A Look Inside Wilson House: A Showcase of Laminate

Decoranytime

Engineered surfaces manufacturer Wilsonart marks its 70th anniversary this year, a perfect time to revisit Wilson House, the residence and showcase built by the company’s founder, Ralph Wilson, Sr.

Located in Temple, Texas, where the Wilsonart Americas headquarters is maintained today, Wilson House was designed by the visionary’s daughter, Bonnie. It was completed in 1959, a few years after he moved from California to the Lone Star State, and founded what was known as the Ralph Wilson Plastics Company.

The patriarch not only wanted a home to live in, but also a place where he could experiment with products and make adjustments on the spot. “The house has many features that were ahead of their time,” says Kate Grossman, vice president of marketing and design at Wilsonart. “It is a living piece of history, but it also tells the story of laminate and Wilsonart.”

The 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom home blends ranch and mid-century modern styles. Inside, Wilson made sure his signature material was everywhere, starting with the center of domesticity in the 1950s—the kitchen. The countertops here are early examples of post-forming, a process where laminate is bent and wrapped to form continuous curves from the top to the side edge.

Laminates are found in the laundry area, bathroom, and most surprisingly, the shower. As Wilson tried different iterations he regularly swapped out various elements like cabinet doors. His wife Sunny and their children were the ideal users. They were in the high-touch zones at all hours and could put durability to the test.

The house also highlights Wilson’s appreciation of bold colors. Not content with typical neutrals, he played with a full spectrum of hues that complement contemporary palettes. A vibrant turquoise enlivens cabinet doors and wall art in the living room, while a sunny orange tint pops on the countertops and matching backsplash. Woodgrains show up too, to add an organic feel to the open interiors.

Wilson House was regularly featured in advertisements, and Wilson would bring clients there to show off his latest creations, always a source of pride for the entrepreneur. Wilsonart purchased the home from Sunny in 1997, and it has since been restored to its original appearance. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is open to visitors by appointment.

This fresh look at Wilson House is sure to provide inspiration to specifiers today, and offers a fresh perspective on this material for the masses. “Ralph was pushing it to its limits so that people could utilize it in different ways,” Grossman notes. “He believed in deeply liveable spaces, and he felt that laminate and the house provided an opportunity to show that.”