Wilsonart’s Betty laminate just became available this year, and here are the first photos from reader Nancy, who used it for countertops in her retro style kitchen. You can see more of her project, in action, on her blog The Literate Quilter.
The orangy squares in the design help this laminate coordinate well with light warm wood cabinets. And, the scale + tonality of the laminate design is very pleasing — not too overwhelming, but giving the countertop just enough motion and interest so that it doesn’t sit like a big long blob on the cabinetry.
And remember: This Wilsonart laminate is a stock laminate — there should be no special pricing, it should come in well under $100 for a big sheet. It’s gonna be just about as affordable as you can get for a countertop.
Nancy, thank you for uploading this photo to our weekend uploader. Many thanks!
- Read our original story about the new Endora and Betty laminates from Wilsonart.
- Wilsonart’s Betty is now at Home Depot: Just $60 a sheet!
Jordan says
So cute! I always love the look of retro kitchens and this counter top is definitely speaking to me. Thanks for sharing!
kim says
Nancy, what is your wall color? I looked at 50 samples many of the same ones you pictured and also loved Betty! I hope to have mine in sometime soon.
Nancy says
The contractor matched our hallway paint, which was Behr Marquee, I forget the exact name but it’s Aqua something, one of the stock color cards on display in Home Depot. I loved the color and wanted to paint the whole house that color!
sherree says
Yay Nancy! I jumped over to your blog and loved seeing your kitchen and the Betty laminate installed 🙂 Your whole kitchen is great. We are in the middle of a kitchen remodel in our 1952 ranch and are using Betty laminate also, not just for my counter tops but also for my back splash.
Nancy says
Thanks. We spent years thinking about the remodel and months planning and choosing. Have fun on your remodel!
moshimama says
Love the use of the retro laminate! We just bought a ’50s house with a kitchen in really bad shape (not cute retro at all!) I really want to use the Daisy Envy laminate from Wilsonart for the counters, but I haven’t seen any pictures of it in a kitchen. Has anyone seen it?
Nancy says
I had a sample. you can get large samples free from the company. I loved the colors, but the design was large and I didn’t want anything to upstage my cabinets. I show the samples with cabinets samples on my blog at
http://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2015/04/counter-top-decisions-and-kitchen-plan.html
moshimama says
Thanks so much for the link to pictures! The pattern is big, but I’m going with white cabinets so it might still work. People will think it is nuts, but I love those greens 🙂
Nancy says
I loved the daisy colors, too. The green went with my family room, and the orange matched the warm cabinets. I hope we see what it looks like when/if you use it!
Hannah says
Thanks so much for sharing your kitchen! This is the exact scheme I’ve been considering for my kitchen- Betty with our cabinets stripped down to natural 🙂 But my biggest dilemma is whether my pale pink stove and fridge will work with that, or look totally crazy.
pam kueber says
Hannah, look at the Endora – the sister to Betty
Jennifer says
I’m thinking of putting in Endora with my vintage pink cabinets. We’re waiting for samples, but my husband prefers Betty so far. Orange and pink can go together, as can orange and teal. Plus, we will have oak floors–sort of orangey in tone. So Betty might be a better choice. I hope to get large samples soon.
Patti Cannan says
Well we shall see! I’m putting Betty in my 1957 ranch kitchen. I tried to refinish my wood cabinets but couldn’t get the wood tone even so opted to paint then instead, a turquoise color called Aquaduct. After WEEKS of hard labor, they turned out perfect. THEN…I found a 1960 pink wall oven and cooktop. I had to get it! Endora looks beautiful with it but I am not painting my cabinets again, so Betty it is and pink will now be my “pop of color”!!!
Nancy says
So excited to see my countertops featured! I love them. You can see the progress from choices to finish on my blog by searching for ‘kitchen remodel’.
One contractor actually told me he wouldn’t let me use laminate! But we had our hearts set on Betty.
We also used quarter sawn cherry cabinets and cork floors.
I thank Retro Rennovation for bringing the new Wilson Art laminates to attention in the first place. We placed our order before Betty was ready to be shipped! Nancy
pam kueber says
Yay! Thanks for identifying yourself, Nancy! We will add your name and check out your blog!
Yvonne Culpeppef says
Looks awesome! My mom has those same canisters. She also had a “grease” can and the S &P shakers. I’d love to see more pictures, too.
Nancy says
I love spun aluminum! I found these in a local antique mall. So cool your mom still has hers. More pics are on my blog, but a I am waiting for the final little jobs to be done before taking big reveal pics.
Lynne says
I hope the mystery reader comes out of hiding and gives us the scoop! I would love to know the source of the cabinetry.
Nancy says
The cabinets are quartersawn natural cherry from Kraftmade. We saw a store display several years ago and loved them. They cost more –solid wood– but we had to have them.
Karen Klinedinst says
I love those cannisters! My mom had a set in her kitchen growing up.
Robin, NV says
Oh wonderful! It’s so great to see this laminate out in the wild. I love it!
Pam, just out of curiosity do you have any thoughts on laminate counter edge treatments? Rounded, squared, or bull nose? I went with a rounded, no-drip edge for my new countertops because that’s what was originally in my kitchen.
pam kueber says
In 1953, GE Textolite showed these edges (variety including laminate) https://retrorenovation.com/2013/03/25/10-ways-kitchen-counter-top-edg-1953/
We had curved postformed edges as early as 1952: https://retrorenovation.com/2013/05/28/curved-postformed-laminate-1952/
I do not know when the postform front edge that was slightly raised started.
All said: Lots of “authentic” choices.
Robin, NV says
The original 1962 countertops in my kitchen had the rounded, raised (“no drip”) edge. But whether or not that style was available prior to that, I have no idea. Incidentally, my original countertops also had the integrated, rounded, 4″ back splash too.
pam kueber says
Thanks for that info, Robin~!
Sara of WA says
We used the new bullnose edge that came out a few years ago and I don’t think I would do it again. It chipped in my utility room which is where we walk in the house everyday, and it bugs me every time. Also, it takes up more room so you have to figure that in if you’re close to trim. The straight is pretty classic.