The most popular designs for laminate countertops in mid century America? Boomerang and glitter certainly must be near the top — but we also believe that linen laminate countertops were top sellers, too. It is easy to see why this pleasing texture would be a hit. The tone-on-tone coloration prevents counter tops from looking like a single slab ‘o color, while the “design” is neutral enough to accommodate ‘most any decor. Probably even hides the crumbs pretty well! For this story, we are able to show you seven different colorways of vintage linen laminate counter tops — taken from our recent story about the stash of vintage Wilsonart laminate samples spotted on etsy.
Update: Since it’s coming up in the Comments, here is my famous “Graveyard of the Atlantic” laminate-name story.
The only photo of vintage linen laminate counter tops on the blog so far is this show (above) from an estate sale time capsule house that Pam visited back in 2009. Could this be Wilsonart red Irish linen laminate?
Pam says that she originally had linen laminate countertops in two of the bathrooms in her house. They were in bad shape, and were replaced with some retro look laminates available at the time.
Looking for linen design laminate? Start digging into my list of companies that make and sell laminate today, and take a look all our stories about laminates that might suit a retro remodel in our Kitchens / Countertops category.
Marty says
I have that Irish Linen in my kitchen, but it’s badly worn, so trying to figure what to replace it with. (Thinking about a major restore of the kitchen this summer.)
Laura in PA says
We were inspired by linen laminates when we selected flooring for our basement. Armstrong makes vinyl sheets that have the linen look. We’ve had it for a year and couldn’t be happier! I think Pam did a post on this flooring last year.
http://www.armstrong.com/flooring/vinyl-sheet/kline-resilient-vinyl-sheet-G6B12/floor-122803.asp
tammyCA says
I’ve been looking around Armstrong sites…I really love the look of this linoleum kitchen floor: http://www.armstrong.com/flooring/linoleum/naturcote-marmorette-yellow-straw-LP076/floor-95335.asp
David H. says
My grandparents’ 1954 ranch was home to a kitchen table, probably bought when they moved in, with a black-and-white linen laminate top. It was of course immaculately maintained, and we had so many warm memories around that table! When my grandmother passed, all of my cousins and I all expressed interest in the table–none of us thought that anyone else would want it–but my uncle ultimately claimed it. Thankfully it was non-contentious, but someday I would love to have a table or countertops in a similar pattern. It’s darker than any of the samples I’ve seen of currently available patterns.
tammyCA says
Ok, what a strange name for the nice Pionite, “graveyard of the Atlantic”..eww…seriously, couldn’t they think of a better name?
My childhood home had light blue almost grey linen laminate in our knotty pine kitchen…so, I do like the linen look as well as the speckled glitter & boomerang.
tammyCA says
I just backtracked to Pam’s old post about the “graveyard of the Atlantic” 🙂 I have to mention that one of the scariest/creepiest movies I ever saw as a kid in the ’60s involved something like a ghostly ship with zombie like people and I think they dumped bodies over the side into the sea…still gives me the willies. So, even ‘tho I like the color gray…it must always be paired with cheerier colors (like they did in the ’40s/’50s). I do not like the ghostly interiors that seem to be prevalent in contemporary magazines now.
pam kueber says
Here’s the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” post in case anyone else wants to backtrack: https://retrorenovation.com/2010/10/22/resist-the-greige-nation-graveyard-of-the-atlantic/
Cullen Meyer says
I have a bunch of pieces with linen laminate on them, including counter tops.
DebDeluxe says
I love the Irish Linen laminate in my 1962 kitchen. Mine is a shade of green which isn’t nearly as blue-toned as the example above. It may not be original, but i adore it.
My best friend has tan Fine Linen in her 1958 kitchen. Her counters have the laminate uniquely formed into a raised bullnose type edge all around. This edge not only prevent spills from reaching the floor but show no dark joins.
Viva la linen! 🙂
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
That’s the look I chose to go with in my kitchen. I just had ‘cavalcade of the south’ by pionite installed and I love it even though its practically brothers with ‘graveyard of the Atlantic’ a name that often gets made fun of here lol ; )
Annie B. says
I know what you mean about that name, Sara g. The really funny thing is that the color of the Pionite sample is exactly the same color as the water off Cape Lookout (part of the so-called “graveyard”) on this cold, rainy morning. I’d love to know who named this color.
The Fine Linen Wilson Art gets my vote. So many wonderful and period appropriate choices out there. Makes it hard to pick just one. For now, I’m having to live with my early 1980’s almond laminate; however, if I postpone its replacement a while longer, it, too, might fall into the vintage category. I do so want something different one day.
Wendy M. says
I really like the “fine linen” look! We have all the original countertops in our ’64 home- they are a subtle tone-on-tone off-white/light tan (but not in the linen pattern.)
Jay says
As previously mentioned in the post for the keychains, I had yellow Irish Linen in the kitchen which was badly worn. I like the pattern but In reality I thought the yellow too harsh and in your face. I like the tan and the green samples. I think you picked a good look a like sample in the Pionite.
John says
Howdy,
Love the look of Irish linen laminate. I’m Irish, what’s not to love?? Hehe. And don’t forget Cracked Ice laminate in many color ways as a favorite back in the day. I have gray cracked ice counters and kitchen table!!
John aka AtomicHipster