In the wake of our big story on the new Formica 100th anniversary collections, I want to re-feature this archive story on where to find boomerang Formica — but even more so: Where to find 24 colors of boomerang laminate, in all, with the mass coming from two other companies.
UPDATE: In 2017, we worked with Wilsonart to introduce the Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart®boomerang laminate collection — seven more designs created with our readers in mind.
Peeples, we cover laminate choices EXTENSIVELY on this blog — if you are looking for laminate see our Kitchens / Countertops category — we have many many stories on where to find the “best” retro options. We try to stay on the topic of laminate selections like hawks. Go through our Kitchens / Countertops category if you want red laminate counter tops, carrara marble laminate, still-made 1960s laminate, linen-look, crackle ice, orange laminate, etc. etc. etc.
So, do you want boomerang laminate? See our story from over a year ago on where to find 14 different colors of boomerang laminate from three different companies. But golly, how did we miss that there really are 24 colors! Formica ONLY has charcoal — NO MORE aqua, blue or coral; discontinued; kaput. But two other companies — Wilsonart and Vitro — make many more colors. They are more expensive than the Formica charcoal — which you can get at Home Depot, Lowes or from a big box store. The other 23 designs are all small runs, special order. But they are boomerangs. Do not try to find these laminates on the Wilsonart or Vitro websites — they are difficult to find.
Where to get samples and buy boomerang laminate
The best place to see all the designs and to get samples of all the boomerangs is from Heffrons.com. Heffrons (which is an advertiser here) tells me that they have researched all the pricing in the marketplace and are striving to me #1 in terms of the best pricing.
Mary Salazar says
Hello,
I just purchased a house built in 1955, with the original kitchen ( copper colored cabinets and back splash, salmon colored boomerang counter tops, cook top and copper colored oven). Contrary to everyone’s opinion, I’m not loving the copper color. What color would you suggest I have them painted (to compliment the salmon counter tops), and would powder coating be the best way?
Thanks,
Mary
pam kueber says
Mary, we encourage you to live with the colors for a while — a year, even — before making a decision. If you start following this site, you might find, over time, that you love the colors. Once you change them… you can’t go back, not to the original finish, that is…
Jody Eriksson says
Hello- I know this is an older thread but has anyone purchased and installed boomerang laminates from Heffron’s?
My contractor was hesitant to order and use this material because apparently there is no warranty on it. He said he’ll do the install but won’t guarantee the work because of the lack of warranty. I really want the laminate so I am going ahead with it, especially after talking with Gary at Heffron’s who was extremely helpful, by the way.
Just wondering if anyone could share their experience…
Thanks!!
wndl in olytown says
i have the retro dungaree in my bathroom! i found it via your original posting on this formica, and ordered it from home depot.
wish i had a blog to show you the finished product. ooh.. i can post it to the fb page.
thanks again for such a great site, pam. i relied it on it, heavily, for my bathroom renovations.
Barb says
wilsonart boomerang website:
http://samples.wilsonart.com/c-19-indie-collection.aspx?pagenum=1
Kristin says
Boomerang is great, but is there a company out there that does crackle?
pam kueber says
Yes — you can also see these at heffrons.com. Note, get a sample first. I have samples, and I found them to be highly pixelated. Also be sure to see my Kitchens/Countertops category for other retro alternatives.
Mark says
Decisions, decisions — We’ll be doing both our kitchen & master bath in a pastel aqua/pastel yellow scheme — so which one gets the Vitros Turquoise Glacier & which the Yellow Glacier..? LOL. Mmmmm, and perhaps the Formica Charcoal for the Salmon/Gray hall bath… 😉
blair kooistra says
Looked at a home last summer built 1956 and on its second owner–everything untouched! And there in the kitchen, ORIGINAL Boomerang formica! The pattern was worn off in one area, and out of curiosity checked through this site to see if that pattern was still available. It was, but unfortunately the pink and aqua boomerangs on white background was one of two color combos just discontinued! Bummah! Good to see so many still available, though, lucky us considering it is 2013 and we’re definately a fringe market!
Traci says
We just ordered a sheet of the 1st one (the grey boomerang)
to cover our kidney table!!! (It has always been a plain blondwood
top and recently broke) My hubby fixed it and now is going to laminate it! I am SO excited! We got a sheet for less than $50 from Home Depot!!!!
Thanks for sharing the info!!!!
Robin, NV says
As much as I love the boomerang laminates, I’m just too chicken to use them in my kitchen. They definitely send a serious retro statement but I’m not really going for that kind of a look. The nice thing is, the repost prompted me to look through the RR laminate archive and I discovered the nice linen look laminates from Pionite. I’ll be ordering samples for sure.
Lauryn says
I was sort of in the same boat … I love these boomerangs (especially the Hotrod!) but didn’t really feel like they suited our kitchen (or maybe I was just too chicken). We opted for a linen type from Nevamar and are really, really happy with the decision … it’s a nice, subtle compliment to a very colorful space and has a retro-yet-timeless quality to it. Definitely get samples from as many places as you can, as there are subtle differences from one to the next.
Now, when we find our vintage camper, well, that’s another story … then I’ll be looking at those boomerangs for sure!
Mary Elizabeth says
Lauryn, our 1982 camper has the linen look laminate on the ktichen counters. Would love a nice pop of orange boomerang.
Wendy M. says
Wow! Great options! I have a laminate-related question…is it possible to use laminate as a shower surround? I believe that is what we have in both our bathrooms (tub to ceiling). I originally assumed it was some bath-specific product, but I was in a friend’s home the other day and realized her kitchen countertops look exactly like our upstairs surround. We would love to eventually replace the downstairs (the shower head is set at 5 feet- too low even for me!!) Would LOVE to use one of the above options if it would work.
pam kueber says
You need to ask the laminate company this question.
Wendy M. says
Okay- thanks!