UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate.
If you are planning Formica Boomerang countertop in aqua for your kitchen renovation, you’d better order now. Alas, if you were planning the skylark (light blue) or coral, it’s already too late. Following up on a reader tip, I checked in with Formica, which replied: Formica Skylark blue and Coral Boomerang were discontinued last month. Aqua Boomerang is scheduled for deletion in January. After January 2011, Charcoal Boomerang will be the only remaining Boomerang pattern. Formica further explained that discontinuing a line is almost always based on sales volume. The discontinued Boomerang patterns, although well known and loved, were not keeping up with sales expectations. On a side note, Formica said, a pattern is always available for at least four years. The Charcoal Boomerang has been identified as the best seller, so it is still being produced. Boo hiss, I am a sore loser, in this round, to the colorless colors of the Greige Nation.
Readers, note that I bet, as we speak, product manufacturers like Bars & Booths are stockpiling the Formica Boomerang in the aqua and blue colorways. So the good news is that these colors likely will remain available for some time. The bad news, though, is that these places charge $400 a sheet — compared to the $75 price tag for this laminate currently at big box stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards.
I might even stock up on some spare sheets in case there is ever an Unfortunate Incident involving my aqua boomerang countertops.
Get while the gettin’ is good…
Boomerang laminate from Formica 
An affordable substitute for pastel Formica boomerang laminates? Two new designs with potential 
Formica retro countertop discontinuations: More info on end-dates + alternatives 
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Ahhhh! I was hoping you wouldn’t blog about this until next week when my counters were already ordered! I found out about this last week and I am working frantically with my contractor to get these babies ordered and in my house. I am actually just ordering the sheets and will be holding on to them until we remodel the kitchen late this year/early next year.
Yay! They came in today! Yay, yay!!!
Congratulations, Natalie. Be sure to send me pics when the project is done!
It will be awhile, but they are happily stored in our bedroom against the wall until we get to the kitchen project. That’s completely normal, right?
I vote they make the boomerang in green-gray-brown to match the apocolyptic color swatches everyone thinks is so pretty. I painted my LR in Pearl Gray. Does that make me an honorary Greige member??!?!
No, I don’t think they’ll let you join with Pearl Gray. Sounds too nice. Sorry, maybe next time.
So sad! We had planned to use it for our “someday” section of the to-do list.
I know, me too! It is in our ‘someday’ file of home improvements. I read this and I am already sitting here figuring out how we can rearrange our budget to buy it now (the aqua) and install it. That would mean the new counters go in before we get a new stove or a much needed new floor for the living room!
Perhaps, in four years, the Retro Revolution will have gained enough momentum to inspire another “comeback” of the Boomerang laminates. It’s my guess that the only reason the charcoal gray colorway is being continued for now is its resemblance to granite. (I will withhold my opinion of granite and Griege out of respect for our Mod Goddess, Pam.)
I might have to order a sheet of Skylark and a sheet of Aqua and frame them for posterity.
Gak! I am SO glad my husband and I got Skylark boomerang in our kitchen this summer! It was the last thing to go in, and we waited for a month without a kitchen for it. WORTH. IT. We love it. Go forth and order it, people!
I guess that 4×8 sheet of Aqua I have in my garage just went up in value. I’ll have the bidding start at $500. HAHA!
Well, dang…maybe this explains why it’s taking so long to get the Boomerang countertops for our bathrooms. We are doing Coral in our master bath and Aqua in our powder room. Thankfully, the Aqua just came in and was installed today. The Coral was supposed to be in last Friday, then today, and now they are saying maybe Wednesday. Hmmm…do you think my contractor is holding out on me here??? I hope not…my entire master bath is planned around that Coral Boomerang countertop — coral and gray tile, gorgeous handmade vanity (now painted coral) that we rescued from a 1947 home nearby that was being torn down, light coral walls, etc.
Now I am not going to SLEEP until I see that baby installed…keeping my fingers crossed…
Oh, and I agree that if enough people demand it, maybe the Boomerang will come back…in a rainbow of colors!
Ordered mine today! They said they should be in on Monday or Tuesday next week. I ordered the Skylark (which was discontinued 8/2/10 as was the Coral). However, there are still sheets in stock. Your local Formica distributor just has to call the regional warehouse to see what’s there. And from what I understand, if you order 8 sheets of either the Coral or Skylark, they will make it for you until 12/31/10. I am sure that your Coral ones will come though. You just need to get on your contractor and tell him to keep calling the local Formica Distributor. If you want to know who that is, call 1-800-Formica and they would be happy to tell you. Then you can call them and ask them to check to see what’s going on. I hope that helps and gives you some encouragement.
oh my goodness, i can’t believe i forgot to ask about the Coral! I will add it. Thank you all for remembering this.
Thanks, Natalie! I talked to my contractor about this today, and he said he is sure it will come; it has been ordered and is (supposedly) currently being cut. Guess I just have to trust and keep my fingers crossed!
Good. Please share pictures when it is done. It sounds like it is going to be wonderful!
Thanks…I will…we are getting close! (Been at this for 8 months now…)
Wow, that sounds pretty. I hate the gray tiles in my downstairs bath, but they might be nice with coral laminate.
My favorite original Boomerang; aka Skylark, was white with charcoal and pink shapes. Unfortunately in never re-appeared.
Hopefully, Formica will return to the archives and bring back another graphic. They seem intent on solids, minerals or woods and the display board looks as if it belongs in the paint dept. Not happy.
Grrrrr! We’re not ready to do our kitchen yet, and I hadn’t decided whether to do the boomerang or not. Maybe I should figure out how much I’d need, order it, and put it away until we do it or not. I can always resell it on eBay, right? How many sheets would I need for a kitchen with less than seven feet of counter? (No, not kidding. Small kitchen–and I have an island with butcher block.)
That’s awful they’re discontinuing the skylark! It would be great if some individual with deep pockets would start a company dealing in reproduction mid century laminates. All the classics would be available: linen, skylark, cracked ice, gold fleck… in all colors. But there just doesn’t seem to be a mainstream market for it… yet. Maybe in the next decade or so the economy will pick up, and the mainstream will “discover” mid century modest and redo their homes in the style… to go with our country’s new found optimism for the future (much like the post war years).
I just redid my kitchen with Charcoal. Hope they never discontinue that! I love it too!
John,
Me too. Love my charcoal boomerang counters. I like the weight that the darker color gives to the counter, and it goes well with the silver grey painted cupboards I inherited with this house. I find the effect very calming and a huge improvement over the sickly green faux marble formica that was here before. Now I actually like being in the kitchen. And, I don’t at all consider it a substitute for granite — would NEVER want granite.
Oh, I love the charcoal boomerang Formica, too. Bought a dinette table made to order a few years back, and that was my choice for the top.
We redid our counters with the coral a while back. What a shame that it’s being discontinued. But I remember when we ordered it at Lowe’s and it finally came in – I was so happy to see it I was practically jumping up and down, but the younger people who worked there just looked at me like I was nuts. I’m sure they all want granite countertops.
Ellen…I get similar responses from some of the workers who have been doing the work on our addition/remodel. (We are adding a master bedroom/bath and office, as well as reconfiguring some existing space in our 1958 tri-level.) We used salvage medicine cabinets, vanities, sinks, tub, lights, interior doors, and stone window sills — mostly from houses around here that were built in the 40s and 50s and were being torn down or gutted and completely redone inside. Our intention (besides trying to be at least a little “green” with this project) is to make the new part of the house look like it has always been here. The workers are a bit astonished, and I have heard them grumble a few times when they didn’t know I could overhear — I’m sure it is much easier for them to install whatever cheapie components you can get at Home Depot. But we are loving the look (and history!) our old/new house…
It sounds really nice!
I’m laughing remembering our addition construction. Our house was built in 1934 — we tried to make the addition look as if it were original to the house. Custom matching moldings and woodwork — which added to the cost, but really did the trick!
When we got to the bathroom, everyone was astounded that we refused the free “upgrade” to the bathtub. We chose something very simple and basic — that looked most like the period. The contractor felt sorry for us and thought we couldn’t afford a “good” bathtub!!!!!! It was so funny, trying to explain that yes, we really, truly did want the boring bathroom.
Funny!
This is such a shame. Who would want laminate that looks like granite, or wood? If I wanted granite, I’d want granite, not faux-granite laminate. And there will be real wood butcher block in the new kitchen, not faux-wood laminate. But there WILL be laminate that looks like laminate– graphic, and/or with real colors.
There were wood looking formica countertops back in the 60′s. One of my homes had them. They looked like strips of wood running horizontally.
Yeah, like butcher clock. Couldn’t think of the name. If you want a certain look but can’t afford it, laminate is a cheaper solution for some.
On another note, I can’t find the new Dogbone pattern from Formica on the US site… only on the UK site, after doing a Google search. Any idea how to find it here?
Sabrina, the link is at the bottom of my story about Formica’s new dogbone laminate: http://retrorenovation.com/2010/09/10/1-new-retro-modern-style-countertop-laminates-from-formica/
Thanks! I missed that somehow. Just ordered my sample… and an aqua boomerang sample just for god measure.
awww crud! I guess we better get some soon, we were going to do our table top and counters. That’s the only one I like, and it’s gotta be aqua.
Thanks for letting us know Pam!
Okay, may I just ask for a little collective Retro Renovation mojo, prayer, chant, or whatever moves you that my Coral Boomerang countertop actually arrives? The latest we hear is that it was “backordered” and is now being flown in from California (we are in Denver). We are among 7-8 other customers here who are also waiting on the same thing. Supposedly the shipment will arrive on Friday and we should see it next week sometime.
Thank you for your positive vibes…I greatly appreciate them! And I SO appreciate having a place to express this, because anyone in real life that I mentioned this to, with the exception of my husband, would probably think I was totally crazy. Thanks, Pam, and all of you…just for being you…
One final thought: if there’s this mad scramble to get it now that everyone has learned it is being discontinued…should Formica really have discontinued it? Hmmmm….
Ahhhhhhh!!!!! *fingers crossed* I am in TX and I wonder if we use the same distribution center for these. Keep us updated when they come in!
Gosh, this makes me nervous for my counters for my whole kitchen. I hope I caught it in time.
Personally I just think it’s because of the economy. Maybe once things pick up again, they’ll bring it back.
I just ordered our Charcoal Boomerang counter tops for our laundry room yesterday. I love, love, love the other colors, but the charcoal won out since the walls are a lovely sky blue and the cabinets might end up a nice shade of green (my husband doesn’t know that yet). So bummed these are being discontinued!!
We just moved into a house that comes with yellow boomerang countertops in the kitchen–yellow with aqua design. They’re sort of growing on me, but sections are damaged. Doesn’t look like yellow’s an option anymore…Is that the case? I’m new to this mid mod community.
Yikes! I don’t check this wonderful website for a couple of days and this is what happens?! I ran out to Lowe’s today and ordered the Skylark & Coral Boomerang in 5×12 sheets because we want to remodel…someday. While I was there, the Lowe’s associate called the Formica distributor and learned that Virrvarr was also discontinued…??! We just remodeled our master bath with the white Virrvarr, but wanted to update another bath, so yea, I ordered a sheet of that too. Does anyone know if the Lowe’s guy was correct with his Virrvarr info?
Thanks for a great site!
I placed my order for one 4×8 and one 3×12 sheet of skylark boomerang. My kitchen has its original 1956 Coral Skylark (boomerang) counter tops and backsplash, but the counters are damaged in a few locations. My plan is to eventually go with a white manufactured quartz counter top and switch out the coral backsplash for the skylark. When I bought the place I found a few extra pieces of the coral left over in a closet. They have these interesting Formica stamps on them. Apparently they were put on the laminate to let you know that you were buying “genuine” Formica. It says to wash them off with soap and water after installation. Must send you pic Pam. Happy Friday
Our coral boomerang countertops were just delivered. We ordered through Home Depot, and they did take two weeks longer than promised. They look great, but I’m having a hard time picking out a floor to go with them.
I was in Home Depot this weekend ordering my bathroom vanity counter. We are using VirrVarr White, which when I had picked up a sample a month ago was available but when I went back had been taken down from the sample wall. A bit of searching and they found that the VirrVarr patterns are no longer available if you want to have the counters made by Home Depot, but is still available to order in sheets. But after reading this I wonder if it will be discontinued too. I think I will go back and order what I need for the kitchen today.
We planned to do our bathroom vanity with the VirrVarr white. Just got off the phone with our local (Indianapolis) Home Depot, Menards and Lowes. All 3 stores said that they couldn’t order it. Apparently they Formica stopped offering it to them as of 3 weeks ago.
Home Depot phoned me yesterday to say it was back-ordered and would take a few weeks to come in. I’m hoping they can fill my order. I don’t want to have to start the process of deciding on counters again, plus I only budgeted for laminate and not something more expensive.
I took a chance and called a home depot in northwest indiana/chicago area and the guy I spoke to said that it looks like they couldn’t get it according to their system, but that he would put in a call to their supplier to see if there’s a chance. The supplier called Formica and was told that you could still order it. We’re going to have a relative in the area go by there and place the order for us.
We have been working on the house from one end to the other and the bathroom we want to use this in is at the other end of the house. I was really bummed that we might not be able to get it since the ideas we had centered around this pattern!
Menards in NW Indiana and Lowes both said they couldn’t order it. But, I bet they didn’t actually call their supplier. Really happy that the guy at Home Depot went the extra step and found out for me.
I’m bummed too as I was going touse the aqua. I really don’t have the money right now, so I’m trying to decide to just credit card it or go with the gray. Ugg.
Well, thankfully my Coral Boomerang bathroom countertop was installed today! I am doing cartwheels…it looks great. And now I can sleep at night again…
Cynthia,
I’m wondering what kind of floor you have to go with the coral boomerang? I can’t figure it out. Thanks
I’m pretty new to this but absolutely love the mid-century homes and live in a 1947 home with Formica countertops. I had hoped to replace these in a couple of years but since the boomerang pattern is being discontinued I guess I should go ahead and order it. Can anyone give me info and/or website that would simply explain what is involved in this process so I can figure out just what I should order? Thanks so much!
Love this site, Pam!
Cheryl, talk to your big box hardware store or a countertop company…
We have a 1948 Greyhound bus that was turned into an RV in 1959, which we’re restoring (and filling up with fun stuff!). I’m glad the formica in the kitchen and bathroom and on two dinettes is ok, because it’s white with pink and grey boomerangs, which I couldn’t find anywhere! I wanted to cover a small coffee table in the lounge area, but I’m going with wood (there’s lots of shellaced wood inside the bus) with formica edging I found online. And the cool old table legs you can still get at the hardware store! How about linoleum squares (which you can’t get at Home Depot anymore, either) on the floor to go witht he coral formica?
You guys had Aqua and Coral?
In Australia I could only find the white or charcoal which got discontinued a year before I had my kitchen done which was 7 years ago.
When I bought house three years ago, I picked out the Coral for the kitchen countertops first, then planed rest of room around it. Most people believe me if I tell them that it must date to 1955 when house built.
I’m new to this site so please excuse if I’ve passed over answers to this question. But I’m looking for information and materials for resurfacing my formica countertops. Is it a difficult job (I’m fairly handy but haven’t undertaken this). And, where would I find sheets of Formica. I’m looking for mint or aqua.
Hi Brian, and welcome. This site doesn’t include DIY info per se, although we get into that occassionally. See my post today — http://retrorenovation.com/2011/08/18/12-authentic-mid-century-kitchen-remodeling-products-still-made-today/ — which includes a reference/update on laminates, including where to get stockpiled Formica boomerang laminate in aqua and also some Wilsonart custom designed (which you may also be able to get elsewhere). You can see all my laminate stories in the categoery Kitchens/Countertops. It should not be too hard for you to find solids (I’d look at Arpa, first) but patterns are harder. Good luck. Comment again if you get stuck – I watch all the comments.
Thanks, Pam. I see what I can find out. This was very helpful.
I have two 5 x 10 sheets of brand new aqua boomerang laminate if any one is in need. I bought the last 3 sheets from the Detroit Wilsonart warehouse and I only used 1.
ken – can you put this on the Forum rather than here on the blog. note, i’ll be opening up the Forum again on Jan. 3
Ken. How much?
take this over to the forum please!!!!