I’ve been pushing aside a fairly essential resolution 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 toes huge, and the countertop will span all the width.
There actually aren’t any good choices for a countertop that lengthy, and nearly each choice I might give you would require a seam or joint proper within the center. That’s not excellent, however I could not have another choice. I’ve give you one choice that will not have an apparent seam within the center, but it surely is perhaps an enormous gamble that will or might not prove trying good.
Listed here are the choices I’ve give you to this point…
Butcherblock Counter tops
I keep in mind our apartment days after I purchased beautiful butcherblock countertops for our condo kitchen for lower than $200 per 8-foot slab. These days are lengthy gone. Butcherblock remains to be a far lower than a whole lot 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 Home Depot that comes 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 principle 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 stunning, 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 colour.
This explicit birch butcherblock has actually good buyer evaluations. Lowe’s additionally has a 10-foot birch butcher block countertop, and whereas the worth is only a bit decrease ($50 much less per slab), the evaluations on it aren’t so good.
So whereas butcherblock is an effective choice, I simply don’t know the way I really feel about spending over $1500 for counter tops, whereas nonetheless having to take care of that joint between two slabs proper in the midst of the lengthy wall.
Laminate Counter tops
Laminate counter tops can 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 day by day use, I feel it’s an amazing choice for studio counter tops.
Some time again, I built two really large 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 fully totally different. I actually like the thought of deliver a heat wooden into the room, which is why butcher block appeals to me. So I might do an identical look in laminate. One choice can be this Wilsonart Fawn Cypress laminate, which is $169.58 for a 60″ x 120″ piece.
That will be sufficient laminate for the entire lengthy wall, which signifies that with the price of the substrate (I’d in all probability use MDF) and provides (Contact Cement, rollers, and many others.), I might do all the 20-foot countertop for about $420. That’s a substantial financial savings over the $1125 that butcher block would price for a similar 20-foot countertop.
This explicit Wilsonart Fawn Cypress has a really impartial colour to it, and it’s a fairly medium-toned wooden colour, which you’ll be able to see on this countertop.
However after all, there are tons of of laminate choices on the market, from a number of totally different firms, so I’m certain I might discover one that will 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 for the reason that longest size I can discover in laminate is 12 toes.
My Loopy DIY Thought
Whereas these two choices are good, they nonetheless go away 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 give you one choice that will work, and that 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 numerous little strips of wooden which are all glued collectively to supply one lengthy strong wooden countertop? Once more, I’ll refer you again to Choice 1, the butcher block from House Depot…
Effectively, what if I simulate that look utilizing actual wooden veneer? My thought is to place down my countertop substrate all alongside the 20-foot wall and ensure it’s clean all the best way 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 each one the best way 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 in opposition to one another, I feel I might find yourself with what seems like a 20-foot-wide piece of butcher block.
It’s a raffle, for certain! However I simply can’t get this concept out of my thoughts, and I feel it would truly work. It might be an enormous mission, for certain. Slicing all of these items after which attaching them one after the other may take a few days only for the one countertop. However it is perhaps value it to finish up with what seems like one steady, seamless, jointless wooden countertop.
Does that sound like a loopy thought? Or does it sound like one thing that might truly work? Since I’d be utilizing actual wooden veneer, the price is perhaps only a bit greater than the laminate choice, however it might nonetheless be a substantial financial savings over the true butcher block choice. And its the one thought I might give you that may 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 secure choice like actual butcher block or laminate and simply stay 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 beautify 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 can learn more about me here.
I hope you’ll be part of me on my DIY and adorning journey! If you wish to comply with my tasks and progress, you’ll be able to subscribe under and have every new put up delivered to your e mail inbox. That manner you’ll by no means miss a factor!