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4 Kitchen Counter Replacement Tips for a Stunning Upgrade

4-kitchen-counter-replacement-tips-for-a-stunning-upgrade

You bought your dream home. Now it’s time for you to make it your own.

The appeal of buying a replacement home is that you can design it to meet the needs of the people who will be spending the most time in it.

Adding a new kitchen counter to your dream replacement home can help you upgrade the kitchen and make it more functional while adding charm and character.

Read on to learn more about replacing kitchen countertops and how you can create the perfect space. Read along to learn more!

1. Consider Your Budget

Once you have a good idea of a counter that suits your budget and style, look up installation prices and compare them to DIY installation costs. Make sure to factor in the time and cost of materials to do it yourself. Additionally, if you plan on replacing your countertop yourself, research the amount of time it will take you and plan accordingly so that you don’t overspend.

2. Choose Countertops That Fits Your Aesthetics

Start by considering the room where you’ll place the countertop. Determine whether a modern, contemporary, traditional, or transitional vibe is best for the space. Ask yourself what type of material you’d like to use.

Natural stone, such as granite or marble, is elegant, while synthetic materials, such as plastic laminate or engineered stone, are less expensive. Think about maintenance needs, too; some countertops require more peeling and sealing than others.

Finally, consider the color and patterns available. Consider lighter shades to brighten up the space or darker hues to give it depth. 

3. DIY Options 

One of the most popular options is to use laminate countertops. They come in a variety of colors and styles to fit any kitchen design. Laminate is easily applied with a few tools and can be done over a weekend.

Another option is tile. The tile is durable, easy to clean, and comes in many different colors and design options. Plywood or particleboard is a more economical option and can be customized with different finishes.

If you’re looking for a more earth-friendly choice, look into recycled wood boards for your kitchen countertop replacement. Reclaimed wood will provide a unique look and is great for the environment. Finally, wood butcher blocks are a timeless classic and a great way to bring character to any kitchen. 

4. Hire a Contractor

Look into contractors who specialize in kitchen counter replacement, ask friends and family for references, and use online reviews to make sure they have a good reputation. Determine your budget, provide the general contractor with your vision, and get estimates from each professional. Once you have your quotes, carefully review the contract and make sure it’s a legally binding document.

Ask the contractor for proof of insurance and licenses, as well as references and project photos. Finally, be sure to pay contractors the full amount due when the project is completed to your satisfaction.

Top Things to Consider Before Replacing Kitchen Countertops

Replacing kitchen countertops is a great way to make a huge impact on your kitchen. With the right kind of preparation and countertop material, you can make a stunning upgrade to any old kitchen. Get in touch with professionals to help make your dream kitchen upgrade a reality!

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BATHROOMS, INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS, KITCHENS

Incredible counter tops!!

incredible-counter-tops

 

When it comes to counter tops our selections used to be very limited, now we have plenty of choices. Here’s how to choose the right style for your home.

 

 

When a buyer first sees a home, the kitchen is usually the first room they wish to overhaul. Whether you are an amateur chef or someone who prefers take-out, the kitchen is usually the most lived-in room in the home. It’s no surprise that counter top options have evolved in recent years. Besides new appliances, counter tops can be one of the greatest investments and one of the most dramatic changes you make in your kitchen.
 
Speaking from experience, our most recent reno project was replacing our kitchen counter top. The results were astounding! Everything else stayed the same but the new counter top changed the look of our kitchen entirely. Choosing a counter top can be overwhelming, it is no longer a choice between laminate or granite. The factors to consider are durability, hygiene, style, cost, adaptability and maintenance.

 

How to start?

 
Think ahead of the counter top qualities that are most important to you, how your kitchen will be used and how much you want to spend. An aspiring chef will seek durability, spill and heat resistant surfaces, whereas a busy mother of three may be most concerned with hygiene and a single, condo owner might just seek a material that is stunning and achieves the ‘wow’ factor in the kitchen.
 
What are you looking for?

Here is a list of counter choices with a brief descriptor including price per square foot, hygiene,

maintenance and durability.

 

Wood (maple)$100-$150

 
Food safe but can absorb odours
Treat regularly with mineral oil and keep dry
Will look worn over time be careful with knives

 

Stainless steel $40-$80+

Extremely hygienic, seen in hospitals for this very reason
Clean with a mild detergent and dry thoroughly
Will show scratches but is heat-resistant

 

Concrete $100+

 
Use food-safe water based sealant to protect
Use mild soap for daily cleaning
Can be dented or gouged

 

Glass $85-$200

 
Non-porous and extremely hygienic
Easy to clean but may show streaks
May be heat-resistant and may crack

 

Marble $80-$200

 
Hygienic when sealed properly
Mildly reactive and a matte finish helps hide stains
Stains, scratches and may crack

 

Granite $60-$200

 
Stain and mould resistant with sealant
Use gentle granite cleaner and seal regularly
Extremely durable and heat-resistant

 

Quartz $70-$100

 
Non-porous and food-safe
Can be wiped clean
Shouldn’t scratch or chip and it heat-resistant

Corian $60-$100

With proper cleaning will resist bacteria
Clean with soapy water, rinse and dry
Use cutting board to protect

 

Laminate$18-$26 (uninstalled)

 
Hygienic if cleaned properly
Clean with mild soap (don’t clean with any citrus product)
Protect surface and difficult to repair

 

 

So what about bathrooms?

 
A bathroom can accommodate nearly any counter top materials you’d find in a kitchen, but beware of durability issues. Products such as nail-polish remover can damage many counter top materials also beware of access moisture caused by improper ventilation. The most popular bathroom counter top materials are: quartz, glass, granite and laminate.

 

 

Manufacturing and installation times vary, but typically the process from measurement and planning to installation takes one to six weeks, depending on the availability of material and manufacturer.

 

 A new counter top can totally transform a kitchen (or bathroom) whether you are living in the home or selling it – it is a worthwhile upgrade…

 

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BATHROOMS, INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS, KITCHENS

Countertops can make a huge difference!

granite-counter-tops

Today our granite counter tops arrived!

As I mentioned in my previous blog posting, I am living in a renovation zone but things have picked up and starting to really come together.
 
This afternoon our granite counter tops (kitchen and bathroom) were installed and I cannot get over the difference! We had laminate counter tops in both rooms, the kitchen counter top was a solid grey which was probably not the best choice as it does not hide stains very well and every scratch is seen from a mile away; the bathroom counter top was a laminate but in aqua, white and peach speckled design. My husband and I were looking for a more modern look but we also love the natural look of granite and stone.

Looking for granite Counter tops….

 
We went to a few granite showrooms but everything we saw was quite typical, since our cabinetry was so plain we really wanted something special! We actually went to a granite supplier and had the opportunity to peruse their slabs and select ours directly from their supply. We found the perfect counter tops for our home and now that they are in the transformation is truly incredible.

Granite Counter tops made a huge difference….

What difference can a counter top really make? In our case we selected a slab of granite that was lighter in colour from the original laminate and now our open concept kitchen look enormous. Our stone back splash really stands out and the stainless steel accents add some sparkle. The whole kitchen comes together and is a true show stopper! The bathroom renovation was a complete overhaul (bye bye Barbie bathroom) but my husband was really worried about how the white wall tiles, grey floor tiles and blue glass accent tile would all come together – the ‘biano antico’ granite counter top was the key element for bringing all the pieces together.
 

When it comes to selecting your kitchen counter tops there are no right or wrong

choice but here are some tips:

 

1 – Colour –

 
Typically you want to choose a counter top that on the opposite side of the colour wheel from your cabinets, for example a dark espresso stain looks best with a lighter counter top but if you are selecting from granite you have some flexibility because granite has some many colours and fishers that you can choose from a variety of cabinet colours. But light can absolutely work with light but I always like something to ground the room so it could be the floors, paint or backsplash.

2 – Stay away from a single colour laminate.

 
A solid coloured laminate counter top does not stand the test of time very well, stains and scratches are nearly impossible to hide with this type of counter top. If granite is too pricey, keep in mind that there are many laminate options that look (and can feel) like a granite counter top.

3 – Looking for something different?

 
Try exotic granite or other natural stone such as marble or soapstone or even more cutting edge – concrete. With the increased popularity of granite certain colours are seen more frequently but there is a lot to choose from, so look around at other options.
 

Here are the after photos of my bathroom and kitchen :-

I can’t get over how different the house looks with these new counter tops!
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