable. The 27" wide cabinets are approximately 62% of the 42" square center cabinet. Using stock size cabinets, the impression of a Golden Rectangle is delineated by the square 27" x 27" pair of doors topped with a 27" x 15" flip-up door. Bearing the same proportions as the Taj Mahal highlights their importance in kitchen design.

[caption id="attachment_2842" align="aligncenter" width="600"] "The 62% Golden Rectangle applied in the design of this kitchen: the glass is proportional to the width and height of the door. The upper square glass and door fit into the lower Golden Rectangles," says Rosenhaus. (photo courtesy of Mark Rosenhaus, CKD)[/caption]

 

You don't have to wrap your mind around the mathematics of  Mother Nature's geometric ratio to get it right with your kitchen cabinet configuration. Just remember this basic idea of the Golden Rectangle: width is 62% of an object’s height and you'll create a composition that commands attention and leads to the focal point. To learn more about Rosenhaus' DNA of Design, click here to view his online slideshow.

 

Seamless Living Turns the Kitchen Inside-Out

[caption id="attachment_991" align="aligncenter" width="958"] NanaWall Kitchen-Transition turns your indoor kitchen into an outdoor entertainment area.[/caption]

An affordable way to increase your living space is to open up the place. Now, this sounds as simple as it really is. Just by adding a folding glass wall, you can connect the indoors to the outside and create a living space that can go from under-air to al fresco in seconds.

I recently attended the National Kitchen and Bath show in New Orleans and discovered several "gamechangers" that rework wasted space into functional square footage. The NanaWall is one such product. The manufacturer created what they call a "Kitchen-Transition," a folding glass wall and window that can turn your indoor kitchen into an outdoor entertainment space without having to buy a gourmet grill and outdoor refrigerator.

[caption id="attachment_980" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] NanaWall Kitchen Transition[/caption]

For all of you wishing that you had an outdoor kitchen but don't have the budget, here's an option: open up your kitchen to the outside with a folding glass wall and window unit and let the kitchen multitask. Turn your kitchen countertop into a bartop to serve drinks and food once the window wall is open and voila... an instant outdoor oasis.

[caption id="attachment_987" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] NanaWall Kitchen Transition folding glass window opens up to turn the countertop into a bartop service area.[/caption]

NanaWall says the Kitchen-Transition is an ideal replacement for six-foot glass slider doors or twin slider doors that open to covered patio areas. "Typically, these patio areas don't get much use but if you replace those sliders with a folding glass wall system, you open it up for indoor-outdoor use. It's not a remodeled space but rather it's a readapted space that increases the amount of useable space," explains Matt Thomas of NanaWall.

When it's closed, the Kitchen-Transition functions like a weather-proof wall, resisting all the elements. NanaWall custom builds each Kitchen-Transition and says it retails for approximately $600 to $1000 a linear foot.

[caption id="attachment_990" align="aligncenter" width="958"] When closed, the NanaWall folding glass wall system is weather resistant[/caption]

Another perk, a folding glass wall system infuses more natural daylight and fresh ventilation into your living space creating less demand on your utilities when opened up on a fresh, pleasant day. "People are starting to connect with the idea of a healthier home and by having a wider opening, you can enhance the overall health of your living space," adds Thomas.

Folding glass walls are opening up bedroom and bathrooms as well. "We're seeing a double skin application where people open up the wall between the indoor and outdoor area and seal in the outdoor area so you have a weather-resistant open transitional space."

[caption id="attachment_976" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] NanaWall folding glass system opens up the bathroom to a stunning view.[/caption]