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
Cathy Wood says
My mother still has the original Bianco in her kitchen.
Josh T says
I have had Abet Lime green for about a year and love it!!! they make a very good product but most places do not stock. Very good against scratches!!!
Kate H says
I read somewhere (maybe one of Jane Powell’s books?) that linoleum can be appropriate for countertops. Does anyone have experience with this? I have seen it as a backsplash in older homes, but I wonder if it would hold up as a countertop. They have COOL lino at the Marmoleum site.
pam kueber says
Hi Julie P., as far as I know, linoleum is not specified for countertop use, although folks have done it. I recommend you talk to the manufacturer to find out what steps they recommend if you would like to pursue this route.
Margaret in Maine says
Linoleum was used for countertops, back in the day – not sure if the current stuff can handle that application. I ‘ve noticed linoleum counters were more common in late 40s and early 50s books/magazines and got replaced by laminate by the late 50s. I have friends who still have a mid-century linoleum countertop and are repairing it. I also saw a house in Atomic Ranch where a fellow had done it as a new install.
I have a vintage kitchen makeover guide – Popular Mechanics, ca. 1950s, I think – that tells how to put linoleum on a countertop – using a rolling pin. I could scan it if anyone wants it. The edges get finished with metal trim – linoleum can’t be self edged the way laminate is.
pam kueber says
Thanks, Margaret – I am told that linoleum today is not specified / warranted for countertop use. But, yes, folks have done it. If you can list the date and issue of the Popular Mechanics, I can probably link to it here, as I think these are all online now. Many thanks!
Lauryn says
We were seriously considering linoleum for our countertops, but word on the street is that you need to immediately wipe up anything acidic (coffee, lemon juice, tomatoes … pretty much staples in our kitchen) and while I like to think I’m pretty good about that, I do share my house with a husband. Another concern was using them where there is a lot of water, making them a a better choice on a countertop that does NOT have a sink. All that said, I love that someone is repairing vintage linoleum countertops … would love to see those!
JKaye says
As we look at houses (while waiting for someone to buy ours) we are coming across some original counters, much to our surprise. Figured they had all been replaced by now! Posts like this one encouraging people in this direction could help save some of those old countertops from destruction, I hope, or encourage people to consider something that simply is more “right” for these older homes.
Guy H. says
Another important page to bookmark!
Its amazing how iconic most of these laminates are! They bring back memories just by glancing at them
Lauryn says
Samples, samples, samples … so important! Believe me, I did torture my dear husband with the decision making process, but we are so happy we got all the samples we did. The modern versions of cracked ice really don’t look like the original (particularly the grey) and I think we would have been really disappointed if we had just ordered it based on the website photos. We went with a Nevamar linen-y kind of thing (Serene Stardom), had a local woodworker make the countertops (with the metal banding) and while it is grey, it looks gorgeous with our yellow cabinets.
db says
I bought the Nevamar VAVA directly from a distributor. They rolled a 4’x12′ sheet to fit in my trunk and I drove away for $100. Love it, but it’s more grey than the blue shown.
Margaret in Maine says
So glad someone else found the Vava – I really like it, I think it looks like fabric. Even though it’s not a true linen, I still think it feels dead on! It was definitely high on my list.
Margaret
Tina says
“This is a prime opportunity to torture your spouse in the decision-making process.”
Priceless! Thanks, Pam. This is a great resource.
Jason says
It is – Pam – send it to Anne! She has to have a picture of a salesman talking to a wife while her husband looks on confused….
Jason says
If I redo my kitchen and want to go more retro, I think I will be very tempted to boomerang it! I love the aqua that is discontinued, but I may go with the charcoal and it will be a modern version of retro, which would be fine. The other colors available on the other sites seem to be a less appealing design and I’m not paying extra for someone who has warehoused it, but I understand and value the service they have provided.
I have to say again, I got a Wilsonart HD(top of the line for them) laminate countertop done 2 years ago almost for under 800 bucks for an entire kitchen. That was custom built and installed by a local cabinet shop, mine is a version that looks like a stone/granite type surface, it’s Deepstar Flint I believe. Their site only shows a computer image, if you google for a picture you can see it’s a really beautiful and durable product.
My point being, I find this to be such a value in appearance, durability and price, I am not interested in granite, etc.. You could change your countertop every 5 years and still spend less than granite. Also, you can just have a tiled backsplash or what have you to up the look which I may add later as they are perfectly happy to install your backsplash piece in such a way that it can be removed easily later. Also, people love it when they see it!
Tina says
Jason… I’d love to see a picture!
Jason says
I’ll try to round some up, but I just have builder grade oak cabinets that someone put in in 1997. They were the only thing I saved when I had to tear out the kitchen, because they were in ok shape and I couldn’t afford anything better so I took them out and re-installed them later. My plan is to paint them white or at least put hardware on them. So, the countertop is not in it’s ideal environment 🙂
Clay says
I just bought a 60″x144″ sheet of Formica brand charcoal boomerang laminate at Lowes for around $150. It was special order, but arrived in about two weeks.
Kelly says
I was just at Lowe’s today and checked on ordering Formica Classics Aqua Boomerang laminate for my bathroom, and sadly, they couldn’t find it in the computer. They said must not be making it anymore.:( Anyone have a different experience?
pam kueber says
Discontinued earlier this year. I did several stories on this, forewarning everyone so they could order while the gettin’ was still good — See Kitchen/Countertops.
Jean says
OMG! We only just found CORAL FORMICA CLASSICS BOOM-A-RANG 3 weeks ago. Our kitchen designer David here in Dallas turned us on to this FABULOUS laminate. But – – – HOLLY you know what – – – we cannot find it anywhere! There must be a few sheets of this sitting around somewhere. We are horribly IN LOVE with this counter top material. HELP US PLEASE! SAD in Dallas Texas – to be sure!
pam kueber says
Discontinued a few years ago. Doubtful. Here’s the expanded boomie story, some of these now discontinued, too — https://retrorenovation.com/2013/01/24/24-colors-of-boomerang-laminate-for-kitchen-counter-tops-formica-boomerang-but-much-much-more/
Kat says
Kelly, try calling countertop finishers. I had Aqua Boomerang installed in my kitchen at the end of August through The Top Shop in Denver. (They said they’d only used it twice before — for a diner and a nursing home. Ha!) They even got aluminum trim for the edges. It’s so cool — definitely worth the search!