UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate.
In wake of the news that Formica is discontinuing, or has discontinued, two shades of our beloved boomerang laminate, I started receiving reports from readers of other discontinuations. I checked with the super duper helpful PR folks (thanks, Laura!). Warning warning Will Robinson: To ensure you get while the gettin’ is good, read this full report:
- 6918 Atomic Orange and 6919 Atomic Turf were discontinued as of August 2, 2010. After the deletion date of 8/2/10, these colors will be available while supplies last or until 12/31/10, whichever comes first.
- Two of the Boomerangs – 6940 Skylark Boomerang and 6941 Coral Boomerang — were discontinued as of August 2, 2010. After the deletion date of 8/2/10, these colors will be available while supplies last or until 12/31/10, whichever comes first.
- 6943 VirrVarr White and 6944 VirrVarr Light Blue will be discontinued as of January 17, 2011. After the deletion date of 1/17/11, these colors will be available while supplies last or until 6/30/11, whichever comes first.
- 6959 Aqua Boomerang will be discontinued as of January 17, 2011. After the deletion date of 1/17/11, these colors will be available while supplies last or until 6/30/11, whichever comes first.
Readers trying to get VirrVarr from Home Depot already are saying they already cannot get it there. Home Depot buyers: This stuff is still available elsewhere — how bad do you want it? You’re gonna have to chase it.
Bottom line: These laminates come in and out. If something you want is on its way out, get it now while the getting is good. Meanwhile: Check my Kitchens / Countertops subcategory for all my identified sources for vintage style laminate countertops.
Kelly LeBel says
Oh bother! Hubby and I were gunning for the VirrVarr in White, but were waiting until we finished our other kitchen upgrades. I guess we will need to put the counter tops on the front burner. Thanks Pam for the heads up! Your site is a live saver in crisis like these.
Cynthia says
I agree! And you know what I love most? I love that there is a community here that understands that this is a crisis. Most people I know in-real-life would be shaking their heads in disbelief if they knew how upset so many of us here are about this…
Maybe I need to find a new crowd, eh? 😉
Sabrina says
I’m pretty sure my mother-in-law will have something to say about it when we replace our current Formica countertops with more Formica countertops, LOL! She’s planning a big kitchen remodel in her 1970s home that will of course include granite and stainless steel. She also assumed that we would be updating our pink bathroom, which is in fantastic shape (except that the cast-iron sink is rusting at the drain hole; not sure how to go about replacing that without losing the completely awesome original pink cracked-ice laminate) and so awesome that there’ no way I’m “updating” it… my 3 girls would probably disown me anyway if it was no longer pink. ; )
My friends, though, dig our “vintage” kitchen and bathroom, so luckily no need to find a new crowd.
Sabrina says
Thanks so much for the updates, Pam! When I ordered my sample of the dogbone in white, I ordered one of the aqua boomerang… and now I’m actually leaning toward that one. I’ve got the samples sitting on my current kitchen counters, and just looking at the aqua boomerang makes me happy. I’d never have ordered the sample without your post on it being discontinued, so if we do end up ordering it, it will be because of your blog!
pam kueber says
🙂 let me know how it turns out, sabrina!
Sabrina says
I definitely will! Just need to get a budget figured out… and figure out if we can really do a complete remodel, with new cabinets, etc. (the originals are solid, but quite worn, and poorly configured) or more of a surface “freshening”, with just refacing the cabinets, swapping out some appliances, and installing new countertops. I’m also not sure I can live without a kitchen for months in order to do the bigger project…
And yes; thanks to the community!
pam kueber says
Sabrina — the thanks should go to the readers who alerted me to these discontinuations in the first place. Hurray for the community!
Carrie says
Thanks for the heads up…went to Home Depot and ordered my aqua boomerang last week…and it just came in! So happy I was able to get it, it is beautiful!
Sara D says
Oh Formica… why must you play with my heart??? We JUST saw the VirrVarr in blue and wanted to use it in our kitchen reno, forthcoming in 2-3 years. Alas… this may not come to pass 🙁 I might have to hoard some too….. it’s just so perfect! And will go wonderfully with the turqouise 50’s wall oven and cooktop I scored this weekend on Kijiji 🙂
Ellen says
It’s a shame. I also agree with Jen – our coral boomerang counters not only look great but they hold up well to daily cooking and cleaning, too. We got enough to use for a bathroom sink countertop if we ever want to, and I’m so glad we did.
ELS says
Concur w/ Jen. We have a kitchen table made from the coral boomerang w/ a metal edging and it’s wonderful! It makes for a nice splash of color.
Jen says
For shame! These were the best, most unique laminates available. Everything else is just some variation of mottled neutral tones. BORING.
Joe says
Pam, you should use the power of Retro Renovation to get some deals for us on the discontinued stuff. We can be hoarders and save it for generations to come.
Kersten says
Are they seriously taking away the blue, aqua and coral boomerang and leaving the gray? I’m perplexed by that decision. Maybe in January they’ll show us some awesome new designs? We have the VirrVarr white, and although I like it, it’s really light. Color might have been more fun… but the boomerangs were too busy for the space that leads right into the dining area. I’m crossing my fingers that more cool patterns are released! We were the amazing winners of that awesome set of St. Charles wood front cabinets in Milwaukee last winter – the FREE ones- and they are still sitting in our garage waiting to be put back to use. After doing a tiny bathroom re-do (that still has empty walls) I’m scared to start a kitchen! BUT- I doubt our VirrVarr will be able to be reused with a new layout? Counter tops are a big deal! Okay. Too much coffee this morning.
Andrea says
Thanks, Pam, for the run-down on these!
Aqua Boomerang countertops just moved up toward #1 on The House List. We already have (original) aquamarine Formica countertops, (and I love them, for their color!) but they are worn, a bit faded and stain easily. I’ve long wanted to replace them with Aqua Boomerang—looking like it’s now or never!
Without the “heads-up” from RetroRenovation, I’d have postponed this project until it was way too late!