I'd love some input on how to overhaul my kitchen counter. I'm in a one-bedroom in a brooklyn heights brownstone, with an open kitchen divided from my living room by a peeling-formica counter (see pics).
My budget's somewhat flexible, but I'm figuring on spending about $1,000.
I like granite or soapstone....
but I'm wondering if the dark color might overwhelm the space a bit. I also like wood, but then there's the problem of it matching the floor. Tile?
Many thanks! Marian
Dear Marian, you have a light, warm kitchen that is very much in the "country kitchen" direction. In keeping with this, we would recommend a nice, long butcher block top. It would fit in, look beautiful from a distance and be easy to maintain, since it is not next to your sink.
Go for a proper, unpolyurethaned butcher block that you oil to seal. The poly ones look good at first, but then they show cuts and marks which you can't get rid of. Other opinions? (Thanks, Marian!) MGR
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I like the butcher block idea, and I'd like to see a photo of it when it's done.
I like the butcherblock too, but if you are going for stone, there are just SO many choices out there now. The engineered stone (Caesarstone, Zodiaq) and the like are branching out with more color combinations. There is also a white Corian (about $60-70 a sq ft) that would match your other counters. I still say the butcherblock would be the coolest though. Some halogen mini-pendants over it would highlight the grain as well.
Ikea has butcher block counters available by the foot that are lovely, just be sure to oil them a few times after installation.
I had Ikea butcher block counters in my last house in Seattle and loved them. Just before going away for a few days I'd take everything off the counters and put walnut oil on them. Beautiful. The price at that time was unbelievably good. I installed them myself and used a circular saw to trim them. I live in a small town in Alaska now and wish for Ikea at times...
Hey - you can also put me down as a YES for the butcherblock - but I can't help but mention tat this looks like a great undersurface for tile. I recently did some tiling in my kitchen and loved shpping around for beautiful tiles. The possibilities are endless - especially since this counter is not near the sink area. It could become a beautiful color accent to the room, just as the butcherblock would. And you wouldn't have to take off the existing countertop - just do some finish work with some metal stripping or bullnose to make the edges look 'finished'....
I am glad no one is suggesting stainless.
Her kitchen is really warm and has that equally warm brass sink. Stainless wouldn't fit well, although maybe you could get copper? I'd stick to either butcherblock or ceramic/glass tile. You don't have to match the existing tile exactly, just choose something that will work with it and the rest of your kitchen/living room. Tile stores will give you little sample tiles to take home. Since you'll want to use this space as an eating and work surface, be sure to ask about sealing the grout, especially if you're going to make something with light grout. I spilled green food coloring on my mom's nice white-on-white tile, and the stain was still there when we sold the house ten years later...
If you do decide to go with granite, check out Stone Depot. They're located on Morgan Ave in brooklyn. They've got excellent prices around $50 sq. ft. includes If you go with a light color make sure you use a good sealent.
Need help with formica. I moved into a house new house about 7 years ago and have a large formica counter and island. Within months it started staining and I had never had that happened in other houses we lived in. I know you can use gel coat, but is there anything that you can put on the formica that makes a better seal coat. I'm been on top of it so the counter still looks good, but you can not sit a glass of juice on the counter and go to the sink without finding a ring left by the glass. It is frustrating! Thanks for any help. pat J
I'm all about the Boos butcher block. It's pricey but if you own your apartment, I think it's worth it, from an aesethic and quality POV.
We have a round ring made by an iron pan left on the butcher block counter over night.
Is there a method for removing the mark.