Wilsonart is discontinuing their “Betty” and “Endora” laminate designs as “stock” laminates by the end of this year, with plans to move them to their Virtual Design Library (VDL). However, Wilsonart does not sound certain the move the the VDL line will work. So as I say when this kind of change is afoot: If you want this stuff for your kitchen or bathroom, get while the getting is good. Above: Nancy used Betty for the countertops in her kitchen remodel.
Thanks to the several reader Tami, who sent me this tip. Wilsonart confirms:
Question:
Can you confirm whether “Betty” and “Endora” laminate patterns are being discontinued by Wilsonart, effective 12/1/2017.
Wilsonart:
Yes, that is correct.
We will be moving forward to try to convert these designs to the Virtual Design Library (Retro category) by the end of the year. Please keep in mind that not all designs can be successfully converted into VDL. As the team works through the process, they will keep us all updated.
Question:
Thank you. If they go VDL, the price will be significantly higher, right?
Wilsonart:
For an average size kitchen, we typically say ~ $3-5 psf (uninstalled). Check with your local dealer for a price quote.
Note, as shown above: I calculate prices on Home Depot for the product as stock 4′ x 8′ at under $1.80/s.f., also uninstalled. So you can see the difference.
Why stock laminate rocks:
- Stock laminates are typically made with top-layer “deco” papers with designs that are pre-printed (on rotogravure printers) in large runs.
- Because they are mass produced, the price for stock laminates is generally several times less than for digital-print papers like Wilsonart’s VLD line, which printed to order.
- Stock papers are widely available at big box stores and generally have little wait time.
Digital print papers like those in Wilsonart’s Virtual Design Library:
- Conversely, digital prints are made to order.
- They are more expensive, as a result.
- There may be a delay in getting these, because they are made to order and you need to get in line.
- But a big advantage: Digital printing opens up endless possibilities. Our Retro Renovation®by Wilsonart laminates are digitally printed.
Wilsonart’s Betty and Endora laminates were introduced to the market in Summer 2015. It’s sad to see them dropped from the stock lineup. Abstract-design laminates, like those that were popular in the 1950s and into the 1960s, will now be virtually non-existent as stock offerings.
Links:
- Wilsonart Betty
- Wilsonart Endora
- Wilsonart’s Virtual Design Library
- All our research on laminates to consider for your Retro Renovation.
ineffablespace says
For people who are discouraged about the lack of vintage look appliances I would think about it this way:
Even in true time capsules, you rarely find a full complement of original appliances. There are usually some replacements.
Looking at real estate I would say that refrigerators almost always are replaced, followed by dishwashers. The longest term survivors seem to be separate wall ovens and cooktops.
When my parents’ house was sold after 45 years the cabinets, countertops, and wall ovens were original. They were on their third DW and refrigerator.
Ironically we had two more 45 year old refrigerators in the house, basement and bar, that worked fine however they were basic one door units with interior freezer doors with manual defrost. The simpler the mechanics, the longer things will usually last. The electronics and computers are what kill off modern appliances.
So I really think it’s the other details rather than the appliances that make a vintage look kitchen. By the mid 1960s appliances more closely resembled the more basic appliances of today than Big Chill and the like. They take their style cues from 1950-1960.
Catherine says
I put this in our jack-and-Jill bathroom recently and LOVE it. Now I need to re prioritize the other bathroom and wet bar projects … thanks for the heads up!
Alison says
I always feel so discouraged when materials like this are discontinued. Remember GE Aristry Series Appliances?
No they weren’t Big Chill but they were a fraction of the cost with a “nod to the past” as they were promoted. Sadly, GE discontinued the line just as I was getting ready to order some. We’d been planning them in our design for two years. Yes order any laminate you have your heart set on now. At least it’s easier to store than appliances!
Wendi Dunlap says
Ugh, yeah. I was all set to buy the Artistry appliances and found out they’d just gone away. And Big Chill, et al. are ridiculously expensive.
I haven’t been able to decide whether Betty should go on my countertops or not (they are a perfectly acceptable white ice sort of pattern) but maybe I could use it for a backsplash…
Alison says
I think the backsplash might actually give more drama to the look against a white counter. Are you doing a metal edge?
Wendi Dunlap says
They don’t have one at the moment. (These are the counters that the previous owners installed last year before I bought the house.)
la573 says
General Electric recently sold their appliance division to China’s Haier (which also sells some appliances in the US under their own name), and the entire lineup is likely to be transformed in the next couple of years; some of their models are already quite different.
Patti Cannan says
Phooey! I’m so glad I put Betty in my kitchen. I even used it as the shower surround in my Tiny House! I said when I move from this house I’ll miss my happy kitchen so now it’ll live on in the tiny house ☺️
ineffablespace says
While my own house is a little too new (1965) and too severe (Brutalist-leaning with a rough-looking dark stained open raftered third floor) for something like this in the kitchen, I was thinking (still am thinking) of doing something on the *inside* of the kitchen cabinets. They are going to have to be custom anyway, because several ducts and almost all the plumbing goes up along one wall in the kitchen and trying to fit semi custom cabinets would waste a lot of space.
I may end up having to go with something like Abet Laminati if I want an actual solid color of some pastel lining the stained cabinets, but it seems a little obtuse to go pricey to have a hidden feature. But, since it doesn’t exist at a “regular” laminate company… 🙁
Pam Kueber says
Formica has pastels. I just checked.
Pam Kueber says
oopsy. I think I was on the Hong Kong site. now need to go look at US
ineffablespace says
Formica international has some great patterns. England has a blush pink for example. America does not have much to offer in plain pastels. The American website also has more offerings under “Commercial” or “Designer” or whatever the non-Homeowner link is, than they do in the home owner link.
I tend to check all these sites often just in case something randomly appears (which rarely happens) –but it has been quite helpful when something randomly DISappears, which does seem to happen quite often. This is how I ended up with my Kohler Taboret faucets, and one of the last Kohler Ice Grey cast iron bathtubs in America. One day they were there, the next they were gone or came up as “Discontinued”. I ordered a bathtub immediately and it sat inside my front door for a couple years.
sherree says
Ugh. Also glad I got my Betty while she lasted. I guess we (those of us who care to renovate/ remodel/ decorate in the actual style of our homes) are a rare breed.
Nikki says
I am using Endora in an upcoming bathroom remodel. It has already been ordered. It will be paired with a pink toilet and the Merola University tile, also in pink, and all thanks to RetroRenovation. I can’t wait!
Kristin says
So glad I got my Endora while it was cheap and readily available!
Carolyn says
Geez, this is coming at a pretty silly time. Think how many MCm’s are only now coming on to the market with those who chose to age in place moving to alternative housing (assisted living, etc.)
Ah, well, if the look is what you’re after, cost may not be a factor. At least you can get SOMEthing retro and true to the period instead of “making do”.
What stinks, tho’, is Betty and Endora weren’t “in your face” retro but a neutral (if a pattern can be neutral) and those who didn’t appreciate the retro look weren’t offended by “old”.
Thanks for the head’s up!
ineffablespace says
I think there are probably not enough people who are interested in vintage-style laminates in Googie sorts of patterns to make financial sense for companies to keep it as a stock item.
I like laminate. But for the vast majority of people laminate is “low end” and when you can now get granite countertops for less money than custom fabricated laminate countertops, that’s what people are going to do, because granite is considered more durable and more desirable. If you add on the layer of the laminate production being custom and more expensive, it becomes even more problematic.
I think one of the factors is this. The houses that are really getting the attention for full, careful restoration are the more sophisticated architect-y houses — pure modernism, not so much “modest” transitional modernism like many of the houses featured in Retrorenovation. I am talking about people who are outside the Retrorenovation sphere.
While many of these houses were relatively modest, usually when there was an architect involved with the entire process there were very few popular culture design elements used in the architecture itself. They used plain laminates and tile and you rarely saw patterned wall coverings. Frank Lloyd Wright liked pink fixtures but many of his bathrooms seemd to have stone countertops, and the kitchens (which he was not too interested in) had plain laminate tops (Often Navajo Red).
So, now when these houses get restored, the budgets are often very high, and no one, outside a house museum, is going to install laminate. In the majority of these houses I seen very plain quartz going in, or stainless steel, or sometimes a natural stone, which I think sometimes looks okay, sometimes not so much.
And for the people doing more modest restorations. I don’t think that most people are interested in being so accurate that they would install laminate (which has the reputation of being bad for resale).
Bette Jean says
Always love reading your comments. Very informative.
Vintigchik says
I prefer laminate to stone tops. They are very cold to work on. People think that the phantom future buyer is going to love the quartz or stone tops they chose. More often the tops get ripped out. Also, when I show customers laminate many do not realize it’s not stone. Or if i tell them that I’m doing laminate in my kitchen they then admit they like it. It’s all about keeping up with the Joneses until you show them the price.
Carolyn says
Just watched a reno show where the wife said people shy away from quartz because of its care needs and “All you have to do is condition it a couple of times a year…” Seems to me, with laminate, it’s installed and you wipe it when you’re done making a mess on it (food prep, etc.)
And, yes, the stone countertops seem to be the first thing to go on these shows.
cathie says
That’s the key and the problem with laminate. Its a fantastic product, affordable, durable, and so many choices. But…. if you’re not a handyperson and have to pay for installation as well as a plumber to remove the sink/faucet and then re-install it after the counter goes in, then, most will go to granite because its really only a few hundred dollars more. I would go with laminate in a heartbeat, but believe it or not, I couldn’t find anyone to install it. We have a handful of laminate fabricators here, but they don’t install, and had no interest in helping me find one, either. Its been hugely frustrating.
maria says
So true.
In my neck of the woods, laminate was considered low end even at the time, my 1959 house has original tile instead and that or laminate wouldn’t fly around here for resale now. I hope someone snags some of this, it’s beautiful fun and neutral.