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Where to buy boomerang laminates — 4 companies, many colors

pam kueber - Updated: July 29, 2021

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

I have boomerang laminates by various companies covered one-by-one in other stories, but here, I pull them into one place for those renovators to compare and constrast. According to my research, there are four laminate boomerang designs — with a total of, well, a lot of colorways — available today.
retro boomerang laminate

1. The Retro Renovation by Wilsonart collection of boomerang laminates

formica charcoal boomerang

2. Formica Skylark boomerang

    • Formica Skylark boomerang was the first boomerang ever designed, in the early 1950 by Brooks Stevens. Its fame continued to grow when the pattern was recolored by Raymond Loewy & Associates in 1953. Today, you can get this Formica classic design in only on only one colorway, this Charcoal colorway. Try the Big Box stores for the best prices. I think they also have samples, or, you can try Formica directly.

wilsonart retro mint

3. Wilsonart boomerangs

  • The Retro Renovation – Wilsonart boomerang colorways were built onto Wilsonart’s existing boomerang pattern, which has been available for many years via their Virtual Design Library. As with the RRs, you can get free samples from Wilsonart and check Home Depot for sheets. If you can’t find them all there, try specialty places like Heffron’s.

boomerang laminates from vitro available at heffrons a moment in time

4. Wilsonart boomerangs for Vitro

      • Wilsonart also is the manufacturer for a line of Vitro laminates. These have a thinner line than the other Wilsonart boomerangs, and different colorways. Get samples from Wilsonart; I don’t think these are available at Home Depot — try Heffron’s. 

    nevamar boomerang laminate carbon black

    5. Nevamar boomerang laminate

  • Nevamar has a boomerang in Carbon Black and in Lilac.

Note, the images I was able to get from the manufacturer and retailer websites are not helpful in terms of getting a real feel for the beauty of these designs. Of course: Getting actual samples first, before you pull the credit card trigger.

Do you want more research about potential countertop solutions for a retro kitchen or bath?

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21 comments

Comments

  1. jessica johnson says

    I am updating my bathroom and selling my 5 ft boomerang formica countertop (white with pink and grey boomerangs). It is in great condition with the stainless steel edging. From what I see, this is worth quite a bit of money. Where/who can I sell this to? Any ideas?

    Thank you!

  2. Mary says

    With Aqua Boomerang being discontinued, is there any remnant pieces left or any left at all?

  3. Stacia says

    Nothing comes up on the Wilsonart website. I guess they’ve discontinued their boomerang pattern. Not able to find anything for Vitro either. How about a 2013 update on the boomerang story? We just put in our offer on a 1955 “Mid Century Modest” with most of its interior intact, but the countertops are boring cream color. NO! They must be pink or mint or turquoise. Lol! Help me find my counter top laminate, Pam!

  5. Melanie says

    Oh my! Oh my! Ohhhhh! I thought I was happy with my countertops and then you do this post. Now I NEED that glacier on my countertop. sigh……

  6. fraujoolie says

    Ah…. I had that Yellow Glacier installed in my kitchen, shortly before I had to move across the country to escape an imploding Detroit economy. It was lovely.

  8. Ann-Marie Meyers says

    Let us not forget, the real name of Boomerang is Skylark, so named by its creator, Brooks Stevens, the very famous and talented mid century industrial designer.
    You all most likely have many things in your home that look the way they do because Mr. Stevens came up with their design.
    Pam, you should do a feature on him sometime.

    • Richard Emmet says

      Brooks Stevens also designed the post-war Willys Jeep Station Wagon, sold from 1946 thru the mid-60’s. A beautiful and functional automotive design, and arguably the first mass produced American SUV.

  9. gavin hastinings says

    Leave it to you!

    You have done many chapters on “Boomerangs”, but they were never quite the ones that made an impression on me in… 1966.

    Bingo!
    Vitro’s “Bianca” is it. It was the countertop of “The Donut Jar” here in Springfield. I used to trace the design on my paper napkin at the counter.