Finishing a kitchen in 4 easy steps - #2

Hello all. With the cabinets done we needed to turn to the countertop. We decided on a hybrid approach. Around the sink where water is ever present we would tile and elsewhere we'd install butcher block.

With our base of plywood and hardiboard locked down we could get out the thinset, wet saw, and start tiling. First up was to create the outer border that, aside from looking nice, would cover the ugly edges of the plywood and hardiboard.

This required some deft teamwork because it needed more than one pair of hands. After cutting a bunch of strips with the wet saw, we started attaching each piece but needed to hold them in place until they wouldn't slide down to the floor.

Then we could turn to making the top. We picked out a nice tile that had bullnose pieces for the ends that we mitered at 45-degree angles.

The plastic helped protect the cabinets. After all the work we'd put into them, we had some hope of keeping them nice.

The final result after rounds of grouting and cleanup looks great. After some debate we also settled on what to do for the backsplash. It will mirror the hybrid tile/wood of the countertop.

Here's a teaser for our next post because you can see a bit of the butcher block as well.

Until next time.