UPDATED 2019 — If you are looking for retro-style laminate for a kitchen or bathroom counter top, you have some blinding research ahead of you. Unless there is a home-run-out-of-the-park solution — like the boomerangs, crackle ice or dogbone still available — it’s going to be a hunt-peck-and-forage to find something that’s “close enough” to original laminates from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Here to help is a list of all the places I know — eight nine 13 places — to look for laminate for your retro kitchen, along with some tips for your hunt.
Video: How I used metal edging on my Formica kitchen countertop
Where to find retro style laminate for kitchen and bathroom countertops:
- Wilsonart — Don’t forget to also check out their Virtual Design Library for a growing number of custom, digital-printed options — including several recent revivals from Wilsonart’s 1960s and 1970s archive, cracked ice patterns, and a large variety of boomerang laminate designs.
- Where to buy the Wilsonart digital designs: One place to start is A Moment in Time — Specialist provider of retro-vintage styles.
- UPDATE 2016: You can also buy the Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart® laminate collection and some of the other designs from the Wilsonart Virtual Design Library affordably (I think) with shipping included via Home Depot!
- Make It Midcentury is the only place in the nation where you can get glitter laminate. It’s now available in a variety of colors, seen in the photo on the right.
- Formica — Boomerang in charcoal (the only color still available from Formica) is in Homeowners. But, Dogbones, Wefts and Warps are in To The Trade.
- Abet Laminati — 195 solid colors… 136 woodgrains… 149 patterns… 33 metals… Easy-to-use website. If you need a solid color and can’t find it here — or at Arpa, below — it probably doesn’t exist.
- Arpa — Eye-boggling to search, but their colors look good, so may well be worth the trouble to pursue this brand for that reason.
- Pionite — Check out their linen-look laminates in Abstracts; colors are greyed out – more suitable for 60s and 70s than 50s, but overall, I quite like them.
- Arborite — They have some patterns I like, including a blueberry that looks like linoleum and some almost-linens. Easy-to-use website.
- Nevamar — Check out their abstracts and update 2019: Their reintroduction of some great retro patterns including Nevamar Venus recreated from one of our readers’ sample chip finds — full story here!
- Decotone — Added to our list in 2015.
- Laminart — Added to our list in 2015.
- Lab Designs — Added to our list in 2013, they have some retro-modern styles worth considering.
- Also try Bella Laminati.
Tips:
- No substitute for seeing an actual sample — Of course, there is no substitute for seeing actual samples in the flesh. If you can order the samples in an 8″x10″ size, all the better. Smack it down in your kitchen or bathroom — and look at it in all lights during different times of the day. This is a prime opportunity to torture your spouse in the decision-making process.
- Do not become enraged by prices for the specialty laminates — Laminate must be stored flat, in a climate- and humidity-controlled environment. Specialty providers often also must invest more to hold inventory, and they do not benefit from the economies of scale possible in mass market production.
- Searching is going to take time and will blind you — Some of these websites are better organized than others. Be patient and be sure that, once you find a product page, you look at all the links to ensure you have not missed any sections.
- Look in the Commercial section of the websites, too — Look in both the “Residential / Homeowner” sections and the “Contract / To the Trade / Professional” sections. So many of the popular consumer patterns today look like granite. More abstract designs may be over in the Commercial section. Generally, as a consumer you can get product from either section. You *may* have to go to a real countertop fabricator to get Commercial selections — BUT, with the internet now, you likely can also find an online source at a good price. (Just check everyone out.)
- Good-Better-Best — Manufacturers may have good-better-best grades for a variety of requirements. Check out the options, do your own research, and make your decision accordingly. On stuff that requires professional installation, all the more so, because that means replacing the product has two costs.
- Consider the practicality of the finish you select — Keep in mind that shiny finishes are more likely to show scratches. I have glossy in the two bathrooms, and they are doing just fine. But I don’t think I’d choose glossy for a kitchen.
- Watch the specifications — if it says “for vertical surfaces only” it means not for countertops, duh.
- Share your experiences — Readers, do you have any more tips of your own, or questions?
Reproduction 1950s, 60s and 70s laminates available today:
Want boomerang laminate?
- See my story on 4 designs in a variety of colorways of boomerang laminate from a variety of manufacturers today
I have LOTS more research on laminate options here:
- My complete Kitchen Help: Countertops subcategory
Catherine says
You all may cringe at this, but I am getting ready to pull down Formica that is covering the kitchen of a home we just bought. It covers every surface, including the ceiling and had aluminum see work. Does anyone know of a person or place that would be interested in reclaiming the material if we can keep it in good shape? It is yellow and cream. Thanks!
pam kueber says
Re-Store Habitat for Humanity, Craiglist or our Forum https://retrorenovation.com/forums/ Please be reminded that if you are renovating an old house — test all the layers of the materials you are pulling out for vintage nasties like lead and asbestos — Consult with properly licensed professionals to know what you are working with so that you can make informed decisions about how to handle.
Ruth Ann Kuntz says
I just checked with lowes yesterday on the Wilsonart Indie collection retro pop. It can be ordered in 5′ x 12′ sheets. Very pricy, about $900. The production time is 20 weeks. Yes figure half a year. This is only available to cabinet makers with the Wilsonart account. His guy at Wilsonart said that at the end of October they are discontinuing the Indie line. In the spring the new lines will be out. After the $900 price I decided the Formica charcoal laminate will look great for $104 at Lowes. My husband and I are trying to create a 50’s kitchen for about $1500. We are refinishing our craigs list cabinets in pink so the charcoal will look great. I know that the cabinets are to be refinished by a professional. Just my luck. My husband does autobody repair for a living, and I help.
pam kueber says
Again — if you really want pastel boomerangs, try A Moment in Time – $325 for a 4’x10′ sheet (plus tax and shipping) — the image at the top of this story shows the 10 colors – including the 5 with pastel boomerangs. To be sure, though, if want a charcoal background, it’s going to be hard to beat the price for Formica charcoal boomerangs from a Big Box store.
Ruth Ann Kuntz says
Pam:
The problem of the 4 x 10 sheet is that it leaves an ugly seam on the 13′ 5″ counter. The seam would be about two feet to the side of the sink. You could never line up the boomerang pattern at the seam so that it would be un noticed. To avoid bad seem choices I need to have a 5 x 12 sheet to at least have the seam almost by the wall. In the corner it would be out of the main sight line. Wilsonart does make the indie collection retro pop in a 4 x 8 or 5 x 12. The 4 x 8 from Lowes was quoted for $215. I was fine with that price and it had a 7 week turnaround time. I just can’t see designing a beautiful kitchen and have a crappy seam. I have spent six months designing it and buying 50’s period Lincoln Beautyware items. My husband and I have wanted to make a 50’s Kitchen since for sixteen years when we bought our house. I found a metal cabinet in the garage with the boomerang pattern on it. We both loved it. It took years for the patterns to come out and for us to find the right cabinets. I am thankful that the gray looks great with the color scheme.
jmb says
In January, I did my kitchen in Formica Skylark Boomerang. I needed a 5′ x 13′ sheet so I would not have any seams. I spoke to most of the Austin counter/laminate companies said they couldn’t get it for me, as the color was being discontinued.
I was able to get it special ordered from Formica by Laminate World in Houston Texas. There were delays, production issues set back my ship date, but it finally arrived three weeks or so after I ordered it.
Shipping was over 100 bucks, but I think it was well worth it, and now I have lots leftover to finish the rest of my kitchen.
Ann S. says
Yes I just bought some 4’x10′ sheets of boomerang laminate from Vitro Seating. They said they are the original supplier of the laminate and that Wilsonart makes this just for them. They will sell laminate and upholstery to end users like us! I just paid 328.79 + tax and shipping which is better than the other prices I found out there.
Victoria says
Our house’s original laminate was a white, pink and gold starburst, but it was worn out. We kept the original pink stovetop, oven and sink, as well as original hood and flying saucer light fixtures and Philippine mahogany cabinetry with the diamond shaped backplates on the handles. We wanted a period formica, but not a “diner” feel because the counter is open to the living room and needed to work in both spaces.
We went a slightly different direction and used the 1957 Vir Varr Light Blue which is a cross hatched all over design. The overall impression of the counter is a medium grey which perfectly matches the greys in our living room and kitchen, and looks like it was put there when the house was new. The installers were surprised when we told them they were taking out the pink cooktop and pink sink with the metal edging — and putting them BACK when they were done instead of putting in new ones.
Zoe says
Victoria,
Where did you get the 1957 Vir Var? It sounds like exactly what I am looking for to replace my damaged 1940s white laminate countertop.
pam kueber says
Zoe, Formica’s VirrVarr has been discontinued for a while… You need to go through all my Kitchen/Countertop stories to get the latest updates that I have —
Victoria says
I was just at the home store yesterday and they still have the VirVarr in the sample collection, but Pam is right. I hope they bring it back. I’m now starting the process of getting our bathroom in shape and a lot of the same things apply — badly updated floor, worn out formica vanity, bad shower surround. White VirVarr would go great in on the vanity.
Kat says
I had Formica’s Aqua Boomerang installed just a few weeks ago, so there is still some out there! My countertop guy was able to get it straight from Formica for around $72 a sheet (as opposed to the $385 or so that Bar and Booth quoted me). I have to say, I love, love, LOVE this kitchen now. (It had been a dark, dreary 1978 nightmare.) We did a bar-height wall cap on one side of our U-shaped kitchen and an extended counter on the other side with two seats for a breakfast area. It’s all trimmed in brushed aluminum and looks so cheery! (PS: Does anyone have an idea for a fun backsplash that will complement the pattern?)
carol Z says
OMG!!! I have been looking for the aqua boomerang laminate. I wonder if your countertop person can order some for me? I would be so happy to pay him of course. I live in Kansas City. I contacted a local company and asked them to contact Formica directly, but they did not do so… dropped the ball. Any help, I would really appreciate. We bought an old Spartan and a Shasta and plan to decorate both with pink appliances and turquoise accents. 913-636-2297. THANK YOU!
Jody Babb says
We live in Oklahoma and got aqua boomerange for our Scotty at home depot
pam kueber says
yes, but the aqua boomerang was discontinued last year…
Julie P. says
We recently did a Wilson Art HD in one of the white shades and we added the stainless steel edging from NY Metals. It looks great! When we have people over they ask if it is the original countertops. We chose the Wilson Art HD because when I ordered the sample I thought is would resemble the cracked ice. It isn’t perfect but it certainly looks like 1955 so we are happy. Two countertops, one was around 120 inches and the other 61 inches, in the Wilson Art HD with the SS edging from NY Metals (including the hefty shipping) and installation of both was just under $1000. I am happy to share pictures if anyone wants to see them.
Chris H says
Thanks Pam, a very useful resource.
Colin says
Vitro has the Glacier series and some cracked ice patterns that are made by Wilson Art but exclusive to Vitro. We bought two 4×10 sheets 2 years ago for about $315 a sheet (+ tax, shipping, etc).
http://vitroseating.com/swatches/laminates.html
pam kueber says
Thanks, Colin, your note has led to this update from the folks at A Moment in Time, who have contacted me to let me know they are now going to sell these speciality laminates for: $325.50 per 4’x10′ sheet — that is a bit less than Vitro’s current, 2011 pricing, which is understandably higher than what you paid several years ago. A Moment in Time says:
“We will always try to be the best price out there, and beat our competitors…. We want the customer to come to our company for all of their Retro needs. We don’t want the customer to have to bounce around looking for the best price. We want them to know they will have the best with our company.”
Ann-Marie Meyers says
I will be visiting a man in a few weeks who was a one of the original designers for Consoweld.
He has a lot of what my parents call “scraps” in his basement, from which he makes beautiful mosaic pictures, although that is not really the name for them. He is the inventor of the method for getting the satin finish on laminate, among other remarkable innovations, including a laminate that looks like bamboo.
Pam, you might like to talk to him sometime. He is a very nice man, but is getting old.
Anyway, I asked, through my parents if he might have anything large enough for my bathroom, and he said to stop by next time I was home to take a look.
Mom said he might have something big enough for my kitchen, but she wasn’t sure.
Wish me luck!
pam kueber says
YOWZA! Thanks for the tip, Ann-Marie. I will contact you directly…