-- Every 10 to 15 Years Diner Style Kitchens Make a Comeback;
Wilsonart Laminate Asks the Experts Why --

TEMPLE, Texas, August 15, 2005 – Despite the rash of high-end kitchens that have captured the wallets and imaginations of consumers nationwide, one style has remained on the design radar screen off and on for decades and is now back in vogue – diner style.   What is it about the gingham prints, bright colors, stainless steel and laminate interiors of these super iconic establishments that hold special appeal for homeowners?   Wilsonart® Laminate asks those in the know to share their insight. 

Says Grace Jeffers, design historian and consultant to Wilsonart, “Diners are fun, nostalgic, friendly and American.   They don’t have diners in Europe.  They have cafés.”

New York-based interior designer Andrew Raquet attributes the attraction to comfort food.   “Psychologically people associate diners with comfortable places.   At diners, you can order French toast at 11 p.m. They’re also the perfect place for families.  No one cares if your child squirts ketchup on the table,” he says.  And just about everyone has frequented a diner, no matter their economic status or geographical location. 

“A lot of the appeal of diner style is the functionality,” explains Raquet.   The vinyl booth seats, laminate tables and countertops, linoleum floors and brushed stainless steel are extremely easy to clean.   Says Raquet, “Diners were probably one of the first restaurants to use laminate on the walls instead of paint because it is so easy to maintain.” 

The diner industry experienced its heyday post-World War II when the country’s economic boom made automobiles affordable to the average person.   As Americans took to the road and the federal government expanded the highway network to accommodate them, diners were there to provide hot meals along the way.  

Today, diners are a recognized part of American history.   According to the introduction in “Hometown Diners” by Robert O. Williams (Harry N. Abrams, Inc.), it says, “It has taken a while, but the preservation community has finally come to accept the great American diner as a historical treasure.   By 1998 seven examples were listed in our National Historic Register of Historic Places, and we now finally recognize diners as unique expressions of ingenuity and culture.  People from around the world seek to patronize and photograph them.”

For consumers, the diner experience encompasses everything from accessories, to colors, to materials.   Irresistible accessories include glass straw holders with chrome tops, glass domed cake stands, straw baskets for French fries, stacks of white Poulsen dishes, bubble-shaped Nelson lamps, commercial ranges and under-counter refrigerators.

Vintage diner color schemes include aluminum, silver, white, black, gray, sky blue, yellow, red, coral-orange and gingham prints. 

Creating a diner style kitchen at home can be accomplished on a variety of budgets.   “If the homeowner is just trying to evoke nostalgia, then the cost of the kitchen shouldn’t be too bad,” Raquet says.   “But, it can also be expensive if the homeowner wants it to look like an authentic diner trimmed in stainless.”

In addition to a comprehensive line of laminates in more than 200 patterns and colors, Wilsonart has two metallic product lines that consumers can use to create that diner style on a practical budget – Decorative Metals and MetalFX.   Decorative Metals are real aluminum sheets that are ideal for vertical applications – wall coverings, decorative edging, accents, cabinetry, appliance fronts and backsplashes.   For both vertical and horizontal use, there is MetalFX, a line of metallic-looking laminate in brushed and textured patterns that are durable enough for countertops.

Wilsonart International, based in Temple, Texas, is a leading manufacturer of decorative surfacing products, including Wilsonart® Laminate.  The company’s laminate was a nominee in the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum’s National Design Awards. 

For more information about Wilsonart Laminate or any Wilsonart product, please call the Customer Service Hotline at 800-433-3222, or visit www.countertop.com

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