New Cabin Counter Tops

Helloooo Counters!

 

 But first, let me take you back.  Way back to this wall papered beauty.

In my last update, we had just sawed off the top 3/4" of the base cabinets around the peninsula to accommodate the new support.

The installers took over from here and placed it in.

 And then... countertops.  Goregous new countertops.

We chose a Silestone quartz counter (Helix) that looks like carrara marble, as we loved the look of marble but not the cost and upkeep. It's everything I had hoped for. It's light and brightens up the room.  The veins in the stone give it more of a vintage feel than a solid white counter would have. 

 

Of course right about now you're noticing my big problem.  If you recall, back when we installed the back splash, the plan was to live with the old counters for awhile, which included the back lip.  Now that we've changed our minds, the ugly green wall behind it is exposed.  Now I could have just ordered a back lip on this counter, but I just don't love the way that looks.  I'm stubborn and I chose to do it the hard way. 

 The other side of the kitchen has the same problem, with a whole different punch of color.

 Back when I installed the tile I noted that the lip of the existing counters was the same height as a piece of my subway tile, so adding in another course would be a piece of cake.  In reality I was an 1/8" off, which means I had to shave a tiny bit off of each and every tile.  Not impossible, but not a piece of cake either.


 

Of course this is not the ideal installation method, and you should always build your back splash from the counter up if you can. Getting these to be perfectly level and straight was little tricky and a bit tedious.

 Sometimes my 1/8" spacers were too big, but I found that table knife blades, and a pencil tip, provided the perfect height.  Use what works!

 On the Orangesicle Dream side, the missing row was the exact height of a tile, so that one was a breeze.

Back in the "Use What Works" category, I used push pins under my tiles in the open oven area to hold them up and fight gravity while the mortar dried.  

After my mortar dried I finished my new rows off with the same Dove Gray grout.

 And it was glorious!

My new grout lines aren't entirely dry yet in these photos, so they are still slightly darker than the surrounding grout.  I had to get these shots for you before I left for the weekend, but trust me, they will all match soon enough.

On the Dining Room side of the peninsula, we added 4 more inches of length to the counter to make it easier to sit and eat there.  We also took the opportunity while the counter was out to wire one more big outlet on this side, which will work perfectly as a charging station.  It's all about function.

I can't decide what I love more, the counters or this amazing new farmhouse sink!  I have a whole post coming your way about the install on this big fella.

 Which is so much better than this shallow, off center and banged up one we started with. 

 

Speaking of progress- how about a little before:

 

 And after:

So... what do you think?  How did we do?