Howdy, hudee — Wilsonart has started rolling out samples of the new boomerang laminates we designed in collaboration with Wilsonart are now available as samples. As of this moment, two colors are available. All colorways: Samples now available!
Note, there are other boomerang colorways already in Wilsonart’s collection — “ours” are the one with that happy little “Retro Renovation®” in the name. The tone-on-tone pastels, above. Who’s ordering samples? We’re excited to know!
To order the samples:
- To order the samples, jump over to Wilsonart’s Virtual Design Library.
Read all the stories about the new collection, “Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart,” here.
Disclosure: I want readers to know: I do not make money if you buy this laminate; “the deal” that I have with Wilsonart includes other elements of consideration. For example, on Feb. 1 they will launch an advertisement on the blog, for which Retro Renovation is compensated. So, I do not have any incremental financial reason to promote the laminates in this collection over other options — see all our research on countertop options to find the product that’s right for you! – Publisher Pam.
belinda says
I just ordered the beige the gray and the pink – and it looks like they will send it to Canada – so awesome 🙂 and there is someone who carries the product only 30 min away. Cant wait!
pam kueber says
YAY, yes, I think Wilsonart has distribution throughout most of the world. I will ask and clarify!
Mary Elizabeth says
Belinda, we are so happy to hear that Canadians can share in this retro awesomeness!
Laurie says
I would love to redo my counters in one of these shades. The people I bought my 1966 Ranch from put in an IKEA kitchen with butcher block counters. I do not like butcher block at all!
Amber says
Just out of curiosity, what don’t you like about them? I know I wouldn’t want them around the sink or stove, but I always thought it would be nice to do what I’ve seen in some midcentury kitchens and have a counter space with no cabinets underneath so you can pull up a chair, and have that part be butcher block so you could sit and chop vegetables and fruits right on the counter. Are they too hard to clean?
Stephanie says
As precautionary Pam writes, I would read online about how to disinfect and take care of woodblock countertops. Some people love them. For me, it’s been a headache. The 1946 tom thumb that I rent has been remuddled and the landlord has put the original upper metal cabinets in the basement laundry room (why!?). He’s installed cheap 70s uppers, and (my guess is about 10 years ago?) installed Ikea base cabinets, sink, and butcher block. The butcher block has warped, chipped, molded, was not installed correctly, probably was never sealed/oiled, etc.
This is my personal opinion, and also happens to be tied to my line of work, but when I work in the kitchen, I want to be able to easily sanitize my food surface. I feel like I can’t do that with wood. Especially cutting meat on wood. I would much rather have a cutting board I can wash in hot soapy water (plastic) and a cleanable (stainless steel, laminate, etc.) counter.
Emily says
I wouldn’t cut directly on butcher block counters any more than I would cut directly on laminate or tile or granite. If you do, of course it will compromise the finish and lead to water damage, just as it would scratch laminate or stain grout or damage your knife with granite. I just don’t really think it’s reasonable to expect that out of any counter material. We have butcher block counters that we had professionally finished with a marine grade poly, and it looks beautiful after two years of heavy use, but we always use cutting boards. The wood isn’t porous as long as the finish isn’t damaged, so cleaning has never been an issue.
Mary Elizabeth says
Stephanie, chances are your landlord cheaped out on the butcher block as he did all the other elements in the house. I chose butcher block on my kitchen island. (I won’t mention the brand, but when we ordered it the lumberyard said it is the best brand on the market.) People can do some research and (as Pam says) consult a licensed public health professional, and they can learn how to care for the counter properly. I think you will find they are not any more difficult to disinfect than any other surface. We have a close friend who is a chef, and one year the local health department made him replace all the wood cutting boards in his kitchen with acrylic, then the next year they issued new regulations that stated that germs live longer in acrylic scratched surfaces than wooden ones, so he should go back to wood!
Mind you, in spite of the name of the product, I never cut raw meat on my real maple butcherblock. I have a special cutting board for meat that gets sterilized in the dishwasher. I also don’t cut beets on it, for obvious reasons, but most stains come out with white vinegar. We clean it after every use (and sometimes before), and once a month it gets oiled with food grade mineral oil. It has cut marks on it, of course, but no dings or chips after five years. When we get tired of the cut marks, we can sand it down and retreat it.
I have another friend who has maple wood counters (solid, not butcherblock) in her country style kitchen. They were coated by the builder in polyurethane, and the countertops look good after over 10 years in place. Again, unlike other surfaces, wood can be refinished in place. But for the rest of my countertops, I prefer laminate.
Stephanie says
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comment Mary Elizabeth! This is why I love this blog.
So, Amber, go research different products and find the best quality materials. I assume that, in my rental, because the dishwasher, base cabinets, and sink are Ikea, that the butcher block is Ikea. I am also pretty sure they were not installed by a professional nor lovingly maintained. Oh, if I could only install this boomerang laminate!
Amber says
Thank you for your reply Stephanie, and yes thank you Mary Elizabeth and Emily. I think it’s true there’s no one ‘best’ kitchen material, only figuring out what will work for you. I appreciate everyone’s input and will continue to read more.
Emily says
I’m realizing my comment sounds sort of judgy – sorry! I think the rustic look is fine; I just hear a lot of people poo-poo wood counters because they expected the original, more polished look, but used them as a cutting board. Mary Elizabeth, your counter sounds lovely and well maintained.
pam kueber says
It’s been on my list — for several years, ack! — to do a story on wood countertops!
Amber says
Yes, I wouldn’t ever try to cut meat on wood counters, but I wondered if vegetables and such were okay if you resanded and refinished it periodically. I wouldn’t try cutting on any other surfaces, granite, steel and quartz dull knife blades and laminate gets those cut marks in it I have seen so frequently in rental apartments, but I was curious if that worked for wood.
Jay says
I intend to order caramel, jade and beige samples this evening at home. Is it necessary to register with Wilsonart to obtain the samples?
pam kueber says
I had to, not sure if there’s a way around it. They then sent an email conf etc
Crewmom says
Pam, I think that remodelista should include you in their focus on mid-century modern this week! Note that Tuesday’s post is on mid century companies being continued by family members!
http://www.remodelista.com/posts/table-of-contents-midcentury-revival-week-of-feb-1-2016
pam kueber says
Thanks, I think they are on the outreach list!
Stephanie says
I just ordered my samples. I can’t wait to see the Jade, pink, and aqua!
Reader Deb says
Crème Caramel and Friendly Beige are on their way.
Reader Deb says
Samples arrived! The Crème Caramel is perfect for my remodel. Goes with the woodwork, the white steel cabinets, and there is a tiny bit of grey in it that pops next to the stainless steel sink for the backsplash. Great job on the design!
pam kueber says
Yay! Glad to hear it! Send me photos when your project is done and ready for prime time!
sherree says
Just ordered samples! I can’t wait to see them 🙂
Amypie says
UPDATE: Samples are available in all color ways now!
pam kueber says
WOOT!
Jennifer says
Ordered! Been dancing with anticipation!
pam kueber says
Yay! Me too!
Amber says
WOW! Talk about timely for my family! My sister and her husband are close to getting a house with, guess what, a pink boomerang kitchen counter. Well, that is to say their offer was accepted contingent on some pest reports and inspections but hopefully with in the next few weeks that will be done and the house will be theirs. Sadly, the counter is covered in pits, but the color has held up really well. My sister and I both really like vintage kitchen stuff so she was planning on living with the pits for the time being, but now I can tell her she can order a sample of the new pink boomerang and maybe a few others to compare. I will be interested to see how the pinks compare.
It’s nice to know there is the option of maintaining the look, but having it be new and nice. She really likes tile so I figured she would replace the laminate with tile if it got replaced but this might change her mind. Can you tell I am vicariously excited about this kitchen?
pam kueber says
Yay! Yes, I can tell! I would be, too!
Mary Elizabeth says
Amber, in case your sister doesn’t know, the old laminate can be covered with the new laminate quite easily! She may want to replace the chrome trim, if there is some. No need to remove the countertop. It is much easier in older houses than changing laminate to some other type of surface, and it adds no appreciable height to the counter.
Good luck to her. We would love to see this kitchen when (I say “when,” not “if,” to add to her good luck. 🙂
Amber says
There is chrome trim! I’m going to see if I can manage to link a picture The chrome trim is in better condition than the counter tops. The issue with the chrome would be more that the kitchen is in ‘pieces’ if you will, only the corner counter, cabinets and sinks are one piece. The stove and refrigerator are free standing and there is sort of a free standing chest of drawers with some kind of laminate tile on top. so I would imagine when she has enough money to do a serious fixing of the kitchen, making a more continuous counter top would be a priority, which might mean putting in a new, bigger shape of laminate over the old counter and a new section, which might have to mean a new chrome strip so it matches?
She’s not much for computers but I will point this site out to her as I don’t know how many other resources there are for this kind of remodeling, if that’s what she does.
pam kueber says
That’s likely stainless steel trim. (not chromed)
We have written about this a lot. See our stories/research here https://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/countertops/
Amber says
Ah, thank you!