The Counters Blog

Kneading Surface How Much Do Different Countertops Cost?

60 Inspiring Kitchen Design Ideas

Having it done right means you don’t need to redo it often, which will save you time and money down the road. This way, you can see what works for you and start planning for when you’re ready to have that kitchen of your dreams. The edge is a mitered edge – probably a 3″ drop from the top. Wine storage and ice maker hidden behind appliance panels become fully integrated into this flawless space. The island is walnut with a very dark stain, called ebonized. The island is 120” wide x 54” deep which includes the overhang for seating at the rear of the island. Built in arched niches create height to the space along with upper glass cabinetry with detail mullions. Custom doors that take shape of the arch create a beautiful entrance into a pristine kitchen. This is a vintage sink, would you believe the homeowner rescued it from an alley? Do you believe the homeowner rescued it from an alley? The green cabinets are a custom color-match with a brown glaze. Candy drawers down below for the kids, a farmhouse sink overlooking the beautiful landscaping, and saddle stools to sit enjoy a cup of coffee. Adjacent to the kitchen, this eat in area with a functional writing desk becomes a great area to gather around the fireplace.

Things That Inspire: Glass Front Cabinets Form Over Function? by thingsthatinspire.net

The kitchen was one of the big agenda items, and we were all in agreement that the kitchen is going to be very much soft and retreating in style, no strong colors or bold statements. These cabinets will be the first thing that is seen when walking into the kitchen, so we want them to look nice. Note how the high shelves are solid front, which avoids the ‘what to put on the top shelf’ syndrome which can be problematic with glass front cabinets. This cabinet seems to be used as a pantry of sorts; on the opposite wall is a glass front refrigerator. Again, since the cabinets go to the ceiling, the top cabinets are solid. I think the glass in the cabinets is part of what defines the look of the kitchen.

Refinish Countertops To Look Like Granite | Duration 11 Minutes 18 Seconds This house does not have very high ceilings, so the cabinets are not excessively tall. The glass front of the cabinets on the left are a good counterbalance to the two refrigerators (one not visible in the picture), which are both paneled. I would love your honest thoughts, and your experiences with glass front cabinets! We put a few colorful accessories in our glass front cabinets. The glass front cabinets look like window dressing around the stove. My kitchen is white and similar in appearance to your photos. It also doesn’t look magazine perfect, but that’s fine, too. In our own kitchen, we have very few upper cabinets because it is the center of our home and we didn’t want it to feel like one huge kitchen so concealing many of the kitchen components was important. I am like your sister – we put vitamins by our glassware, plastic straws by our fridge, etc. It provides some lightness and reflectivity but conceals the mess. The immediate effect was that the kitchen felt bigger and brighter. My glasses are lined up, but my dishes are a collection of mismatched whites, so they are less formal. Ultra modern and contemporary kitchens mostly do not unless it they ar sold glass front, no wood frame around it. It also forces you to buy beautiful tableware and to keep things organized! It’s purely decorative, a focal point on our the oven/pantry wall. I think windows are beautiful so in the sense that glass fronts emulate windows all the better. We’re doing other things to open up the space like installing a 6′ long window over the sink (the glass front cabinets will be on either side) and not having upper cabinets on the two short walls of our rectangular kitchen (one will have the kitchen hood and the other is a walkway area). It is nice to hone down your kitchen things to sets that match–and things you really use. If keeping it neat is really something that would bother you, then using a glass that diffuses may be the way to go. To make it warmer we used stained alder boxes for the interior of them along with puck lights. But they are impractical from the perspective of keeping all of that glass spotless when they are in a kitchen where food is being prepared–ie., roasting, frying, etc. I think that as long as you work to keep your stored items fairly homogeneous and well-organized they absolutely work. After a month of working on permits and such, we finally had a project meeting to start working on the interiors of the house. One of the topics of conversation was about a bank of cabinets that will be in my kitchen – really the only overhead cabinets in the kitchen (we will also have two floor to ceiling cabinets on either side of the range, which will provide a lot of the storage in the kitchen, as well as a walk in pantry that will also have storage). We discussed which would work best from both an aesthetic perspective and a functionality perspective – glass front or solid front.

Marble Polishing How To Refinish And Polish Marble | Duration 9 Minutes 20 Seconds This view shows a lovely cabinet that is floor to ceiling, with only part of the cabinet glassed. It was light and airy, with many pretty glass front cabinets. The glass paned cabinets really suit the airy and beachy feel of the kitchen. I love the combination of the solid front and the glass front. The glass front cabinets are placed in front of the windows to provide storage, but still allow maximum light. What do you think about this – does it detract from the look of the glass cabinets? Note that the insides of the cabinets are not picture perfect – it looks like someone actually lives here! The dishes in the cabinets appear to be white, and note that there is nothing on the two upper shelves! The plates and glasses are arranged neatly, but it also looks like the glasses are all clear which helps with the appearance. The cabinets in my kitchen will really be used (probably for cups and glasses) – they will not be for decorative display. She did not want to worry about the cups and plates being lined up, and she likes to put things in the cabinets near the sinks – vitamins, toothpicks, etc – things that would be unsightly if they could be seen through the front of a cabinet. I think people over estimated how much you actually see inside. Dinnerware is sculptural and can be very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing with minimal effort. I have seen some cabinets with multi-paned mirror fronts, it looked amazing, and the light in the room was fantastic! We just recently renovated our kitchen and came across the same dilemma about glass front, open shelves, or closed cabinets. Our kitchen is white and we wanted to have the kitchen feel open and bright. We have two closed front cabinets near the wet bar for those mix and match items. I have white plates and with the clear glasses, it never really looks messy. With these pics as inspiration, you can hardly go wrong! If that is too reflective for you you can have the mirror aged by the glass shop in varying degrees. I think it look particularly nice where all the stainless appliances are paneled – gives some sparkle. I can’t to see your kitchen, your entire home, when completed. I think those tall upper cabinets are a bit of a waste (on a daily use basis) but even long term, just too high! We’re also expanding the width of the walkways into the kitchen. I have enjoyed having glass fronted cabinets and thing they add to the appearance of the room immensely. The fact that you are even asking the question means you want them. I took it a step further and added mirror to the back walls of the glass front cabs. The ribbed glasses (and there are various choices) are very classic, are not so revealing, but still add depth. It adds so much warmth to the space and it is a great compliment to the cream that the cabinets are painted. Have you considered mesh front cabinets with plain, washable fabric lining the insides?

Transformation Of A French Country Kitchen by edithandevelynvintage.com

After several weeks of trying to talk ourselves out of it, and going back to look at it many times, we couldn’t stop thinking about what it “could be”. We also trimmed out all the cabinets with decorative trim so that both old and new, would blend seamlessly for a cohesive look. A gorgeous antique chandelier is the crowning glory for the center of the island. In the original kitchen, there was a desk area built in underneath the windows. We removed the doors and shelves, trimmed the space out in beadboard, added stock cabinets topped with a remnant of black granite. The grate is actually replacement bbq grill grate, painted with oil rubbed bronze paint. Did you happen have a fur down/soffit above yours that you knocked out and opened up? What color did you use on the the base of the island? Hats off to you & your husband for the tenacity and spirit it has taken. Would really appreciate it if you would share your knowledge. Is that correct, because my husband said you cannot paint latex over oil, it will not stick. I love the look of old marble with all of it’s imperfections! I applied the stain with a brush and then immediately wiped back with a slightly damp cloth. The most hubby had ever done, was to pick up the phone and call someone. I could see the potential, but worried that it might be more than we could handle. We scraped the popcorn ceiling……what a horrible mess! Old closets were removed to make room for additional cabinets, and we modified the existing sink cabinet to house a new farmhouse sink. The round brick floor in the breakfast room is original to the house. Once we lightened the pallette, and trimmed the windows in black, the stained glass windows are now showcased beautifully. The upper cabinets are stock cabinets as well, that we elevated with decorative trim, cutting out the space in the door, and adding metal grate. It grabs everyone’s attention that walks into the room! Hired two wonderful contractors to plank over the popcorn and whitewash stain the wood. Where it can be purchased and how it is applied on the back on the cabinet doors. We are just beginning to update our kitchen and yours will be my model! It worked beautifully, and yes, the latex paint does indeed stick. Easier to move the location b/c w/ painted cabinets you can cover the old screw hole & paint over while with stained cabinets the plug would show. Lots of sweat equity…our original build 1975 ranch got a complete interior remodeling. We did most of the work & all the demo (except kitchen which was contracted out). Would love to know where you purchased the grill grates for the beverage nook! I would love to know if the stock cabinets were just plain flat doors that you added the trim to outside edges or did they come with that edge on them & did they come from lowes?

BRAINERD P18007V SN C 3inc Or 3 3 4inc Dual Mount Vuelo Kitchen Or Furniture by amazon.com

These are crushed nickel, to match the rest of the fixtures in my bathroom. I redid a vanity that was 35 years old and these look so rich and modern. And the price was pretty much unbeatable for the quality! They are clean and neat, and not being knobs or open on the ends means they don’t catch your clothing. That you can buy them in “contractor bulk” is fantastic if you have a ton of drawers! I bought 6 six packs to do the entire kitchen and am delighted with the finished appearance and function. That coupled with a fresh coat of paint makes it look like a new kitchen.

Myers End Table By Union Rustic Coupon by kitchen-cabinets.co

We extremely suggest taking this chance to introduce a pop of colour into your decor, specially if your existing space looks a little bare. Assembly is super easy and the packaged arrived prior to the estimated arrival time given during purchase. My apartment looks wonderful, there is lots of space to walk around my dinning area and we can finally get pleasure from our dinner jointly. Because of everyone who came to check out us to view our products. It’s the perfect size dining table for y spouse and children. It took us around three hours to put it together but it proved that we are a great workforce and we both love the results. Find quality dining & kitchen furniture online or in store.

Cabinet Details by bhg.com

Skirting and leg elements, distressed finishes, and furniture pulls give base cabinets the look of freestanding chests of drawers. The hood’s crown molding details continue across the top of the neighboring cabinets to create a cohesive look. Dresser-style drawer pulls stand-in for conventional handles and knobs to further the finely furnished illusion. Curvaceous poured concrete forms with the look of salvaged relics turn a good-looking island into a focal point. Crisscrossed muntins elegantly embellish glass-paned upper cabinet doors framing a handsomely paneled range hood. Lattice-style doors beneath the island’s farmhouse sink introduce yet another shapely pattern to the mix. A pair of cabinetry-paneled doors and a paneled lower drawer keep the contemporary refrigerator accessible but under wraps. This sense of refinement is further refined by the addition of corbel details on the island cabinets, crown molding cabinet caps, and glass doors with crosshatched details that draw the eye around the room’s perimeter.

How To Repair and Refinish Laminate Countertops by diynetwork.com

Choose the color that most closely matches your countertop color. Put the paste on the stain and let it work for a couple of hours — don’t rub. For more stubborn stains, try a little nail polish remover on a clean rag (use white rags so you won’t get fabric color on the countertop). Repair chips and large cracks (more than 1/8-inch wide) with a two-part epoxy putty. Apply painter’s tape to everything you don’t want to paint, including your sink, faucets and backsplash. Take your time and make sure there’s good adhesion in all those little places, such as where a faucet base touches the countertop. Wipe up the residue with a tack rag and check for any missed spots with a flashlight. To get a granite look, you’ll apply at least three different shades of paint, working from light to dark, or vice versa. Add subsequent layers with a sponge, dabbing in random patterns. Most kits include pre-selected paints so the final color blend is realistic. The kit features stone-like chips that are sprinkled onto the wet surface of the base layer to create a granite-like texture. This kit includes a diamond-embedded sanding block specifically made for thorough de-glossing. You can apply the sheets in minutes, although good surface prep is vital, as any defects will show through the sheet. You get all the benefits — no tear-out, fast turnaround and a complete budget-friendly countertop redo — at a slightly higher price. You can even sell your house in a few years and recoup this investment. You can repair your chipped and aging laminate countertops using simple techniques and, in some cases, common household products you probably have around the house. Once hardened, you won’t have the opportunity to sand any excess without damaging the surrounding laminate, so fill each blemish carefully, and don’t overfill. Stains can be removed using a paste made from baking soda and water. Faux granite is one of the most forgiving of all decorative painting projects — the mottled look is easy to get using sponges and a dabbing motion, and you can just keep going until it looks right. Make no mistake — applying painter’s tape is more of an art than folks often realize. To ensure maximum adhesion for the base coat, de-gloss the entire countertop with 100-grit sandpaper. The first coat is your base coat and should completely cover all surfaces. Apply coats while the previous layer is still slightly damp. Add grain with a feather lightly swiped across still-damp paint. Add veins with a fine-tipped artist brush dipped in a contrasting color — pure white or black are good choices. Lightly sprinkle pinches of gold or silver glitter flakes over the last coat of paint (but before applying the protective topcoats). This product offers thicker coatings than typical countertop refinishing products, and the finish is heat-resistant — a rarity for painted finishes. A critical step is de-glossing the existing surface to ensure good adhesion. De-glossing your countertop surface (and wiping up any dust with a tack rag) helps long-term adhesion.

How To Refinish A Cultured Marble Countertop by doityourself.com

Start by washing the marble countertop with a cleaning solution of gentle soap and distilled water. Dip a sponge in the solution, and wipe the cultured-marble surface. Do not use a brush with hard bristles, as these bristles could permanently scratch the stone. Then, rinse the countertop with distilled water to get rid of any soap residues. These cleaners won’t stain the cultured-marble countertop surface, and they are excellent for removing multiple stain types, including rust and food spills. Apply this substance as per the instructions on the product. Be sure to mask around the sink, especially, to avoid getting polishing or refinishing compounds in the sink. Allow the sprayed countertop surface to dry according to the packaged instructions. Sprinkle a few drops of the resin onto the countertop, and spread them out evenly with a paintbrush. After it’s dry, you can coat the refinished surface with a high-gloss polyurethane varnish to restore the sparkle associated with a cultured-marble countertop. Although these countertops have many advantages, this kitchen surface is prone to scuffs and other damage from daily use. Distilled water is recommended because hard water can form mineral deposits on a cultured-marble countertop. Then, mildly brush the surface with a soft-bristled brush to scrape off more dirt. Give special attention to the areas around seams and chrome fittings. Use a soft, dry cloth to apply the branded cleaner, even if it’s sold with soft brushes. Tin-dioxide powder fills and camouflages small scratches, while the glue fills cracks. Then, clean the countertop with a sponge to remove any dust created from sanding. Leave the coated surface alone for about one hour, and allow it to dry.

Current Obsessions: 5 Beautiful Marble Look Quartz Countertops by msisurfaces.com

With proper care, and the right sealants and care, a marble countertop is a beautiful choice for any home or commercial property. A charming choice for counters, statement islands, and backsplashes, this beautiful gray quartz naturally enhances the architectural aspects of any space. With a look that resembles natural marble or granite, this elegant quartz is timeless yet modern, making it an ideal choice for a variety of aesthetics and applications, from sweeping islands to dazzling accent walls and backsplashes. A natural stone with characteristic veining and a bold, white backdrop, marble is an elegant option for modern and classic aesthetics alike. However, since marble is a porous stone, it can absorb spills over time if not sealed. A marriage of natural minerals and current technology, modern quartz is highly durable, with the sparkling beauty of a natural-looking stone. If you crave the coveted look of marble without the upkeep, quartz serves as a functionally beautiful alternative. For the lovely look of marble without the maintenance, marble-look quartz is equally elegant in homes and commercial properties alike.

Kitchen Countertop Ideas Marble Alternative Options by domino.com

Marble is one of those essentials, and while we love entering a kitchen decked out with marble countertops (and brass fixtures to complement them!) other surfaces deserve the spotlight, too. Check out a few dozen of our favorite non-marble options for a creative take on your countertops. The countertops are actually from a granite kit that “allows you to paint a new countertop and imitate the effects of having real granite. The textures, finishes, and furnishings that are perfectly on trend, and perfectly delightful. Not to mention, there are tons of other (potentially less costly) options that can still make a grand statement in your kitchen renovation.

10 Ways To Update Old Kitchen Cabinets by thisoldhouse.com

But a brighter makeover doesn’t necessarily mean replacing those gloomy boxes with all-new ones. Your handsome creation will turn heads at dinner parties for years to come. As long as the frames and doors are structurally sound, you can clean them up and brush on a fresh coat of paint—and within a weekend take that kitchen from dreary to sunny. What you don’t need is a whole lot of money, as the transformation will cost you a fraction of even the cheapest new cabinets. It’s amazing what a little veneer and some new doors can do to brighten an aging space. The shelf resembles a shallow drawer that glides out for easy access to items stored in the back of the cabinet. And in most cases, they’ll even cut the plywood to your dimensions. The hidden fixtures of undercabinet task lighting, which are fairly easy to retrofit beneath upper wall cabinets, bathe the countertop in bright white light—a boon for everything from dicing veggies to reading recipes. If you’re a bit tentative about working with electricity, don’t worry. Because these thick wood-slab tops have their edge or end grain exposed, they are stronger than wood laid on the flat. Butcher-block islands mimicking 19th-century worktables are perfect for toning down the coldness of stone counters and metal appliances in modern cook spaces. Your handsome creation will turn heads at dinner parties for years to come. Not surprisingly, this approach is expensive and time-consuming. Make adding extra personality to your cabinets simpler by mounting molding on a hardwood frame that sits above cabinets. Once the frame and crown are attached, you install the whole assembly in one go. The goal is to take this collection of boxes and bring them together to make a beautiful piece of built-in furniture. But more often than not, the room itself lacks those attributes. But a brighter makeover doesn’t necessarily mean replacing those gloomy boxes with all-new ones. All you need to update your old kitchen cabinets is some strong cleaner, sandpaper, a paintbrush, and a little elbow grease. What’s old may be new again, but those grease-caked, kid-scratched cabinets have to go. Work carefully, and your kitchen will look brand-new in no time. If you’re only building one or two shelves, you can save some money by going to a home center or lumberyard that sells quarter or half sheets of plywood. If you’ve never attempted a woodworking project as seemingly complex as this one, don’t worry. Connect the fixtures to a dimmer switch, and you also have the key to dramatic accent lighting or a night light for midnight snackers. This installation is simple and shock-free, as long as you cut the juice at the breaker box first. That means they resist warping and nicks better than laminate and almost as well as stone. Opt for unfinished 15- or 18-inch cabinets fitted with doors and operable drawers (not the fake drawer fronts used for sink cabinets) and take a day to put all the pieces together. And adding a window seat has always been considered impractical. Then, the seat has to be custom-built by a cabinetmaker or trim carpenter to fit the exact width and sill height of the window. This simple, do-it-yourself approach provides both the “niche” and the window seat, and an abundance of storage space. The seat is made up of six kitchen wall cabinets and two 48-inch-tall bookcase units, which are trimmed with decorative crown molding. Or, if they’re interesting and vibrant, you could create a place to display them, freeing up precious storage space and adding a splash of color to your kitchen. Using a frame allows for doing the detail work on a bench—much easier than from a ladder—then you can attach the crown from the back side, so there are no nail holes to fill.

Chef’S Dream White Kitchen With Marble and Granite by kylieminteriors.ca

Coffered ceilings, marble and black granite countertops and stainless steel. We chose a black granite for the perimeter countertops as it’s easier to maintain and grounded the space nicely by tying into the dark tile flooring. Cabinets are painted creamy ( look white) granite is dark green butterfly and walnut colored hardwood floors. This gorgeous space, with its white, glazed cabinets was created using a black, white and gray palette – inspired by a variety of marbles that were used throughout the home. The dark cherry toned island grounds the kitchen and flows perfectly with the porcelain tile floor. The kitchen is in full view from the dining room (which is also open to the living room).

Current Obsessions: White Quartz Countertops That Look Like Carrara Marble by msisurfaces.com

Marble is as beautiful as it is delicate, and many people aren’t willing to invest in a costly countertop that requires so much up-keep. Man-made modern quartz is non-porous and extremely hard, making it resistant to bacteria, staining, and chipping. However, marble doesn’t come without some drawbacks, namely a high-maintenance care routine that just doesn’t fit in with a busy lifestyle. Consider opting for white quartz countertops that perfectly mimic the look of marble without costly and inconvenient re-sealing and maintenance. Even though marble is widely revered, quartz that looks like marble can fool even the savviest shoppers. The neutral color palette has mass appeal and works well with most styles of decor, while the bold pattern on this slab makes a major impact in any space.

20 Budget Kitchen Countertop Ideas by hgtv.com

There are plenty of inexpensive products that’ll help you achieve a high-end look, and must-see options for natural stone, too. You might just find the perfect product for your own kitchen and lifestyle. While the rough quartz finish requires slightly more maintenance than a polished finish, you’ll never need to seal it, or worry about watermarks absorbing into the finish. Thanks to its manufacturing, quartz countertops are a non-porous, scratch-resistant, durable solution that remains more affordable than most natural stone countertops. One of the most affordable countertop options out there, the warm surface does require some maintenance and care, but will work hard for you as long as you look out for it. If you really want stainless steel, there really isn’t a lot that’s going to substitute for the metal itself. Paired with a lifetime warranty, this material checks all the boxes. The soft gradations are printed in the highest resolution on laminate, making it a durable, easy-to-maintain surface in the kitchen. Its coloring is recycled, making it an eco-friendly product, while also being highly heat resistant and scratch resistant. Since it is a finish itself, it should only have to be redone if the surface is ever chipped or damaged. If you’re looking for a natural stone that’s consistently dark, consider a natural soapstone slab for your home. If you thought you wanted a dark granite with subtle variations, this finish offers the same look for considerably less. The premium, high-resolution, stain-resistant finish and durability of the product, make it an easy alternative when compared to natural marble. Caesarstone quartz countertop places itself somewhere between smooth concrete and stony terrazzo, and it looks great in a large space. If the look of wood is what you want, though, the classic butcher block countertop is no slouch. Dekton products are also freeze- and fire-resistant, making them a great option to consider for your outdoor kitchen.