Linen laminates were among the most popular in the 1950s — I will even surmise the most popular choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Continuing to fill out our historical archive, I organized my collection of vintage laminate sample ships… pulled out the document linens… and scanned. Today — close ups of 12 colorways of linen laminate — eight from Formica, four from Textolite. Above: Formica Green Linen — which I am betting was the most popular color. This green is perfect for a midcentury kitchen with wood kitchen cabinets. Sigh.
Above: Formic Tan Linen laminate. Note the weave of the Formica. It is not too sharp / edgy. My “problem” with the linen laminates on the market today is that they are too pokey-looking — sharp-edged industrial rather than soft-edged domestic.
Above: Formica Primrose Linen laminate.
In her thesis — the best most comprehensive history of Formica and its patterns that I know of — materials expert Grace Jeffers (and good friend) says that Linen was one of the first patterns that Formica introduced after World War II. It was instantly popular.
Above: Formica Powder Blue Linen laminate.
Above: Formica Pink Petal Linen laminate.
Super mega thanks to Robert of ElectraChime for sending me the box of Formica paper samples that this pink chip came from. What a generous contribution to my archives! xoxo
Above: Formica Lipstick Red Linen laminate.
Above: Formica Gray Linen laminate.
Above: Formica Charcoal Linen laminate.
Textolite Linen Laminates:
Above: Textolite Daffodil Linen Laminate.
I have only four samples of Textolite linen laminates. It’s hard to tell from such small samples, but it appears the patterns are different — I’d say the Textolite linen weave is less tight… with more chunkies simulating natural irregularities you’d find in a linen thread. I like the Textolite pattern better than the Formica pattern but, seriously, this is splitting hairs. Or threads.
Above: Textolite Tan Linen Laminate.
Above: Textolite Panama Linen Laminate.
Above: Textolite Gray Linen laminate.
Six places to find linen look laminates today:
- I don’t think any of them are as perfect as the vintage (paleeze, why the need to reinvent, when the original is perfect??)… but we have written about at least six companies offering modern day spins on linen laminates — available today. IMPORTANT TIP: Scroll this “tagged” list to see all the separate stories — they are not agglomerated, they were written one-by-one over time as various companies rolled out their designs.
Cindy says
I have a Cape Cod built in 1940 but it has the pink linen counter top in the kitchen. If it was any other color . . .
Mary Elizabeth says
People who are looking for that green might try one of the two close modern examples. For my knotty pine kitchen, I chose a similar green to replace the flaking glitter countertops. It is Wilsonart 4667-60, Green Tigris. It is a little lighter than the Formica Green Linen and has little threads of white and a darker green running through it. The link below doesn’t do it justice. The poor sample here looks more like gray, but it is definitely green. I would never have ordered it if I had only seen it on line. Suggest you order a large sample from Wilsonart to see what it looks like.
http://wilsonart.com/commercial/laminates/detail?sku=4667
People trying to get the green that goes with the knotty pine can also choose Formica 7219-58, Forest Terra, which is a little darker, very close to the Green Linen, and has a texture that looks like moss. Very, very lovely. Can’t find a sample photo online, but I did pick up a sample in one of the big box stores. Again, order a large sample from Formica to see if you like the color.
J D Log says
I have a small kitchen cabinet I found on a kerb side clean up which has the Formica green linen but it is more of a lime colour. It has minor water damage but no sun damage, It is on my to do list to restore.
Jan says
Linen has got to be one of my favorite mid-century laminates! It goes anywhere and never gets tired (although do any of them really get tired?). These colors are wonderful, too!
Mike says
I dig red in a kitchen. Wow, that red linen is kickin’ awesome! Can you imagine that on your counter tops with some maple cabinetry or flooring? Yes, even knotty pine!
tt crews says
The red linen is gorgeous. We are blessed with a small (5’x1.5′) pristine section of red linen laminate on a counter top of a built-in hutch in the den of our 1951 cape.
Thanks, Pam, for a source for similar laminates.
ineffablespace says
I will send the pictures to you via email.
vegebrarian says
Oh, how exciting, I just learned that my kitchen table is covered in the Formica Green Linen. 🙂 Every once in a while, I think about searching out a Danish Modern table to replace the dinette, but I’m always drawn back in by that delicate linen pattern!
pam kueber says
There is pretty much no laminate design ever made that beats Formica (or other brands’) Green Linen for coziness — and versatility!
Jay says
What a treat to see that green staring me in the face on a snowy icy day. Kate you are so right! I would love to have that green linen today! I had what I am guessing is the Primrose (a bright yellow) when I moved in, but alas so badly worn. The counters are now sporting BEIGE faux granite laminate !!! What can I say, off the shelf at Home Depot.
ineffablespace says
Kate and Pam:
My parents’ house had the 1960s-1970s versions of green and gold: the green was warmer, and on a white background, the gold was kind of like the primrose or daffodil, also on a white background. I have some pictures if you would like me to send them.
Sometimes I think it would be great if we could post a picture or two in our comments, but that would probably make it a lot more complicated for you.
pam kueber says
ineffable, if you can find a photo sharing utility and post your photos there and then post the link here, that would work. This site’s technology simply will not allow for posted photos. In addition, 95% of readers (I’d guess) do not know how to downsize photos, or won’t….with uploaders, we end up with 3 and 4 MB photos that overload our database. Kate has to spend days resizing. This is why I rarely do uploaders any more.
Alison says
Is there a currently available green laminate that is similar to the green linen? That color looks like it would be beautiful with knotty pine.
pam kueber says
It’s a great color for knotty pine. Go to Kitchen Help / Countertops category. Lead story in the three-boxes at the top point you to companies that sell laminate. Then, you just need to go thru them one-by-one.
Diane in CO says
The linen green 106 is exactly what is in my 1959 Wisconsin cottage kitchen, I believe – with pickled knotty pine cabinetry. It’s IS a perfect and pleasing combo! There is a bit of blue in that green! The look is so befitting a modest little house set into a wooded hillside that we have never changed it in 34 years of ownership.
When we revamped the place 2 years ago, gutting the bathroom and replacing all the windows, we didn’t touch the kitchen, except to refinish the linoleum. This year we added an eating peninsula and used one of the new linen style laminates in a stone color and it coordinates well with the green countertops, having the same “texture.”
In my search for laminate, I did not find a green like the 1950’s green linen, FYI. But not to say it’s not out there…..