Generally the initiatives we predict might be fast fixes round the home find yourself shocking us in one of the simplest ways. My kitchen replace that began as a plan to strip and repaint my kitchen counter tops became one thing fully sudden.
After 9 years of residing with the painted Formica kitchen counter tops I painted to appear like Carrara marble, I made a decision it was time to repaint them… however as soon as the paint was gone, I found I preferred what was beneath much more. It was a reminder that typically what you have already got could also be higher than the change you deliberate.
Stripping the Paint From My Kitchen Counter tops After 9 Years
A couple of weeks in the past I discussed that I used to be on the point of strip the painted counter tops in my kitchen. Do you bear in mind once I painted them white to resemble Carrara marble about 9 years in the past?
Once we first moved into the home, each floor within the kitchen had an analogous shiny brown floor. Cupboards, counters, every part. It felt heavy and a bit gloomy. I’ve all the time preferred rooms which have distinction and a mixture of textures, not every part mixing into one coloration.
So after portray the cupboards white, I made a decision to go all in and paint the counters, too. Carrara marble and white quartz had been all over the place in adorning magazines again then, and I beloved the recent look they gave a kitchen.
Since our kitchen dates again to the 1970’s and we haven’t performed a full transform but, initiatives like this are my means of giving the house a refresh every now and then whereas we await the day we ultimately take the room right down to the studs.
I’ve to say, I used to be fairly impressed with how properly these painted counters held up through the years. However 9 years of on a regular basis kitchen life ultimately took their toll. The end had turn out to be worn and stained in a couple of areas they usually now not seemed as good as they as soon as did. I knew it was time to strip them and begin recent.
Stripping paint is rarely the enjoyable a part of any venture, however repainting them to appear like marble is definitely fairly easy as soon as the floor is prepped. I absolutely anticipated that after all of the stripping and cleansing, I might merely repaint them once more.
However one thing humorous occurred as soon as the paint was eliminated.
Once I Realized I Didn’t Have to Repaint Them After All
When the counters had been again to their unique brown Formica, I anticipated to see harm or discoloration in any case these years below paint. As a substitute, they seemed surprisingly good.
Standing there taking a look at them, I noticed I truly preferred how the kitchen seemed with the brown counters once more.
The colour works superbly with the nature-inspired colours I’ve been bringing into the adjoining lounge. From the kitchen you possibly can see the lake and the timber exterior, and the nice and cozy brown ties every part collectively in a means the white counters by no means fairly did.
I’ll admit, I had a bit second of aid. I didn’t must repaint them in any case.
Even for somebody who enjoys a great DIY venture, having the ability to cross a venture off the listing earlier than it even begins feels fairly good.
So my kitchen now has white cupboards and backsplash paired with the unique brown counter tops that nearly appear like wooden at a look. It feels hotter and extra grounded, and I’m actually having fun with the change.
Repairing the Countertop The place the Cupboard As soon as Sat
There was one small spot that did want a bit consideration although.
Two years in the past we eliminated a row of ceiling-mounted cupboards that when divided the kitchen. Taking them down opened up the room and allowed mild to succeed in areas that had all the time been in shadow. It made the house really feel a lot larger.
These cupboards, nevertheless, had a assist that anchored into the countertop. As soon as the cupboard was gone, the small spot the place the assist had been was left behind. I had crammed it in with wooden and putty after which painted over it. After stripping, the uncooked wooden was uncovered.
To mix it in, I’ve been dabbing on a couple of shades of acrylic craft paint over it so the colours mimic the encompassing Formica. As soon as I’m pleased with the colour, I’ll apply a skinny coat of Annie Sloan Clear Wax and buff it so it blends in even higher with the remainder of the floor.
Rethinking the Shade of the Kitchen Island
When you get pleasure from adorning your property, you understand how this subsequent half goes.
You end one venture and all of a sudden one thing else within the room now not feels fairly proper.
That’s precisely what occurred right here.
After getting the kitchen again collectively, I noticed the blue paint on my wooden island now not seemed good to my eyes with the brown counters. The colour all of a sudden felt too brilliant and a bit too cool in opposition to the hotter tones now within the room.
So it appears like I might be doing a bit portray in any case.
I’ve a couple of paint swatches taped to the island, and the one I maintain coming again to is a darkish sage inexperienced known as Secret Backyard from Sherwin-Williams. It’s the primary swatch on the left and the one which feels probably the most at residence with the colours within the kitchen.
Generally the very best adorning choices occur whenever you merely pause and take a recent take a look at what’s already there. I began this venture absolutely anticipating to repaint the counters, however ultimately all I actually wanted to do was uncover what had been hiding beneath for the final 9 years.
It ended up being a type of small residence updates that made the entire kitchen really feel completely different with out truly altering very a lot in any respect.
As soon as I get the island painted within the sage inexperienced I’ve my eye on, I believe the room will really feel much more balanced with the hotter brown counters. And with spring proper across the nook, I’m trying ahead to including a couple of extra easy seasonal touches to the house.
For now although, I’m simply having fun with strolling into the kitchen and realizing {that a} venture I believed would take days of portray turned out to be completed the second the stripping was performed. Generally the simplest adorning resolution is solely deciding that what you have already got is excellent.
How Painted Kitchen Counter tops Held Up After 8 Years
Once I painted my kitchen counter tops 9 years in the past to resemble Carrara marble, I truthfully didn’t know the way properly the end would final in a busy kitchen. To my shock, the painted floor held up much better than I anticipated.
Over time there have been a couple of worn spots and a few staining in high-use areas, which is why I made a decision to strip them and begin recent. I even did a submit a couple of years in the past about how I needed to match the paint on newly uncovered counter after we received a brand new cooktop. However total, the venture served its function and allowed me to replace my kitchen on a finances for a few years with out changing the counter tops.
Would I Paint Kitchen Counter tops Once more?
I might completely paint kitchen counter tops once more. When you can paint, then you possibly can efficiently paint your personal kitchen counters in case you comply with the kitchen counter portray steps I did to color mine. I used a Giani equipment, however I’ve additionally painted counters to appear like marble with out utilizing a equipment, however with craft paint and clear furnishings wax.
Kitchen Countertop Portray Kits
There are various manufacturers of kitchen counter paint in the marketplace in the present day that may help you obtain the colour and look you’re after.
Listed here are a couple of that I might advocate:
