Sometimes when I do a home improvement project, I think and think and think and then just take a deep breath and go. That happened today. We were planning on redoing the counters this winter. Then when we found Radiance Manor and I decided not to do them since we were supposed to move shortly. Now there is the delay and I am back to hating the counters again and want to do something with them so prospective buyers won’t say “ick” like I do.
Someone decided that gray floor tiles with 1/4 dark grout would be nice for a counter. It’s not. The grout is gross and hard to keep clean.
Plus, there is no backsplash.
I ran out of work today in the afternoon and you know that saying about the devil and idle hands. I went out into the shop and got the hammer, chisel and safety goggles. John said something like “What are you deconstructing?” My response? “Nothing.” 
Not like I was fooling John at all. I am very fortunate that he pretty much lets me do whatever project I want to do without a fuss. At least outwardly anyway.
First stop was removing the wood border. I want to keep that if I can. It just needs sanding and refinishing. This is going to be a very cost efficient project. I am not sure about the copper paint in this house on the counter. I had the espresso machine sitting on the scrap pieces and while nothing else we did on the counter bothered it, the machine left dimples in the surface from its feet. Granted it is a heavy machine, but so is the microwave and stand mixer. A little bummed there, but I will be painting other things with the copper paint.
It took less than an hour to remove the tile – partially because it wasn’t laid very well.
Yes, that is our coffee grinder. Most people have a regular coffee grinder. I don’t mess around. I have a COFFEE GRINDER.
All done except removing the sink, but we need to use that for now. 😀 That white bag is to protect Pixie’s feet. This is where she always jumps on the counter to get to the window and I didn’t want her to get any debris on her pads or get a splinter.
I actually kind of blame Cammy for this. She asked a question about what our kitchens looked like, which got me thinking for the answer and there you go. At least I have a project for this weekend.
Don’t forget about the Healthy Heart Weekend! It starts on Friday!
Thats such a bummer the copper paint is not gonna work out…. I was really looking forward to seeing that. I think it would have been awesome! Now, i can’t wait to see what you do. I’ve started my project with the hammered copper paint…. but its just in the beginning stages…stay tuned…. HugsS! deb
I might see how it does on just wood as that could be possible for the countertop instead of the laminate.
John, it’s not my fault. I only mentioned paint color–NOTHING about countertops. 🙂
I’m contemplating going for the butcher block look using hardwood flooring: http://www.remodelaholic.com/2012/04/easy-butcher-block-countertop-tutorial/ It looks fairly simple. And affordable.
I have that same site bookmarked LOL!
LOL on the dual bookmarks!
I had a thought during the neighborhood meeting. Could you take some of your leftover tile and a piece of scrap plywood and make a large trivet for beneath the fancy coffee machine? Then there’d be a barrier between the machine and the copper.
I think the trivet will mark the surface as well. Plus the other appliances that we pull out to use, like the mixer, might not work with the trivet. I will find another solution.
Wow, I like how you just get after it. I am now inspired to figure out how to turn off the “early start” on my programmable thermostat. I am woman…
Yes, once I start I go. It might take a while to pull the trigger, but once it is pulled there is no looking back!
I love your projects and the fact that you decide to do something and just do it!! I can’t wait to see the finished project.
And, so sweet of you to protect Pixie’s little feet!!
Haha – Pixie doesn’t have little feet! She is a polydactyl. 😀
I’m sure you’ll come up with something good – it’s funny, are you now thinking not “what will I like” but more “what will my prospective buyers like”??
Yes – I do have to consider what other people will like, which is not always what I like. Seems like everything on Pinterest these days is white, white, white or chevron.
I think pretty much anything you do is going to look fantastic and because it will look so new and shiny any prospective buyer will love it. I so wish I had your mad refurbishing skillz.
I think I will like it better. I already like it better with just the tile gone and plywood there LOL! My mad refurbishing skills get me in trouble sometimes, you may not want that. 😉
So you throw Cammy under the bus! 😉 I am always amazed by your home do excellence! I can’t even draw a straight line with a ruler! 🙂