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.
Lesa says
We installed Betty in our kitchen and also had the aluminum banding put around the countertop edges. Everyone loves it and asked where we found it. It was not expensive and it is so easy to clean. We had a stainless backsplash installed with it and it looks great, we would highly recommend this countertop.
Danna says
Hello everyone! I’m so sorry to hear this! We just installed Betty laminate in our kitchen of our 61 mcm. It looks fabulous! I will send pics as soon as I can. We live in Temple home of Wilsonart. So we had to put Wilsonart laminate in our home. We also used retro renovations boomerang in one of our bathrooms. It took a long time to get the Betty pattern in and installed but it is a beauty!
la573 says
I only once saw either of these two patterns on display in a big-box store in the Wilsonart laminate samples so I’m not surprised they didn’t sell well. Nobody knew about them! And they don’t get advertised either.
The only good news here is that the cost of digital printing is going down and the quality going up. Modern digital printing has already revolutionized laminate flooring – the quality and realism of the patterns is far above what it was 20 years ago. Hopefully the number of custom-orderable countertop laminate patterns will increase in the future. I’m also bullish on 3D printing making reproductions of various old retro stuff available again – it takes only one person anywhere in the world to put their digital files online so anyone can download them and make new 1950s lightswitch plates or whatever they can think of, the only current limitation being the available 3D-printable materials.
Wendi Dunlap says
Well, the opportunity to get a turquoise wall oven and cooktop just fell into my hands this week, so I am definitely getting “Betty” for my countertops now while it’s available! Might as well go whole hog. 😀
Wendellyn Plummer says
My daughter and her husband just redid the kitchen in their early 70’s home. They kept the laminate counter tops as they found granite and other stone tops too time consuming to maintain. Having three young children, they felt the laminates were far more durable. My daughter does have a granite top portable small island in order to do her cakes and candy work on.
Also, from what I’ve been seeing on TV redo shows, a lot of people are going back to laminate tops, again for the look and durability.
Nancy says
So sad! We are t ready to redo our bath and I wanted to use Endora! We love Betty in our kitchen.
Pam Kueber says
It is still available — get it while you can!
Becky says
We just remodeled our kitchen using Wilsonart retro malt laminate. We special ordered it from a small local business listed on Wilsonart’s website and they were about $60 cheaper ($20 per sheet) and a week faster getting it then Home Depot. I know with it being special ordered it will be more expensive, but as I found out it is worth it to check around.
We installed the laminate on countertops and back splashes after watching some YouTube videos. It was not the hard, it was very doable. So, if you are handy you don’t really have to hire it done. I LOVE it, and people have commented how good it looks and goes with the house. Thanks, I would not have even know about it without your website.
Jan says
Why does this always have to happen to extraordinary things? 🙁
linoleummy says
I get the feeling more people would go for these retro sort of things if they weren’t invisible to those who don’t seek out something different from what’s deemed to be in style. “Trending” is in your face everywhere but the fun laminates still have to be asked for by number and vendors dubiously scratch their heads at the decision to go retro. Then they are still modernizing the design out of habit because that’s how it’s done.
Pam Kueber says
I agree. When all folks see on *those TV shows* is quartz, they don’t even know the choices. Mind you: I would guess that all those TV countertops are product placement…
Lisa Compo says
It’s almost as if “retro” tried to squeeze or sneak into mainstream with the attemp of GE Artistry and the Wilsonart laminates, but there weren’t enough of “us” to make it financially worthwhile for these companies to keep these items available.
I was pleased to see the availability because it made me feel like there were enough others with retro interests….that I wasn’t alone in my quest for an older look home. I certainly feel at home and relaxed in our little group here, but when I admit it in general public people often look at me like I’m some sort of kook. Real estate agents especially flip out when you ask for a house in original condition, and walls that separate rooms. LOL
I’m 48 and have always beat to my own drum, and freely admit that I am a little odd in my interests. I may be a little kooky, but somehow always get compliments on my creations. 🙂 But seeing the upcoming sale of B &W tile and now this is saddening…resources to decorate my new/old house are drying up daily. At this rate it will be down to hunting salvage stores and trying to catch house flippers before they tear out stuff. Even IKEA doesn’t have quite as workable a selection as it seemed a few years ago. Oh friends, it’s getting more challenging everyday.
Pam Kueber says
Again, remember: B&W is “for sale” – we do not know if anything will be discontinued.
Wendi Dunlap says
I’d say that Artistry may have failed *because* they didn’t go far enough. They looked cool, but not different enough to be worth a premium. All the home magazines feature Big Chill-type fridges — one that looked like it with color choices, etc. for the price of an Artistry would sell, I think. But they were too timid.
I just hate the stainless steel appliances my house came with… I wish it was easier to change the color. If they would make most fridges with replaceable panels….!
Alison says
One of the reasons it was doomed was how corporate GE decided to limit to black and white and then ONLY have displays in black at Home Depot! Who wants “retro” black appliances unless you are creating a 90’s kitchen? So many people doing a Farmhouse look were looking for white and they could have captured that crowd and the retro crowd but they never reached them. Then big changes tok place at GE. They moved from Fairfield CT to Boston. (I’m in Fairfield and the exodus has really hurt property values.) With the restructuring of GE, they are less interested in appliances and want to pursue other high tech fields. I actually interviewed a member of the marketing team for Artistry and they were so disappointed in what happened. They had hoped to introduce turquoise or red.
Wendi Dunlap says
Funny, my kitchen is turquoise and red. :/ I would have bought those in a heartbeat.