Retro laminates and metal countertop edging

Here are some basic recommendations for laminates and countertop materials that would look good in a retro kitchen. Important: Important: We all care very much about managing environmental and safety issues properly, so when undertaking your restoration project, be sure to familiarize yourself with and use recommended best practices. For example, the EPA hosts a website on lead in the home and a website on asbestos in the home. Consult professionals regarding these materials, and also about the proper disposal of debris, etc.

1. SCROLL DOWN for LAMINATE selections

2. ALL ABOUT COUNTERTOPS

Stainless steel / metal countertop edging: The #1 choice for sure

Installing vintage sinks

  • All about hudee rings – click here
  • All about clips to hold in vintage sinks/hudee rings – Click here

Important countertop design tips:

Here are interesting stories about laminate history:

Vintage bathroom vanities made out of laminate – you can recreate these pretty easily:

Advertisements showing laminate cabinetry in kitchens – also easy to recreate:

Here are reader homes feature laminate kitchen cabinetry:

CURRENT RETRO-STYLE LAMINATES ON THE MARKET

Regarding Laminates: Designs come in and out regularly, so also survey these six companies yourself: Formica… Pionite… Wilsonart… Arpa USA… Nevamar… Arborite… And, it’s recommended to see actual samples before you commit to buy.






Want to stay on top of all Retro Renovation news? Subscribe to our Saturday email newsletter.

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Jodie Robinson December 29, 2008 at 9:56 pm

I was looking for metal edge when I found your site. I thought you might be impressed with our purchase this week-end, no one else is! We bought a stereo/fireplace combo. I had not known there was such a thing.

Roger P. Sabatino March 7, 2009 at 11:14 pm

We are looking for a laminate “island” counter top that looks similar to butcher block, and was manufactured somewhere around 1980. It was installed in a double-wide mobile-home built by the Dahling Company in Tennessee. Do you have anything like that. We need about a 12′ length and 30″ width.

Pam Kueber March 8, 2009 at 4:36 pm

Roger, we don’t sell things on this website. We spotlight products suitable for retro renovations. Most of the major laminate manufacturers still make some variation on maple butcher block. All the manufacturers’ names are listed at the top of this page – you can search for the style most suitable on their web pages which generally list all available styles. If you really run up against a wall, you can also call their customer service. I believe that sometimes, there are semi-discontinued styles that you can custom order. Good luck!

Barb Scott March 8, 2009 at 5:03 pm

In the ads section of the latest issue of Atomic Ranch, there is an ad for Lansing Linoleum, which offers retro aluminum counter edging. http://www.Lansinglinoleum.com

Phone #: 503-777-3333.

They are located in Portland,Oregon.

eudora April 26, 2009 at 7:14 pm

The place you list isn’t the only one…the fine folks at Formica sent me to Outwater Plastics. It sounds like they charge a lot less money for their products…and they also carry the ribbed t-style aluminum moulding. Here’s the link to the snap-on stainless and cove moulding:
http://www.outwatercatalogs.com/2008%5Fmaster/lg_display.cfm?page_number=374

mimi May 1, 2009 at 3:16 am

hello!
i have a kitchen range, made by General Motors, i believe from the late 50″s, I saw one in this site pictures in the green kitchen from the year 57. Where can I find replacement parts?

eudora May 9, 2009 at 1:59 am

Don’t know if you know about these folks’ laminates:
http://www.abetlaminati.com/
Some amazing selections.

LauraW June 8, 2009 at 4:53 pm

This is a good resource for counter top edging. They can match all Wilsonart laminates.

Lindsey June 27, 2009 at 4:51 pm

Hi Pam,
Just found your web-site today and SOOOO thankful! I have a huge collection of tin signs that I would like to incorporate into my home starting with the kitchen. My home was built in the late 70’s and the kitchen coutertops are definitely true to this era with yellow swirled tile and a brown wooded formica framing it. I would like to make my kitchen more mid-century to add to my eclectic collection. My question is would it be possible to do a stainless steal edging on top of the brown formica, keeping the tile as is? The formica is about two inches on top and sides. I also have a pass through bar area that is the same formica, any ideas?

Thank you so much! I’ve enjoyed your site immensely!!

Amy September 13, 2009 at 1:15 pm

Hi Pam,
I’m the proud owner of a fifties house with an almost untouched vintage kitchen, complete with a metal edged, sunshine yellow countertop and knotty pine cabinets. My problem with this is that it’s dark! I want to paint the walls a period appropriate color and replace the replaced flooring with something less modern as well. Do you have any suggestions? Also, those countertops, they have some patches of wear near the sink, can I just replace the lenolium and reuse the metal edging, or will I destroy it in the attempt?

pam kueber September 13, 2009 at 2:04 pm

welcome, amy, send me your pics at retrorenovation [at] gmail [dot] com. sounds wonderful!

Leave a Comment -- If you are under 14 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate. Here are the full legal terms of use you agree to by using this comment form.