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Home / Kitchen / Countertops

Nevamar introduces 20 new retro countertop laminate designs — including Venus from Kyrsten’s vintage chain set find!

Pam Kueber - October 17, 2019, Updated: October 27, 2021

nevamar venus white
nevamar venus turquoise
nevamar venus
One of Kyrsten’s samples that helped relaunch Venus!

What a fun story today! Thanks to reader Kyrsten — who found a great sample chain of vintage Nevamar countertop laminates — which she then sent to me — and which Nevamar’s new designer, when doing research, took notice of — we now have: Reintroduced Nevamar Venus laminates — for kitchen and bathroom countertops or other projects that could use this classic material — in two colorways! Yes, the team at Nevamar contacted me a while back… I sent them the sample chips… and today they are reintroducing an accurate reproduction of Venus — in turquoise and white — along with 18 other retro and mid century inspired patterns. 

nevamar kinetic laminate in turquoisenevamar kinetic pink abstract laminate retro nevamar kinetic laminate white mid century modern

Great new choices for countertops and even vanities

I love the two Venus colorways. And I’m also loving the Kinetic design in four colorways — I’m still waiting to see the chips in person, but these look terrific! It’s all part of Nevamar’s 80th birthday celebration. Hooray — new retro laminates in real patterns for our countertops and even vanities!!! And you’re reading about them here first. Let’s take a look!

nevamar kinetic laminate gray retro mcm

From the Press Release:

ePanolam® Surface Systems Introduces Yesteryears™ Collection

boomerang laminate lilac nevamar

Retro-inspired surfaces designs celebrate 80 years of the Nevamar Brand

Panolam Surface Systems, a leading supplier of integrated surface solutions today introduced the Yesteryears™ Collection, a mix of 20 new and retro designs which include rich woodgrains, abstracts and solids that are inspired by some of Nevamar’s most popular patterns throughout the past 80 years.

Fresh enough for use in today’s interiors, these designs combine form and function providing a certain sense of nostalgia that creates an immediate connection between the design and the user.

“The Yesteryears Collection is a grouping of 20 new designs: 14 for Nevamar and 6 new Inspira™ Digital to add to the mix,” said Wendy Noory, Director of Design, for Panolam Surface Systems. “In researching the brand’s history, we discovered an old Nevamar chain set on Retro Renovation, a website that features vintage design items, and several of the Yesteryears styles are inspired by these designs from this 1950’s chain set.”

nevamar boomerang laminate carbon black

Offered in both High Pressure and FRL® Fiber Reinforced Laminates, the Yesteryears™ Collection is suitable for many market segments including corporate, retail, healthcare, and hospitality.

About Panolam
For more than 80 years, Panolam Surface Systems has engineered and manufactured high-quality, innovative surfacing solutions for a wide range of contract, industrial and residential applications. With an extensive line of high-pressure laminates, thermally fused laminates, fiber reinforced laminates and other specialty products available in hundreds of colors and styles under the well-known Panolam, Nevamar, Pionite, Conolite, and other brand names. Panolam Surface Systems provides the vision, value and versatility designers, architects, manufacturers and contractors are looking for today. For more information, visit http://www.panolam.com. 

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Nice, huh! The Yesteryears collection is here.

Video: How I used metal counter edge on my kitchen countertops:

Yesteryears Styles:

nevamar kinetic laminate pink

Kinetic – relating to or resulting from motion – A stylized, non-directional abstract pattern in 4 colorways that are unique to the mid-century modern time period yet contemporary in today’s standards.

nevamar raffia laminate aqua

Raffia – has a woven wicker appearance; available in 3 colorways – Gold Mini Raffia, Aqua Mini Raffia, and Tangerine Mini Raffia. 

pear green laminate nevamar

Blushing Pink, Pear Green, Marigold Fields and Soft Island Breeze are four new solids to coordinate with the woodgrains and abstracts from the Yesteryears™ Collection.  These colors will make you feel as you just stepped into this time period yet fresh enough for usage in today’s interiors.

The new Inspira™ Digital pattern, Boomerang is a historic replica of the original boomerang; a popular parabolic or amoeba-shaped design motif that was popular during the MCM movement and is offered in 2 colorways.

midcentury modern walnut laminate nevamar
walnut laminate nevamar

Mid-Mod Walnut – This woodgrain is a Black Walnut, historic to the time of MCM.  Mulitiple tones of light to medium with cathedrals, graining and subtle knots.  They will blend with the abstracts and solids to create harmonious balance.  Doors, cabinetry, and furniture will look amazing in this new walnut woodgrain.

miesian laminate nevamar

Miesian

Noun – an admirer or student of the German-born architect and designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe or his work; “he produces work that Miesians would see as impure”

Adj – relating to or characteristic of the German-born architect and designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe or his work.  Term is derived from the sparse style of architect and designer, Mies Van der Rohe; he is regarded as one of the pioneers of modernist architecture.  This linear woodgrain in a deep, cognac color with subtle variations of tone.  This engineered wood simulates a teak wood which was very popular during this time period.

retro laminate plane tree maple nevamar

Planetree Maple
A simple, elegant maple in a cream tone.  An open woodgrain with very subtle graining and minimal knots.  This woodgrain has a Scandinavian feel and perfect for the MCM collection.

nevamar laminate chain
The dusty sample chain that Kyrsten found and sent to me — and which I sent to Nevamar for this project. Woot! Venus brought back to life. We have such a great community. Thank you, Kyrsten!

Venus 2 is a new Inspira™ Digital pattern and a replica of the original 1950’s Venus pattern.  Starbursts and dots randomly placed to create a fun, retro design in 2 colorways.    

nevamar odenten neon laminate
nevamar pink lady odenton laminate

The new Inspira Digital pattern Odenton is a colorful, bold retro design that leans towards the later time period of the beginning 60’s movement.  Two colorways to coordinate with our new solids and abstracts.

Where to see these laminates and get info about ordering:

  • Nevamar Yesteryears retro and mid century inspired laminate collection launched Oct. 17, 2019
  • For ordering, contact a local rep or a Nevamar distributor in your territory.  

Isn’t this exciting, dear readers? 
Which design is your favorite? 

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Reader Interactions

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36 comments

Comments

  1. Cathleen says

    October 25, 2019 at 11:42 am

    Samples are generally free as long as you don’t “over” order. You can order from https://panolam.com/nevamar. Or you can also order from your local distributor. if you click on find a distributor it will bring up the map and up can enter your state. You can also purchase the sheet goods through the distributors. ( I happen to work for one.) Most won’t be able able to lay up the material as a countertop, but can recommend someone if you can’t do it yourself. Laminate countertops aren’t that difficult if you have the right tools. Distributors stock samples, too. Typically they have chip size and 4×6. You can get 7×9 or 12×12 but you’d have to go through a rep to get those.

  2. jimmyo says

    October 21, 2019 at 9:33 am

    Vintage Camper folks should be excited. The Raffia in turquoise, is very close to what was in our 1961 Shasta deluxe 1900. The orig was a little more seafoam. Regardless, this would do well for those attempting most accurate restorations. The hardest thing might be resisting the temptations of so many insanely groovier patterns!

  3. Diane Miller says

    October 20, 2019 at 6:01 pm

    Pam,

    I love everything about this story! The stars aligned as perfectly as the starbursts appear in the Venus laminate reproduction sample! From Kyrsten sharing her sample chain with you to Wendy from Panolam reaching out to you months later.

    Thank you Kyrsten, Pam, Wendy, and all involved in making this happen!

    Pam, how does this make you feel? So cool to be a part of history in the industry you love.

    Congratulations and keep up the great work. We readers appreciate you very much.

    Warm regards,
    Diane Miller

    • Pam Kueber says

      October 21, 2019 at 6:56 am

      This makes me very happy — especially for Kyrsten!

  4. Christi says

    October 20, 2019 at 11:46 am

    How much are the samples?

    • Pam Kueber says

      October 20, 2019 at 11:55 am

      I don’t know, check the website…

    • Cloudy says

      October 27, 2019 at 10:05 pm

      The samples are free and come extremely fast. They are wonderful.

  5. Dan says

    October 19, 2019 at 10:02 am

    Love Odenton, but see it more as a backsplash.

  6. Ronda Vallejo says

    October 18, 2019 at 8:51 am

    Fantastic!

  7. Neil Rhoads says

    October 18, 2019 at 2:46 am

    If you want to see a pic of a very large, repeating expanse of any of these, you can google:
    Nevamar Inspira Digital Odenton
    and find a site that has many pictures of various domestic and commercial settings, with many surfaces covered in laminate. Choose a setting picture and click on a surface, and then choose your laminate, and presto-change-o…..the picture will show up with all the surfaces covered in your favorite pattern. To scale.
    Some of the patterns will knock your eyes out…..some will elicit a yawn.
    Neil

  8. Andi says

    October 17, 2019 at 11:50 pm

    Oh my goodness! I just ordered a sample of Odenton Neon Lights for an original 1965 kitchen in a newly purchased city condo. Exactly the colors I planned to use (with SW Holiday Turquoise walls).
    Thanks for this great information—as always, Pam!

    • Christi says

      October 20, 2019 at 4:00 pm

      How much were the samples?

      • Andi says

        October 22, 2019 at 1:11 am

        Hi Christi,
        I only ordered the one, and it was free. Two size options were given, I chose the larger size (about 4 x 5 inches). It came on Saturday—2 days after I ordered it! It is fabulous-looking in person, more grounded colors than the online image, I love it.

        • Pam Kueber says

          October 22, 2019 at 7:11 am

          Thanks for sharing, Andi. Yes, I should have added: I got my chain set from Nevamar right after the story published and they look great!

  9. Linda says

    October 17, 2019 at 10:44 pm

    This. Is. Awesome.

    Have been looking for just the right laminate for the retrogression of a bathroom. White Kinetic looks like the perfect complement for our vintage White Random Block floor tile from Classic Tile.

    Samples being ordered. Want to be sure there’s enough contrast with a white vanity and Kohler Tahoe sink w/hudee ring.

    Now if Pink Lemonade (or Raffia) had just been red … we’d be measuring for new kitchen countertops!

  10. Lori says

    October 17, 2019 at 7:34 pm

    So pretty but I’m still keeping my grandma’s original white with gold sprinkles counter top

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