Today, Formica’s range of high-quality designs is so vast and realistic that from afar, one can’t even tell that it’s laminate instead of the natural stone or wood grain it’s trying to replicate. Flat edges and dark seams were once tell-tale signs that laminate was in place, but now there are several countertop edges available that mimic luxe materials and classic profiles. Formica’s 180fx Laminate series, for example, revolves around surfaces in pared-back shades of beige, gray, brown, and white that flaunt convincing vein and grain details that call to mind slabs of Calacatta marble, wide-planked walnut, and crisp watercolor steel. If, like me, it’s a glossy red you clamor for, Formica still produces a few old-school bold varieties.
