Kitchen Counters

Since we got counters to go over by the pond-side window many years ago, we used the right side for various things, like legos and the radio,

And we used the left side for a desk area.

That was fine until we planned on closing up the doorway to DD's room and moving the pantry over to the left.  Then I wanted to move the desk over to the right hand side.

This required lowering the counter.  So, while we were doing that in Jan, 2012, I decided to paint the "butcher block" laminate counters that we got from some counter-top liquidator-like store.

Here's how I painted the counters.  First, starting on a Saturday, HH helped with scoring the back of the laminate to remove the backsplash.  Then I sanded with 220 grit sandpaper.

I primed with Zinsser 123 using a foam roller at 2:00.  Then I primed again at 5:00 (not sure why, though, I guess to get super good coverage!).

On Sunday morning, I put on the chalkboard paint with a brush.  It was a bit streaky with brush marks.  In the afternoon, I sanded lightly with a sanding sponge and put the second coat of chalkboard paint on with a foam brush.

Then, I let it cure for 7 days! .......... And I put a coat of wax on top.

We re-installed them the next Sunday.  With the desk on the right,

And the breakfast nook on the left.

So far the new arrangement is working great.  The paint has chipped a bit on the desk side on the edge where the kids knock the chair against it.

I think I need to do a touch-up and re-wax. :-)