In addition to our Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart® collection of seven color ways of boomerang laminates, we now calculate four different designs — in 30ish different colorways — of boomerang laminate. I’ve listed all of the known designs on this single page to make it as easy as possible for you to find the boomerang laminate countertop of your dreams — and hooray for all of these wonderful choices!
Video: How I used metal countertop edging in my kitchen
Five designs — lots of colorways — of boomerang laminates available in the U.S. today:
So you want boomerang laminate? Today, there are an astounding 30+ color ways in 4 different designs to choose from. Get ready to dig in to all the options including doing your own comparison shopping.
Formica Skylark Boomerang Countertop Laminate:
Formica boomerang in charcoal – Formica still makes one colorway of its original boomerang design as part of its regular collection. This is the boomerang that started it all — originally called Skylark.
November 2023 update: As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, Formica has introduced a LIMITED EDITION run of its famous Skylark aka boomerang laminate in three retrolicious colors. These are available only via Formica’s Amazon store (affiliate link).
See this story for more information…
Wilsonart boomerang laminate:
Wilsonart Retro boomerangs – High contrast, punchy colors of retro boomerang laminate.
Retro Renovation for Wilsonart boomerang laminate collection:
Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart® boomerang collection – Tone-on-tone midcentury appropriate colors designed with Retro Renovators in mind.
Vitra boomerang laminates made by Wilsonart:
Vitro boomerangs laminates – these are differentiated by their colors on a field-of-white or off-white.
The $$$ benefits of shopping around:
To get started on your comparison shopping, you can check for latest pricing from retro-focused suppliers like Heffrons [disclosure: a longtime advertiser on this blog] and Bars & Booths and also head over to Home Depot and/or other suppliers, who carry some of the designs. In our experience, there can be significant pricing differences, so do your homework and shop around.
Shop around — it can really pay off. Note this comment from Suzanne on our story about ordering samples of our boomerang collection:
Just ordered samples of all of them! Wish these would have been available when I was choosing my colors for my sewing room! I recently used Wintergreen Daisy for a newly created bathroom (former laundry room) in the 1905 farmhouse we are restoring, Yes, 1905 is a little before retro / MCM but the former owners told us that there was no plumbing or electricity until 1948 so I think some retro finishes will be just fine in keeping with the character of the house.
I ordered my countertop from a local lumberyard; I only needed 6 feet but I ordered a 12 foot piece so I would have extra if I wanted it for another project. I think it was around $200 total for the formed countertop; Lowe’s had quoted me almost $800 for the same thing and HD couldn’t figure out how to order from the VDL [Wilsonart’s Virtual Design Library]! I did have to wait about 8 weeks for the countertop but it was totally worth it! Those daisies make me smile every time I go in there! I still have two more bathrooms and a kitchen to do in that house – so glad to see these new boomerang color choices!
Other tips on getting samples and finding fabricators:
- Get samples of the Wilsonart Retros, the Vitro Retros, and the Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart® collection directly from Wilsonart or for a small fee from Home Depot.
- Samples of these designs also are available from Heffrons, Bars & Booths, etc.
- Get the Formica sample from Formica.
Another way to get the googie vibe:
For a different atomic vibe, check out Nevamar’s Venus laminates — reproductions from the original that we helped make happen! Available in two colorways shown above.
Lots of laminate research here on Retro Renovation
Peeples, we cover laminate choices EXTENSIVELY on this blog — go through our Kitchens / Countertops category if you want crackle ice, reproduction Venus, Carrara marble laminate, still-made 1960s laminate, linen-look, Brady Bunch bittersweet orange laminate, etc. etc. etc.
Disclosure from Publisher Pam:
I want readers to know: I do not make money if you buy the laminates in our collection with Wilsonart; “the deal” that I initially had with the company included other elements of consideration. Beyond that, over time, Wilsonart has advertised here, for which Retro Renovation is compensated. 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! – Pam.
Bethany says
Arggghhhh! You have GOT to be kidding! I just JUST (like, two days ago) ordered a different formica because the one and only Wilsonart boomerang – Charcoal – seemed too dark for my kitchen. And I so wanted boomerangs! *head hitting keyboard*
Oh well, I’ve learned to love Betty and so Betty it shall be. Very happy for everyone else and well done, Retro Renovation, for pushing them to offer what the public wants!
pam kueber says
We love Betty too!
Joe Felice says
I’m still waiting to learn what a “colorway” is.
Mary Elizabeth says
A “colorway” is a decorating term used either for a single solid color (blue, pink, turquoise) or more often for a dominant color within something that comes in a combination of colors, such as patterned laminates or printed fabrics. The word first appeared in 1950’s advertising and decorating magazines, so it is a particularly apt term for retro decorating materials. Hope this helps, Joe!
Sara says
Yeehaw! I just ordered samples from Wilsonart. They have some really neat stuff in the Folk Art section too. And I ordered a couple samples of the Baseballs design for my friend who is in love with all things baseball. Can’t wait to see the Boomerangs in person! My kitchen can’t wait either!
Deanne says
I recently put in the Formica Charcoal. It’s fabulous! Hard to tell, but there is just a hint of blue that really pops next to my turquoise walls. I did order 11 other samples but none were quite right. Home Depots in Oregon look at you like you grew a third head, though, when you ask for it. Luckily a place called Linoleum City carries it IN STOCK!
Jay says
Pam and Kate, I think you guys hit the mark with your color choices for the RetroRenovation line. Seeing them in the middle of the line-up I can apreciate how easy on the eye the colorways are, not ones to soon be tired of. It will be interesting to see over time, the amount of interest that Wilsonart sees for the new colors.
ineffablespace says
When you look at all the designs together, I think the colorways that you came up with really fill a niche for the residential market. The other Wilsonart option–the Retro ____ line, seems too frenetic colorwise and density-of-pattern wise to be a good fit for most kitchens. The Retrorenovation colorways (And the Formica) seem most authentic for period home kitchens–the older colorways seem more commercial/diner-ish.
pam kueber says
Thank you. I do think some of the other designs are quite nice, and have seen them used beautifully in readers’ homes. For example, Amber used Retro Butterscotch in her pine kitchen, and I think it looks great! https://retrorenovation.com/2014/06/02/knotty-pine-kitchen-retro-remodel/
Amber says
I have an appointment this Monday to get the Retro Mint in my kitchen. This couldn’t have come at a better time!
Paul says
I received my B&W samples and my Retro Renovation Boomerang samples. I found that First Lady Pink does indeed go very well with 70W pink.
pam kueber says
Great! As part of our development process, Kate toted the samples into her own 70W bathroom to assess and help get a good match!
maria says
It goes pretty well with my 1959 GE pink too, thought that is a bit more “baby pink.”
Here is a picture I took of some samples next to my original 1959 GE Pink oven:
http://s788.photobucket.com/user/4ebay_bucket/media/House/IMG_3464_zpsjavnp96y.jpg.html?sort=2&o=8
Left to right are RR samples: jade, gray, pink, aqua and beige
Paul says
Yes, that is a pretty good match!
pam kueber says
Thanks for the photo, Maria! Also, it’s my experience that the color ‘change’ when you put them down horizontally. The light (or shadow) hits them to lighten or darken them up….
I also tend to believe that as long as the basic undertones are right/similar/same, that once everything is installed your eyes harmonize the colors. Especially once you get accessories in there.
Can’t wait to see what you decide!
Miss TZ says
Hi Pam! Love the pink! I would love to see what your kitchen looks like!
Carolyn says
So Formica now only makes one boomerang laminate even though their name is a common usage like kleenex – how weird is that?!
I have a feeling that the RetroReno from Wilsonart will have more staying power than some of the other choices – retro without being in your face. One of your posts last year had to do with “others” not getting our interest in (ok, obsession!) MCM and asking when we’ll be doing “updating” – using the Wilsonart, they may still not fully get it but can appreciate what we’re trying to do with our classic homes.
I can also see some mix&match going on – subtle in the kitchen and cah-razy in the rumpus room!
Dan says
What this story really highlights is the swell job you did developing the “RR” collection. Your tone-on-tone approach made for much more subtle, authentic, and broadly appealing patterns than the existing collection.