I’ve been pushing aside a reasonably essential determination for the studio, and that’s deciding on a countertop for the lengthy wall of cupboards. It’s a problem as a result of I would like an extra-long countertop. In any case, that wall is nineteen.5 ft extensive, and the countertop will span your complete width.
There actually aren’t any good choices for a countertop that lengthy, and nearly each choice I might provide you with would require a seam or joint proper within the center. That’s not best, however I could not have some other choice. I’ve provide you with one choice that might not have an apparent seam within the center, but it surely is likely to be an enormous gamble which will or might not end up wanting good.
Listed here are the choices I’ve provide you with to date…
Butcherblock Counter tops
I bear in mind our condominium days once I purchased lovely butcherblock counter tops for our condominium kitchen for lower than $200 per 8-foot slab. These days are lengthy gone. Butcherblock continues to be a far lower than lots of strong floor countertop choices, but it surely’s definitely not low cost anymore. And discovering actually lengthy butcherblock counter tops is fairly tough.
I did discover birch butcherblock at Dwelling Depot that is available in 10-foot lengths for $519.
That’s not a horrible value, however as a result of I’m low cost, and since I’d want a complete of three to complete the room (two for the primary wall, and one for the facet wall of cupboards), that’s over $1500 for studio counter tops. And, after all, that would go away me with a joint between two butcher block items proper in the midst of the lengthy countertop.
It’s lovely, although. And I do love butcherblock. Right here’s an image of that very same butcherblock with simply an oiled end. It’s a really fairly shade.
This explicit birch butcherblock has actually good buyer opinions. Lowe’s additionally has a 10-foot birch butcher block countertop, and whereas the value is only a bit decrease ($50 much less per slab), the opinions on it aren’t so good.
So whereas butcherblock is an efficient choice, I simply don’t know the way I really feel about spending over $1500 for counter tops, whereas nonetheless having to cope with that joint between two slabs proper in the midst of the lengthy wall.
Laminate Counter tops
Laminate counter tops could be a less expensive choice than butcher block. And since this can be a studio and never a kitchen, and since laminate is sturdy holds up very properly to artwork provides, paint drips, and normal each day use, I feel it’s an amazing choice for studio counter tops.
Some time again, I constructed two actually massive work tables for the studio, and I used laminate tops on these. I selected to make use of white laminate for these tables.
So if I am going with laminate on the cupboards, I’d go for one thing utterly completely different. I actually like the concept of convey a heat wooden into the room, which is why butcher block appeals to me. So I might do an analogous look in laminate. One choice could be this Wilsonart Fawn Cypress laminate, which is $169.58 for a 60″ x 120″ piece.
That may be sufficient laminate for the entire lengthy wall, which implies that with the price of the substrate (I’d in all probability use MDF) and provides (Contact Cement, rollers, and so forth.), I might do your complete 20-foot countertop for about $420. That’s a substantial financial savings over the $1125 that butcher block would value for a similar 20-foot countertop.
This explicit Wilsonart Fawn Cypress has a really impartial shade to it, and it’s a reasonably medium-toned wooden shade, which you’ll see on this countertop.
However after all, there are lots of of laminate choices on the market, from a number of completely different firms, so I’m positive I might discover one that might work completely within the studio. So laminate is an excellent choices, and it’s additionally comparatively cheap. However but once more, I’d be left with a seam proper within the center because the longest size I can discover in laminate is 12 ft.
My Loopy DIY Thought
Whereas these two choices are good, they nonetheless depart me with a seam or joint proper in the midst of the 20-foot wall. That’s fantastic if there are not any different choices, however I’ve been capable of provide you with one choice which will work, and which will produce a outcome that gives the look of 1 strong 20-foot piece of wooden countertop.
You know the way butcher block counter tops are made up of a number of little strips of wooden which are all glued collectively to provide one lengthy strong wooden countertop? Once more, I’ll refer you again to Choice 1, the butcher block from Dwelling Depot…
Effectively, what if I simulate that look utilizing actual wooden veneer? My concept is to place down my countertop substrate all alongside the 20-foot wall and ensure it’s easy all the way in which throughout (i.e., that no joints might be felt since I’ll have to make use of three separate items to span the total size), after which lower strips of actual wooden veneer and fasten them in order that they simulate that look of butcherblock.
Doing that every one the way in which throughout would remove the necessity for a middle seam or joint, and if I do a great job and actually take my time and get the items good and tight towards one another, I feel I might find yourself with what appears to be like like a 20-foot-wide piece of butcher block.
It’s a bet, for positive! However I simply can’t get this concept out of my thoughts, and I feel it’d truly work. It will be an enormous mission, for positive. Reducing all of these items after which attaching them one after the other would possibly take a few days only for the one countertop. But it surely is likely to be price it to finish up with what appears to be like like one steady, seamless, jointless wooden countertop.
Does that sound like a loopy concept? Or does it sound like one thing that might truly work? Since I’d be utilizing actual wooden veneer, the fee is likely to be only a bit greater than the laminate choice, however it might nonetheless be a substantial financial savings over the actual butcher block choice. And its the one concept I might provide you with that can give the impression of a seamless, jointless 20-foot countertop.
Ought to I am going for it? Or ought to I stick to a tried-and-true protected choice like actual butcher block or laminate and simply reside with the seam or joint proper in the midst of the countertop?
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and embellish the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do nearly all of the work on the home on my own. You may be taught extra about me right here.
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