DD's house update thread

i don't have any advice, i just wanted to say hi

i don't have any advice, i just wanted to say hi

soapstone will be my next choice.

More of the same

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I did a search about countertops. It seems we've talked A LOT about countertops over the past couple of years, but indulge me. Let's talk about it again. Here are my choices:
Corian
Silestone
Tile shock
Formica
Stainless Steel

Tile--not unless you're doing crap-colored grout. They get gross fast.

No stainless steel, either, because I'm doing stainless steel.

That's all I got. I just took 2 Benedryl, and my brain is already asleep.

What can you tolerate? Do you prefer perfection or patina?

SiIlestone is about as bulletproof a countertop as you can get, and it can be a nice soft look, unlike granite. I haven't seen any Silestone samples in a year or two, but if I recall, they have some nice swirly limestone-like patterns and a bunch of nice colors.

Some granites are bulletproof but some need sealing, usually the lighter ones.

I love stainless but it scratches -- do you like patina?

Ditto for soapstone, which I also adore. My dream kitchen has honed Cararra marble countertops on the perimeter and a soapstone island, with bespoke white painted cabinets and heart pine floors ... wait, were we talking about you? Oh, yes, it's about you.

Carrara marble -- patina galore, especially if you like wine.

Corian

Laminate is practical but doesn't sell a house.

Tile ... love it but ... The grout!

Wood countertops, lots of care, lots of sealing, lots of patina.

Here's some reading to get you started:
http://www.kitchen-counter-tops.net/

DD, what I'd do first is start looking. In kitchen showrooms, at Lowe's & Home Depot, in model homes and open houses, in decorator books and mags (check the library)...look look look. It won't take long before you'll be able to narrow down what you like and what you don't. You'll start to see a trend.

We have Uba Tuba black granite on the majority of our countertops; it's only around the stove that we have the copper. I don't know if I'd recommend copper now because the price has gone through the roof these past few years. It's lovely but hardly worth the king's ransom that it's become! It was a poor man's countertop when Merman installed it. Who'da thunk it?

You'll probably laugh but I'd say install laminate. If you were going to upgrade your cabinets and appliances I wouldn't hesitate about high end countertops as well, but if you're still going to have your basic kitchen just gussied up a bit, laminate is wonderful. There are so many pretty patterns and some of the granite look stuff is so convincing you have to touch it to see if it's the real thing. Save your money for something else. Laminate will do the job and do the job well. You won't feel like pulled a cheapie, especially if you put one of the better edge finishes on. It'll look great.

Debbie Travis painted cabinets black on one of her TV show episodes and it looked really striking. I'm pretty sure she has her own website so you could probably pull up a picture of it. I painted our master bathroom oak vanity black, and put on pewter knobs and a white cultured marble (plain, no swirl or pattern) countertop. It's a pretty good fix until we get around to gutting the bath, and I like it. It's nice and crisp looking.

About the panelling: I don't know what to tell you there because I like whitewashed panelling but I also like the natural wood, particularly if it's been scrubbed clean and then oiled. Sometimes natural panelling looks nasty just because no one ever thought of washing and nourishing the wood. I guess I'd try the spik-and-span route first before whipping out the primer. Also, are your fabrics complimentary to the natural wood? Maybe if you update curtains or pillows you might get a nice woodsy theme going and it will save you the trouble of painting.

You gotta post some pics for us.

Thanks, everyone.
I tried to post pics earlier, but my camera/computer weren't speaking and I couldn't download the pics. Will try again tomorrow.

Wonderful advice all. Mermy, I've been looking and looking. That's why I'm so freakin' confused. I like it all!! I like the thought of black cabinets, creamy white countertops, new hardware. For the kitchen AND for the bath. I honestly think mr. dd would probably stroke out if I even mention doing the black, but we'll see if I can talk him into it.

TFT- I think patina is more me. I'm not so much for perfection.
Our neighbors did tile on the countertops and sold their house in four days. Now, mr. dd thinks that's the way to go. Not if I have to live with them for any length of time!

NoHall--We will talk.

Keep the advice coming...I'm not ready to pick up the paint brush just yet, but I love all the feedback.

I have an kitchen island large cart that has stainless and I will never have anything stainless again.

DD, I like this look with the light and dark cabinets.

DD, I love granit (sorry shelly) and silstone but I do agree with Mermy about the Laminate. They do have some great patterns/colors out there these days. Dune-Ahh has a Laminate countertop in her house and I thought it was copper when I first looked at it.

Also, You could save quite a bit o money to gamble on later down the road if you go with laminate.;-)

Another vote for laminate. They're not your Mother's laminates anymore--some of them look incredible!

Since you're going to be painting the cabinets black, I assume they're in good shape, but not exactly high-end cherry wood. That being the case, I'd expect future buyers will probably redo the kitchen sometime down the line and would welcome the opportunity to choose a countertop that would complement their cabinet selection--be it recycled glass inlay for the "Greenie" or granite for those drawn to the "Retro-Bubble" style.

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DD, I love granit (sorry shelly) and silstone but I do agree with Mermy about the Laminate. They do have some great patterns/colors out there these days. Dune-Ahh has a Laminate countertop in her house and I thought it was copper when I first looked at it.

Also, You could save quite a bit o money to gamble on later down the road if you go with laminate.;-)

I like the way you think. ;-)

Another vote for laminate. They're not your Mother's laminates anymore--some of them look incredible!

Since you're going to be painting the cabinets black, I assume they're in good shape, but not exactly high-end cherry wood. That being the case, I'd expect future buyers will probably redo the kitchen sometime down the line and would welcome the opportunity to choose a countertop that would complement their cabinet selection--be it recycled glass inlay for the "Greenie" or granite for those drawn to the "Retro-Bubble" style.

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Thanks, shel. I was hoping you'd chime in. This makes sense to me. I looked at laminate the other day and actually brought home a sample. Like Mermy said, they do have lots of options these days. And you're right that I would imagine a future buyer would probably want to re-do the kitchen. The cabs are not in bad shape, just a little dated. Will advise what I finally decide.

Minnie, I like that look too.

DD, I saw Carter Oesterhouse in an ad for his show. He was talking about recycled paper countertops. Here is a link to the website. HGTV when you get there, look down where it says more info and then click on the www.richlite.com link. They have some gorgeous colors to choose from. The site does not list the prices, I wish they would. I am very curious. I will see if I can find out the cost. Good luck on your re-model.

Thanks, everyone.
I tried to post pics earlier, but my camera/computer weren't speaking and I couldn't download the pics. Will try again tomorrow.

Wonderful advice all. Mermy, I've been looking and looking. That's why I'm so freakin' confused. I like it all!! I like the thought of black cabinets, creamy white countertops, new hardware. For the kitchen AND for the bath. I honestly think mr. dd would probably stroke out if I even mention doing the black, but we'll see if I can talk him into it.

TFT- I think patina is more me. I'm not so much for perfection.
Our neighbors did tile on the countertops and sold their house in four days. Now, mr. dd thinks that's the way to go. Not if I have to live with them for any length of time!

NoHall--We will talk.

Keep the advice coming...I'm not ready to pick up the paint brush just yet, but I love all the feedback.

DD if you are doing a remodel for resale you really should consider a prospective buyers likes/dislikes for a kitchen. Kitchens and baths can make or break a deal in a heart beat. I have no problem with the laminate (Donna's are grayt) but I think I would do something a little more neutral for the cabinets, I love the creamy, beigy look for the cabinets with a darker counter top, stainless sink but this also depends on your appliances. Let's do a house tour when you are here next month!!

I agree with Franny regarding the resale issue. If you are updating for resale, you'll probably want a more neutral (not boring) look, and also a room in keeping with the look and "personality" of the house and neighborhood.

Also agree with Mermaid about the pictures. Take a morning or afternoon to go to your local bookstore, Lowe's or Home Depot and look through all their design mags. Buy the ones with photos that appeal to you. You'll start to see a trend in what you like, and you can go from there.

Don't do stainless steel. You will hate it. I've had experience with it and it is impossible to keep clean. It is also easily scratched and dented. It will look awful just days after it is installed. It is beautiful when brand new, but that won't last long.

Don't do stainless steel. You will hate it. I've had experience with it and it is impossible to keep clean. It is also easily scratched and dented. It will look awful just days after it is installed. It is beautiful when brand new, but that won't last long.

Totally agree, stainless appliances are a pain and I can't imagine stainless countertop cleaning.

My dream kitchen is zinc countertops, and a soapstone island. I'd get a slab or remnant marble of a work surface on the zinc for the rare occasions I roll out dough.

Of course, I do love the recycled glass stuff, but I'm drawn to stuff that gets beautiful with age, and i've never seen old recycled glass to know...

DD -- laminate can be great, and you can go to the granite and marble shop and ask to buy a slab of remnant and use it as a work surface or to put out nibbles for guests. I got a big 3x2 piece for about $100 and sat it on the dusty rose 1983 laminate hospital counters in my old office and it gave them some character and made a huge difference. On a pretty, modern laminate I bet it would really pop.

Also, I know you live near an Ikea. Pop in and look at their countertops. They have some cool things that are such good quality for the price.

I agree that laminate is much nicer than ever, but if you are truly thinking about doing this to sell eventually, think about your neighborhod first and what is expected and/or fairly standard.

Even if the cabinets are gussied up with fresh black paint (is that not an oxymoron?) it may not be appropriate to put a solid surface on them. This is where pictures are important. HINT!

I adore my big undermount single sink, and it would not really be possible with a laminate counter (there are solutions to this but the ones I have seen don't seem to be ideal). The best thing about the undermount sink is sweeping crumbs and junk right into the sink. Once you've done that, the very act of cleaning up around a sink rim drives you nuts.

I love kitchen remodels -- and I realize I am in the minority here -- because they are like one giant problem-solving puzzle! Complicated but funn.

If I ever redo mine, this is the look I am going for, minus the stainless steel. Even though I love how it looks, I hate keeping stainless clean and it scratches so easily.


I have a friend that just painted hers a very creamy white, not bright white and they were beautiful.

I think that stainless appliances are the only way to go....I don't care how hard they are to keep clean. For countertops, I like soapstone or concrete. We have a chunky concrete countertop in our beach house and I love it! I also like to mix those up with butcherblock woods. I agree with TFT....always an undermount sink!

Another vote for laminate. They're not your Mother's laminates anymore--some of them look incredible!

Since you're going to be painting the cabinets black, I assume they're in good shape, but not exactly high-end cherry wood. That being the case, I'd expect future buyers will probably redo the kitchen sometime down the line and would welcome the opportunity to choose a countertop that would complement their cabinet selection--be it recycled glass inlay for the "Greenie" or granite for those drawn to the "Retro-Bubble" style.

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Retro-Bubble! You need to trademark that one too Shel.

In 20 years you will be able to tell exactly which homes got "involved" in the bubble.

There are new stainless steel appliances with a different finish that is "fingerprint proof." I really like the look and they really are easy to keep clean. You can get it in high end and middle grade.

If I ever redo mine, this is the look I am going for, minus the stainless steel. Even though I love how it looks, I hate keeping stainless clean and it scratches so easily.


I have a friend that just painted hers a very creamy white, not bright white and they were beautiful.

I love the simplicity and neutral colors of that kitchen!

I am SO over the stainless appliances (especially the uber expensive ones such a giant waste of $ unless you're a great chef) - don't mind a stove or fridge, but like a combo of panel fronts or black/stainless instead of the "attack of the stainless appliances" kitchen!

For me, there is no other option on the stove unless you do one of those retro types that come in those fancy, glossy finishes...but that's another kitchen. I do like the panel fronts for the fridge and dishwasher. It all depends on the design of the kitchen. The look of that kitchen would change completely without those stainless steel appliances. It's a great look!

There are new stainless steel appliances with a different finish that is "fingerprint proof." I really like the look and they really are easy to keep clean. You can get it in high end and middle grade.

I do love the look of stainless and if these are truly fingerprint proof I would be all over them. Can't wait to replace the old style stainless appliances!!