Wilsonart Spectrum linen-like laminate — available in 25 colors — real color colors!

In the sea of low-chroma, grieged-out options that has dominated the laminate landscape for the past several years, a new tide of colorful change may be washing in. Wilsonart — the same company that has been reissuing classic designs like “Daisy”, issuing new retro style laminates like “Betty” and “Endora”, and yes, collaborating with us (woot!) to create seven new boomerang laminate colorways — also has recently released the “Spectrum” collection. Spectrum — the newest addition to Wilsonart’s VDL (Virtual Design Library) is made up of a rainbow of 25 different tone-on-tone colors with a pleasing crossweave texture, evocative the vintage linen laminates we love so much. While we’d call these colors “on trend” — retro-modern rather than tuned to actual 50s colors, for example — Wilsonart gets our props for color color color — in tone-on-tone! Give it to us! Give us more!

From the news release:

Wilsonart Introduces Spectrum to Virtual Design Library

Addition fulfills need for unlimited colors supported by unparalleled customer service.

Designers looking for dynamic, fashionable colors can now look to the Wilsonart design team and the entirely new and completely customizable category of color-carrying laminate designs, Spectrum. Spectrum launches as the latest addition to the Wilsonart® Laminate Virtual Design Library (VDL), a unique online resource for laminate design.

“Designers are always seeking out more color options with added dimension and visual interest,” said Andrea Flint, designer at Wilsonart. “Spectrum was designed specifically to meet this need, pairing subtle, layered design with an unlimited range of colors that also meet the standard color matching systems.”

Spectrum premiers with the Crossweave series – 25 curated colors in a cross-directional design with a woven feel. The dazzling array of colors in the Crossweave series was taken directly from emerging trends translated into fresh, current and fashionable hues. Think updated pinks and corals, beautiful blues and modern greens and yellows, as well as subdued neutrals. “We saw evidence of this at NeoCon 2015. VDL gave us a way to bring them to market quickly, allowing us to offer designers emerging and trending color pallets now.” said Flint.

Spectrum revolves around tone-on-tone patterns that can be specified in nearly any color, to match an existing color standard. Each series of Spectrum designs – like Crossweave – is offered in a “starter set” of curated color options designed to reflect emerging trends.

Want to customize a Spectrum color that’s all you? You can easily customize any Spectrum design to match most solid color standards: paint, fabric, and more. Designers seeking a specific color should contact their local Wilsonart Sales Rep or use our online form to quickly and easily create your personal Spectrum color.

Crossweave colors, along with the current 200 designs in the Virtual Design Library, can be turned around from factory to fabricator in as little as two weeks, speeding up the delivery process and allowing specifiers to bring their visions to life quickly and in a uniquely personal way.

25 ready-to-order colors

We love having these new colorful options — many of which could work nicely in vintage and retro kitchens and bathrooms.

Want to get your hands on some samples?

• You can order samples of Wilsonart Spectrum through their website.

Buying these designs:

• Order via countertop fabricators, online specialty places like Heffron’s A Moment in Time Retro Design (disclosure: an advertiser on this blog), or even try big box stores. Wilsonart’s Virtual Design Library is comprised of print- and laminate-to-order laminates (as opposed to “stock” laminates that are mass produced using large rolls of pre-printed papers). Because these are low-volume, specialty laminates, they cost more. As a matter of comparison, at Heffron’s a 4′ x 8′ sheet of boomerang laminate sells for $221 plus shipping. A stock laminate ordered in the same size from a big box store looks like it will set you back about $59, free delivery.