Good news: Wilsonart’s Betty and Endora, proven favorites among Retro Renovators, are now available again via the company’s Virtual Design Library.
These two laminate designs — available for several years as “stock” laminates were loved for their midcentury modern-like biomorphic designs and because they used real colors: aqua and pink! We also loved them because they were “stock” laminates — made via mass production using deco paper and available at off-the-shelf laminate prices.
I am presuming sales were not robust enough for Wilsonart to justify continuing mass production. But good news: They were successful in moving this to their made-to-order Virtual Design Library.
Prices will be higher than stock laminate, but that’s the cost of having non-mass-market tastes. Some more good news: Wilsonart tells me that these two laminates also will be sold straight from Home Depot online shortly.
Link love:
- Get Wilsonart Betty and Endora samples direct from Wilsonart — part of the Virtual Design Library’s “Retro” collection
- Home Depot links — to come!
- All our stories about Wilsonart Betty including examples of its use in reader kitchens and bathrooms
- All our stories about Wilsonart Endora including examples of its use in reader kitchens and bathrooms
- Our entire category about resources for Kitchen Countertops
kathy Gillespie says
Virtual designs are so expensive. I ended up using linoleum for my countertops and I love the color and the design!!!
Pam Kueber says
They are not that expensive. A 12-foot long sheet of 5′ wide Retro Renovation by Wilsonart laminate is just $231 on Home Depot right now. I expect the Betty and Endora will be priced similarly… https://www.homedepot.com/s/wilsonart%2520retro%2520renovation?NCNI-5
linoleummy says
i don’t get why Wilsonart dealers, like countertop makers, don’t even know about the VDL. Only professional designers and Pam’s readers…?
Carolyn says
What drew me to these two designs is that they are true to the era while being palatable to the current trends. While we in the RR Nation love us our boomerangs, they don’t appeal to everyone because vintage laminate is “dated”. And that’s where Betty & Endora come in. They update without looking goofy or not-quite-right.
I would not want to endure the expense and upkeep of today’s fascination with stone, concrete, and stainless only to look at the result one day and finally figure out what’s wrong with it being in certain homes. MCm’s wouldn’t have been able to afford high end countertops and they also needed to take constant abuse. Even when touring houses that weren’t kept up for maybe the last couple of decades, the materials pretty much only needed a bit of Spic ‘n’ Span and good old-fashioned elbow grease to bring them back.
Lynn says
I noticed they weren’t on the wall with the other laminate samples anymore. Hopefully the ordering of this is easier than the experience I had. I tried and tried to order something from the Virtual Design Library at Home Depot and got the runaround. No one would call me back and I couldn’t find another place where Wilsonart said I could order. I finally ended up finding a gold glitter at the ReStore for one bathroom and ordering a stock Cararra or Calcutta marble laminate (can’t remember which one) for the other, which ended up looking amazing with my blue sink so I’m happy. I still wish they made it easier because there are so many amazing designs in the Virtual Design Library and they send you wonderful giant samples!
Pam Kueber says
These are going to be available online at Home Depot — like our Retro Renovation by Wilsonart laminates https://www.homedepot.com/s/retro%2520renovation?NCNI-5 — so obtaining them should be easy peasy.
Barbara says
Pamela, hows the quality? Have you gotten any feedback from buyers?
Are the samples free?
I can’t wait for Home Depot start stocking this beautiful laminate. You can even save on S&H cost.
What about maintenance?
Thanks so much for the info Pamela!
Pam Kueber says
Hi Barbara, yes the samples are free. Re quality and maintenance, talk to Wilsonart. Note, I don’t encourage reviews here because I don’t know who may be making them.
Nikki says
Wilsonart provides free samples from their website, and in fairly large pieces (5 in by 8 in or so) so that you can get a good idea of a pattern. I used Endora for a half bath last summer. It looks great, and is easy to take care of.
Elizabeth from Central PA says
Coincidentally, I ordered this last week and it arrrived today. It is fine weave texture. It feels so smooth and exactly what I was looking for to replace my vintage white glitter Formica (sniffle). I love this texture as the other laminate samples are a bit rougher.
Pam Kueber says
Elizabeth, did you get some of the last stock laminate — or did you get VDL?
Elizabeth from Central PA says
VDL. I was surprised to see it in there so I immediately ordered my samples. I have been testing it with soy sauce, balsamic….no staining after wiping with water. Looking good! It looks terrific too with my soon to be St Charles Holiday Turquoise cabinets (technically RAL 6027). They are at powder coaters now (we spent January doing a sample cabinet). Not sure what countertop we will do yet but Betty is a great option for this color cabinet.
Nancy Bekofske says
We have Betty in our kitchen for almost three years now. They are doing great. I’d you use a knife on them, small scratches do appear. We love them.