Tuesday, September 27, 2011

180 FX Marble Counter Top

 For a long time now I have been wishing 
I had marble counter tops in my kitchen.  
Every time I see a kitchen with white cabinets like this one, I want marble!  
 Our home is a pre-fab that came with the kitchen cabinets
 and the laminate countertops in place. 
I decided to paint the cabinets white~and am ever so glad I did...
I used Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Old White.
I painted the lower cabinets with a grey wash using Paris Grey Chalk Paint®.
But the speckled laminate counter tops remained...
with many of my kitchen posts writing about my wish for marble instead.
Since this is not our "forever" house, 
and with plans to leave in the future,
I had a hard time spending $$$ on a counter top 
in a kitchen that had a less than fabulous layout.
Delaying my gratification for 8 years seemed impossible~
so images of beautiful white cabinets and marble tops filled my wish files.
 I liked the idea of marble with a bead board back splash.
You won't see this combination as much as you will with subway tile
 or even an all marble back splash.
However I found a few images that had that combination.
But saving pictures of what I wanted just made me work to come up with a solution~
We are going to replace the counter tops 
with this newer product called 180FX by Formica. 
 This sample shown is the Calacutta Marble.  
What is really interesting about this new Formica 
is that the image is reproduced in 8 foot lengths, 
so you don't have the small 8"-12" repeats 
of the old simulated stone patterns.
It will be seamless and has a hefty 1.5" thickness
 vs  the standard .75" thickness.
Everything I have read about 180FX indicates
 it is a crowd pleaser and  pocket book friendly.
We shall soon find out!
Mr. MD and I will install it ourselves after it is delivered in 21 days!  
We have a bit of prep work to do,
 as our pre-fab kitchen came with the counters installed
 and the plaster work was done around them. 
 That means cutting it away from the wall,
 removing the existing counter tops, and repairing the wall.
The other thing we are going to do is slightly change the layout.  
 I suggested to Mr. MD that the fridge should 
be moved to the right, and the cabinets on the end removed 
and added to the end of the run that is currently to the left of the fridge. 
 Mr. MD ordered this house, and since his lot was less wide
 than the full house plan allowed, 
he let them take it out of the kitchen,
 which made for a dysfunctional corner to the left of the fridge.
By this small change, 
we should gain a better work space. 
 That also means the crown molding has
 to be removed and reconfigured.
  So a bit of work ahead to be ready for our counter tops. 
I will finish repainting my lower cabs white too,  
the grey would look nice with the fxmarble,
 but it is just too dark of a space.
 The natural light is all but non-existent. 
This kitchen layout in that corner is very similar
 to what I will have after I move the fridge over 9".
This is my hearts desire for my small kitchen~
this perfect image showing a bead board and marble combo
 with white cabinets is my inspiration photo.  
So keep your fingers crossed with me and 
lets hope the new Formica does not disappoint.
 And for all of you who have a marble fetish and a small budget~
stay tuned, this could be a solution for you too!




40 comments:

  1. This is going to make such a difference Amy!
    I love your ideas about the fridge placement too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. We use Formica 180fx ALL the time. Make sure that you are having a good team to the install and you'll never have a moments issue(and none of the maintenance that comes with marble).

    Is it the real thing? No, but I guarantee that you fool guests.

    Can't wait to see the finished product!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this all turns out. I really love the kitchens that you showed and agree that marble is a budget buster! I think you've found a great solution.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love your inspiration pics and what fun to finally have the look you desire. Can't wait to see the reveal. Lots of work, but so worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The new products available these days are incredible. Your kitchen is beautiful and the counters will look gorgeous.
    Traci

    ReplyDelete
  6. I can't wait to see how it all turns out. I love the bead board back splash idea. I would recommend doing a bump-out cabinet for the fridge like in the third photo up, It will make it seem more built in, and since you will be working with that part anyway... might as well do.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh! How exciting! I cannot wait to see what it loks like!

    Andie

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Amy,
    I am so excited for you! I think that the new look will be awesome. I can't believe the difference just painting your cabinets white made. I will be anxiously awaiting to see it all complete. Best of luck! I know you and your Mr. have a big job ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh Amy that sounds like just the ticket for you. I agree that extra 9 inches will make a world of difference. So nice that Mr. MD is so handy with a handy wife to boot. Can't wait to see your transformation. I know you will be so pleased.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is going to look fabulous, Amy. I'd love to have marble, even wood, but hubby thinks it is impractical. Your kitchen is taking on a whole new personality, you are going to love it!

    XO,
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  11. gorgeous... I have already my kitchen , but I'm going to put marble on my granny's table because in a kitchen it's useful for working chocolate, knobbing dough...... and it's even beautiful!!! Ciao Flavia

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh Amy, I can't wait to see how it turns out...I'm getting ready to paint my maple kitchen cabinets too...we chatted about this a while back....anyway, Hurricane Irene got in the way and we got water in our finished basement. Everything else has been on hold...ugh...looking forward to your "new" kitchen....xo, Mariaelena

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh man, those photos make me want marble counter tops too... especially that first photo with the amazing window and the last one with the silver bucket. I'll be watching like a hawk to see how it all turns out. How cool that your hubs is such a handyman, between you two, ya'll are gonna knock this out!

    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Amy, We did that in one of our houses too...moved the fridge so it was almost tight to the door area. What we did was take a thin wood "panel"..and made it go from the top of the cabinets right down to the floor so that the side of the fridge wasn't exposed. It made it feel like it was custom made. You can put moulding on the sides so that it matched your cabinet door fronts.

    Putting that faux marble top on will look marvelous. I can't wait to see it done! xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  15. Amy, I can't wait to see your new counter top. This product would be wonderful on a bathroom vanity too. You have got me thinking! I saw your home featured in Romantic Homes today and it was gorgeous...congrats.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  16. I need to email you a link to a kitchen you would *love* :D

    ReplyDelete
  17. If ANYONE can do this...its you!!!!! I love the white already and this product has me sooo curious. I cannot wait to see the end result, I just know its going to be beautiful with your magic touch!! Can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Can't wait to see it Amy. I'm sure you'll have it done by Friday, right? LOL!!!!

    hugs
    Sissie

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am sooo excited for you. I'll live vicariously though you, K? I too love marble and would adore having my own. I am so looking forward to seeing the reveal. That is so awesome for you that you are going to get what you want. I’m really happy for you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm so jealous. This is a great solution. Your kitchen will look great with that formica and it will hold up really well. I know you want the real thing but this is a great compromise. I can't wait to see how your kitchen turns out. I know it's going to be Fab!

    ReplyDelete
  21. OK - THIS is going to be interesting. I can't wait to see it installed!

    Wonder if Home Depot has this?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love your inspiration photo's with the marble and beadboard. I love beadboard too, and am redoing my own kitchen too. Can't wait to see what it looks like when you are done!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm sure the Formica FX180 will look fabulous especially with the beadboard! But actually your existing countertops aren't all that bad ;-) Sometimes ya just gotta work with what ya got. But ooooh I too can't wait to see the finished project.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm not aware of Formica FX180 and when I went through the same thing I painted my counter top with a paint made specially for counters.. it was not in my budget for new... I'm happy to say they turned out better than I thought and it's been almost a year now and still looking good and not one chip or knife mark... maybe one day I'll get my new (real) counter tops but until then? let me show you the paint that also comes in faux marble...

    http://thewondersofdoing.blogspot.com/2011/01/continuing-saga-of-kitchen.html

    I'll be back to see how yours turns out.
    best of luck with your really nice looking kitchen..
    Sandy

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow Amy, those countertops will look stunning in your already beautiful kitchen! I'm excited to see the final product!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Amy, I am anxious to see how your renovation turns out. I'm sure your kitchen will be even more beautiful. I think the top you chose looks very nice. There are many beautiful kitchens that don't have granite or marble counter tops. Your decorating skills are so great that yours will undoubtedly be gorgeous. I love your style.--------Shannon

    ReplyDelete
  27. What an interesting option. Can't wait to see it!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I can't wait to see what you will have done. We are going to do our kitchen in a year or two.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Yay, I've been wanting to see this product in a real kitchen setting. I'm anxious to hear how it turns out. Please keep us posted. Hope you are doing well. xoxo. -c

    ReplyDelete
  30. I too have a thing for white cabinets with white marble! LOVE them. I looking forward to see how the formica turns out.
    xo
    Caroline

    LOVE the white cabinets btw!

    ReplyDelete
  31. AMY!!! GIRL!
    Your wish list looks just exactly like mine :)
    I think it will take a move for me before I get my wish. I am in a home of mine that was purly a 4 year investment so will see what happens, I am in my last of the 4 years :)

    Go for it girl you may create your dream kitchen and then plan to stay forever :))
    xx
    Dore

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow, I can't wait to see how it turns out. Now I want to paint my cabinets gosh my mind is spinning with ideas...now if I can just get my hubby on board. lol

    ReplyDelete
  33. I think your kitchen is gorgeous and can't wait to see the final photos with your new counter top.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I found this post just recently, and, I'm wondering if you've got any pictures of the 'finished' kitchen?
    I'm really eager to see it installed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Enter kitchen or marble counters in the search box...

      Delete
  35. Any finished pictures? It is 2016.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course there are pictures of the FX countertops. They were published on subsequent blog posts, and you can easily find them by entering marble counters in the search box on the sidebar.

      Delete

 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...