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.
1. The Retro Renovation by Wilsonart collection of boomerang laminates
- Available in six pastel tone-on-tone colors. You can get 8×10 samples directly from Wilsonart and golly gee, you can get sheets directly from Home Depot. Read all our stories about the Retro Renovation by Wilsonart boomerang laminate collection and how to get samples and sheets here.
2. Formica Skylark boomerang
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- 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.
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.
4. Wilsonart boomerangs for Vitro
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- 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.
5. Nevamar boomerang laminate
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- 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?
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!
pam kueber says
put it on craigslist or ebay….
jessica johnson says
Sounds good:) Didn’t know if there were any other more specific sites to use. Thanks!
Mary says
With Aqua Boomerang being discontinued, is there any remnant pieces left or any left at all?
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!
pam kueber says
Go to the Heffron’s site, they carry both the Wilsonart and the Vitro: http://heffrons.com/retro/swatches/laminates.html
You can also check them for Formica’s charcoal — or, you can get that one from big box land.
Note: I’ve updated the 13 boomerang laminates/3 sources story to take out the links to the Wilsonart and Vitro sites, since these companies do not seem to understand how to do 301 redirects.
Stacia says
Thank you very much. Right you are that the links didn’t work, but searching “indie collection” on Wilsonart didn’t work either, oddly enough. Anyway, no matter. I appreciate that link. And charcoal boomerang? That was the most boring – So excited they kept just that one. Haha
pam kueber says
Wilsonart indies here: http://samples.wilsonart.com/c-19-indie-collection.aspx
Vitro boomerangs here: http://www.vitroseating.com/swatches_boomerang.html
BUT LIKE I SAID: Go to Heffrons, they are your one-stop shopping place that should be able to make it super easy for you, and according to their research, they are offering the best prices: http://heffrons.com/retro/swatches/laminates.html
Stacia says
Yes, I did go to Heffrons. Sorry that was not clear when I said I appreciated the link.
Karie says
Any chance there may be a stockist in Australia????
Tammy says
Hi Karie,
We ship world wide. If you want to to email us or call we can give you a price on what you need and what it would cost to ship it. 🙂
A Moment In Time Retro Design http://WWW.Heffrons.com
Retro@Heffrons.com
315-363-7726
Thanks
Tammy
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……
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.
Marcheline says
KEEKS!
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.
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.
pam kueber says
So, Gavin, Are you saying Vitro’s design today is called “Bianca”???
gavin hastings says
Bianca is Bianco’s sister, and it’s hard to tell them apart.
(5 hours of sleep, sorry….)
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Good on ya, Gavin.
pam kueber says
Okay, so I just read the PDF more closely in regard to your comment. Bianco = one of the colorways of the Vitro. Clarified.