If you equate laminated countertops with avocado and a 1960s kitchen, it’s time to fast forward in time. Today’s laminates are offered in hundred of colors and patterns, including designs that mimic authentic stone, such as granite, marble and slate.

P.F. Manufacturing offers over 200 Stock Colors from Major Manufacturers such as Arborite, Formica, Nevamar, Pionite and Wilsonart.

Please click here to see available front laminate Profile edges.

Selecting color

As you decide:

• Consider the colors and tones in your cabinetry, floor, and furnishings.
• Do you want to blend the countertop or set it apart?
• Are you designing it to go with an adjoining family room? If so, take those colors into account.

If you want to blend, stick with neutrals. Variations of white, beige, cream and gray can blend with most kitchen decor. If you want to be bold, try a granite design or a deep green or midnight blue.

All those finishes

A matte finish is flat, while a gloss finish is . . well, glossy. While the matte may be a less vibrant finish, it also is better at hiding scratches and spills. Glossy finishes will shows scratches and fingerprints more easily.

Formica also has a "sparkle" finish, which has some texture. It has a bit more texture than a matte finish but also reflects light differently and has a little more sheen.

When selecting laminated countertops, there are several styles to consider:

•  post-formed, which is machine made and typically includes the backsplash and counter as one piece with rounded edges in various profiles.
• self edge, which has a straight counter with a square edge in front and a separate backsplash on the back of the counter
• bevel edge, with a 45º champhered edge which can be accented to tie into other colors in the kitchen