Foo - What a difference new counter tops make!

The contractors just finished installing my new counter tops a couple of hours ago. Once they left I put in the new sink and decided to call it a day. I still have some more work to do, new hood, new hardware, some paint, a little trim, etc but it's looking much better than it used to.

Here are some pictures with the old counter tops.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/kitchenold1.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/kitchenold2.jpg

Here are the new counter tops.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/kitchennew1.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/kitchennew2.jpg

So, what ya think?

So, what ya think?

Very nice!

I think that looks really great!! Really adds an air d'elegance.

Much nicer.
God my kitchen needs remodeling.

Much nicer.
God my kitchen needs remodeling.

I've still got a lot of work to do but this is a start. I just bought the house a couple of months ago so I figure I have plenty of time to do the things I want. As long as I am able to constantly add value it makes spending the money a little easier. Our next "big" expense is about $20,000 in new windows. Hopefully a garage will soon follow that windows.

On a side note, check out my tree that just bloomed a couple of days ago. It's amazing how freaking bright this thing is. It was a nice suprise when we saw it.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/005-2.jpg

Very nice! What are the counter tops made of?

I envy you and your dang countertops.

Very nice, I'm hoping to finish my house this summer. Remodeling can be very rewarding and a nightmare at the same time.

Nice, it'll hardly show the damage when you use them to work on bikes.

Very nice! What are the counter tops made of?

They are formica. I thought about going solid surface but decided the money could be put to use elsewhere.

Nice, it'll hardly show the damage when you use them to work on bikes.

That's what I keep telling my wife. That and the stainless sink will be perfect for cleaning up my drivetrain.

Those are VERY nice! Really complements the kitchen appliances, too. And the tree is spectacular!

East Hill

By the way, good idea taking the corners off the counters, it's a better look and a bit safer if you have younglings running around loose.

I do not like the cupboards. But the countertops look nice.

Love it, but I hate white so everything looks better. :p

Love it, but I hate white so everything looks better. :p

Yikes, you must really hate this place (http://www.bikeforums.net)

I do not like the cupboards. But the countertops look nice.

Send me about $7,000 - $10,000 and I will replace them. Just for the heck of it would you mind showing pictures of the cabinets in your house? Not your parents home. They might give me some ideas on what I should be shopping for.

By the way, good idea taking the corners off the counters, it's a better look and a bit safer if you have younglings running around loose.

Thanks. I don't have any little ones but my brother does and some of my friends do as well. I was actually planning on waiting a while to do this but the old counter top actually stuck out too far, our new refridgerator wouldn't open all the way. I had to remove a cabinet and have the counter top shortened about a foot to make everything work right. It also opened the room up a little. All in all we are very happy with it.

Very nice, so spit out the particulars. Where did you get them, make, model, color #, I'm looking for counter tops myself and like those.

Yikes, you must really hate this place (http://www.bikeforums.net)

If that place were a home, car, computer, phone etc...then yes...

white for websites...easy on the eyes.

The counters look great! Nice job.

I do not like the cupboards. But the countertops look nice.

You probably like that PINK tree better, don't you? LowCel, you better paint your cupboards pink so they get the stamp of approval.

I think the cupboards have a lot of potential. They look like they're made from good quality veneer. The grain is really nice. I'd try one of those deep wood conditioners to really bring out the shine. I suspect it would look most lustrous. You can make a major facelift difference with new knobs. You might also consider removing the wood valance along the window. If anything makes your kitchen look "dated", it's that. None of those things would cost too much money.

Then again you might not give a single whoop about any of that. :p I'd still give the wood some nice spa treatment, though. :)

Looking very nice. We are about to build the cabinets for our home (which is just about finished now). All custom made - from tree to cabinets. When they are finished I will post pictures.

That tree looks like a flowering plum - we used to have one in the states.

updated hardware on the drawers and cupboards is relatively inexpensive and would look nice...but can get super-expensive if you go crazy with the notion.

I think the cupboards have a lot of potential. They look like they're made from good quality veneer. The grain is really nice. I'd try one of those deep wood conditioners to really bring out the shine. I suspect it would look most lustrous. You can make a major facelift difference with new knobs. You might also consider removing the wood valance along the window. If anything makes your kitchen look "dated", it's that. None of those things would cost too much money.

Then again you might not give a single whoop about any of that. :p I'd still give the wood some nice spa treatment, though. :)

Thanks, I hadn't really thought about removing the wood valance but I like the idea. I'll talk it over with my wife. We plan on replacing the hardware with silver or stainless. We just need to take some time to go pick something out.

Very nice, so spit out the particulars. Where did you get them, make, model, color #, I'm looking for counter tops myself and like those.

I went with Wilsonart HD laminate (http://samples.wilsonart.com/t-hd_laminates.aspx). The design is River Gemstone (1832-35). I purchased it through Lowe's and they had one of their contractors do the work.

It looks like the contractor did a nice job of faking granite.

What I'd do: The cabinets are pretty plain. You did a nice job with the countertops stepping the elegance up a notch, but instead of ripping out workable cabinets, check into replacing the doors with raised panels...or even plain trapped panels with arched tops. It's much cheaper than replacing cabinets (you can even measure and install yourself) and will transform the look.

IMO the existing doors matched well with the previous countertops. Complete the look and you'll be much happier with the appearance.

I'm too cheap to go that far. :o

butcher space counter tops you can kill some vegetables fierce

Send me about $7,000 - $10,000 and I will replace them. Just for the heck of it would you mind showing pictures of the cabinets in your house? Not your parents home. They might give me some ideas on what I should be shopping for.

LC, I have installed a bunch of cabinets in my kitchen you are right they are expensive however I went with unfinished ones and finished them myself I have yet to put the knobs and handles on but they are coming along, my total cost for the red Oak cabinets was about 1500 bucks. The funny thing is I'm starting on my bathrooms and the bathroom vanities are more then my whole kitchen. Good luck and enjoy the trips the hardware store, maybe you should get a utility bike :)

Thanks, I hadn't really thought about removing the wood valance but I like the idea. I'll talk it over with my wife. We plan on replacing the hardware with silver or stainless. We just need to take some time to go pick something out.

If you where just to replace the doors that would do it, might look into that.

Looks good lowcel.

For anyone else thinking about replacing their countertops:
DO NOT DO TILE COUNTERTOPS!!!

It's one of the worst ideas ever. Stuff settles in the grout and it's nearly impossible to keep clean. They can also get cracked relatively easily if you get careless with cast iron or cranksets.

how much did it cost, if you don't mind me asking...

We just bought a new house that has "pastel flowers" on the counters. blech...

Looks good lowcel.

For anyone else thinking about replacing their countertops:
DO NOT DO TILE COUNTERTOPS!!!

It's one of the worst ideas ever. Stuff settles in the grout and it's nearly impossible to keep clean. They can also get cracked relatively easily if you get careless with cast iron or cranksets.

Agreed. I'm going to try doing this in my bathrooms and if I like the results, I'm going to redo my kitchen with concrete (http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/author/dcn/conccounter-a.html)

how much did it cost, if you don't mind me asking...

We just bought a new house that has "pastel flowers" on the counters. blech...

I paid around $1,800 (with a 10% off coupon) for all four countertops, the one large "u-shaped" and the three smaller. I also paid them $200 to remove the large countertop and the old cast iron sink and to dispose of everything.

Here is a picture that I found from when we first bought the house with the old stove.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/lphoto.jpg

I paid around $1,800 (with a 10% off coupon) for all four countertops, the one large "u-shaped" and the three smaller. I also paid them $200 to remove the large countertop and the old cast iron sink and to dispose of everything.

Thanks!

Agreed. I'm going to try doing this in my bathrooms and if I like the results, I'm going to redo my kitchen with concrete (http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/author/dcn/conccounter-a.html)

I saw a do it yourself video on concrete countertops. Looked really nice. Also looked like a lot of fun.

On a side note, check out my tree that just bloomed a couple of days ago. It's amazing how freaking bright this thing is. It was a nice suprise when we saw it.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/005-2.jpg

love that tree!!!!!!

I do not like the cupboards. But the countertops look nice.


Love the cabinets. I think it's great that you chose to keep them.
Too often new kitchens are installed in older homes and the home's character is lost. Finding balance with function and merely enhancing the era of the home is so important. Nothing cooler for me than a 60's era home with that mid century mod feel. I've salvaged some great pieces from houses being remodeled.

I live in a hundred year old home, that thankfully has has few cosmetic modifications. It's charm and grandeur still exist. Carefully and graciously I make changes.

btw, it's amazing how new counter tops can inspire you to cook!
enjoy!