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Need help with countertop choice and finishes

14 years ago

We're just doing a bit of a facelift to our existing kitchen and dh told me today that he thinks that new countertops are in the budget! I do NOT want to put granite on top of my 25 year old cabs that I may decide to rip out in 5 years on a whim, so I think we're looking at doing a nice laminate, but I need some help with a color choice.

Here is the kitchen when we bought the house 6 months ago:

{{!gwi}}

And here is where we are now:

What color countertops would work well here? I had originally painted the walls Valspar Filoli Honey, which is similar to RH Butter, but it seems to warm with the cabs and too light with the counters. I have 2 cans of BM Prescott Green waiting to go up as soon as the windows get their drywall repaired from the paneling we removed (it was under the wallpaper). I'm planning to do a simple backsplash with stone tiles laid horizontally in a running bond pattern something like this in this post:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0618071831253.html

I am planning to run the countertop on the peninsula so that it is all the same height rather than with the lower section the way it is now. Do you think that's a wise choice?

Also, now that the appliances are replaced, I am not sure I am in love with the light fixtures I chose. I just don't know if they work with the SS. We were originally supposed to have 4" recessed cans in here, but found there is no attic above and there wasn't enough room. I thought I'd be happy with these fixtures, but now I am thinking that I should have gotten smaller recessed fixtures instead of the semi-flush and that the pendants should have been brushed nickel. Am I nuts? This will affect the hardware choice for the cabs as well.

Lastly, on the bottom right hand corner of the second pic, you can see the tile baseboards. We had to remove them in the rest of the kitchen to get the paneling out from behind them and we haven't put anything back up. Should we put the tile back up or do wood baseboards instead?

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Comments (7)

psu67
14 years ago
I'd leave the wall color but use a darker counter-top. I'd remove the low sit-down bar but create an overhang on the main counter that would still allow two persons to sit there on stools. Your kitchen has a rather sleek look, so maybe the lights should be less ornate and more modern-looking. I like ceiling fans and would install one with an integrated light where the single ceiling light now exists. It's difficult to assess the tile baseboard because so little is revealed. Sometimes a tile baseboard can have an institutional look, so continuity of door trim in style and color along the floor-wall border might look better.
scoutfinch72
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for the input! I just realized I was thinking of a different picture that showed more of the baseboards when I was posting.

Your feedback on the lighting was exactly what I was thinking in terms of them being too ornate. I'm still considering doing recessed in the work area and replacing the chandelier that I picked, which isn't in the picture and the pendants with something more modern.

Does anyone have any suggestions for specific color names to look at for laminate that might complement this kitchen?
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scoutfinch72
Original Author
14 years ago
Just wanted to bump this up to get some more ideas so that we can look at samples over the weekend. Can anyone help me with some ideas for counters?
sapphirestitch
14 years ago
I don't have pictures yet because we're just getting started, so take this with as many grains of salt as necessary. :) We're also doing oak cabinets, but the lighting could be totally different and tastes are different, and so on and so on...

Our counters are going to be Bella Venito HD by Wilsonart. They are a mixture of black, tan, dark green, and little bits of blue in a faux granite pattern. They have a nice warm look to them that, IMO, makes the oak look better.

Our walls are currently Valspar Cincinnatian Hotel Hanaford (paint names, yikes!) but it gets a little greeny and greyed out in the North lighting in our kitchen. We are switching to Valspar Lovely Bluff; we've tested it on the walls and really like it.
Happyladi
14 years ago
I can see your picture of your kitchen from when you moved in but I can't see how it looks now. There is no second picture.
scoutfinch72
Original Author
14 years ago
sapphirestitch - thank you! I am going to visit a Wilsonart HD dealer today with measurements and I will check out that pattern. I definitely want something darker for some contrast.

Our kitchen is rather dark despite a large window on the wall you can't see in these pictures because the window is under the patio cover. I am seriously considering adding a solatube when we have the funds to do it.

happyladi - I am not sure why you can't see the second picture. It's there when I view to post. Can you see it here?:
hondagirl
14 years ago
Did you get your new counter yet? I'd love to see a pic.

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