Hi Everyone,
This post about my new kitchen finishes is the next in a series of posts in which I will review everything I’ve purchased for my newly renovated condo in Boston.
First, we discussed the kitchen appliances. If you missed it, you can see it here.
Thank you too, for those of you who shared your experiences for better or worse with your kitchen appliances.
Before we get into the marble countertops and backsplash tile, please know that this is only one of a series of posts. I plan to review everything purchased and built.
Soon, there will also be a complete list of everything purchased for the renovation in one location. If you want more details, I’ll link back to those posts in that list.
Okay, let’s dive into the topic of the kitchen finishes.
Let’s begin with the marble countertops and the ceramic tile backsplash, the two primary kitchen finishes.
Ah, the backsplash. If you’ve read this blog for nine months, you probably read about that saga. If you didn’t, the misfortune that befell the tile the first time it was installed begins here.
Then, you’ll see what happened to the tile in the next post.
And finally, the tile was reinstalled a few weeks later. (below)
I adore this tile from Historic Decorative Materials.
It is easy to maintain and looks believably old even though it’s not an expensive tile. In some photos (like the one below), it reads whiter than it is. All of the various shades of white blend together beautifully.
Above is a recent photo of the kitchen showing all of the kitchen finishes we’re discussing today.
While I loved the ungrouted look (above) that got me into trouble the first time the tile was installed, this more formal look with the white grout suits the overall look of the home and the lamps currently sitting on the counter.
Do you like my new window treatments? (below)
haha. I predict that it will have fallen to its death by morning.
By the way, I finally realized that my images are so messed up because of the LED lights. The first image of the lamp was taken later, and I turned most of them off. Hence, the image is sharper. Sigh…
The tile is lovely. It’s not making any big statement, but it was never intended to.
Oh! I finally bought some lampshades. Yes, I know the shades are gray. They were out of white, and I knew the shape and size would be perfect. With any luck, the color will blend in nicely with the base. I might use these in the bedroom.
Why don’t you just go to a store, Laurel?
I could, but I think these will be fine. Besides, the lamp base has no white, so the light gray makes sense.
Anyway, let’s move on to the other main kitchen finish, the marble countertops.
They’ve been installed just shy of 14 months.
Remember when I intentionally poured lemon juice on them? It was necessary to remove the leathered texture that had been applied without my knowledge or consent.
So, how are they holding up? They have been looking wonderful and getting smoother, with that buttery feel I longed for.
Before I go on… I have to say that I LOOOOOOOOOOVE my white marble countertops. (Calacatta Caldia)
In fact, I can’t believe I gave it a second thought when I was thinking about soapstone. I like soapstone too, but the white marble in my little kitchen is fantastic.
I have realized something recently. The finish isn’t polished or honed. It’s more like polished once the polish has worn down. So, it’s not shiny, but it’s smooth as silk. That’s how my antique fireplace mantel is. However, I’ve never heard of this finish. Still, I think it’s easier to achieve it if one begins with it honed instead of polished.
A while back, I got this marble wax, which you can see below. It protects and seals, and this one has a lavender scent, which is nice in small amounts.
I don’t have a problem with etching or staining as a rule.
If there’s a slight etch, I have a little exceedingly fine sandpaper backed with a thin sponge; rubbed over it, it comes right out.
If there’s any issue with the counters, one has to be very careful not to chip them. So, there are no metal tools or keys allowed on the counter. I told my son Cale to pretend that the marble countertops are made out of sugar when he’s doing his thing in the kitchen.
The only other finish is the hand-painted cabinetry. It has gotten dinged up a bit in a couple of places. However, the older the kitchen gets, the more it looks like it was always here. In any case, I love the hand-painted finish.
Oh wait, I forgot about the floor.
Well, that was a mistake in some ways. I wish I had done the Bedrosians Tile like Chris Loves Julia did.
This is porcelain, not real marble, but it’s well done.
The only thing is, I love walking on the wooden floor.
After 12 years of living with hard tile, I’m tired of things crashing to the floor and breaking into a thousand pieces.
However, the wood floor still doesn’t have its painted checkerboard. Cale likes it the way it is.
The boards look a bit weathered now and have small gaps between the boards.
Ironically, the wood downstairs is cupping a little. This makes sense because the wood upstairs was installed in September and the wood downstairs about a year ago when it was very dry. Still, it should go back to being perfectly flat. It’s probably more noticeable because of the white paint.
Recently, I’ve been very busy getting ready for my party in about 12 days.
That means getting my place as ready as possible. In addition to the lampshades, I ordered some garden stools, a bathroom mirror, and new doorknobs for my 2″ thick doors. I’m very lucky. I found a local store that sells Emtek, and they are one of the few brands that will make the passage knobs for 2″ thick doors. They’re supposed to come in this week and I’ll go and fetch them from the north end of Boston.
Paint will be in a separate post.
xo,
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Related Posts
The First Renovation Tour Of The Upstairs Living Areas! (Parts 1 & 2)- Laurel’s Home Renovation 2024 – News & Deets!
- Tinted Wallpaper? Here’s How to Do It + Renovation News!
- Floor Stains, Finishes & Stencil Patterns for My Entries & Kitchen
- Did the Oil-Based Polyurethane Work Out? + Fume Mitigation!
- Hardwood Floor Issues + New Runtal Radiator, and More!
- My Renovation Mistakes + A House Tour via YouTube!
39 Responses
Your kitchen is absolutely stunning. I love it all. I wondered, though, if there was a reason you went with a standard white light switch plate instead of the vintage-looking brass ones that are becoming popular. I’ve been debating making that change in my own kitchen and wondered if turning knobs would be annoying day-to-day, even though they look nice.
Again, congrats on surviving a reno and having such a gorgeous result.
I think you have done beautifully in that small traditional kitchen space. The marble is amazing! I recently purchased and had installed a Bosch induction cooktop and love it. When you are ready to replace yours I would highly recommend the Bosch. Also, throughout our home we have Emtek door hardware and it is really nice quality plus great functionality. Enjoy your party and can’t wait to see your final images of the home.
Thanks, S. But, from now on, my home will be used for the majority of new blog posts. I can’t use photos of other people’s rooms, for the most part. I’m sick and tired of copyright trolls attempting to extort huge sums of money I don’t have.
I thought you installed a danby marble countertop for some reason. Maybe you mentioned it. My previous home had wood floors, but I opted for stone in the current home. The maintenance is certainly less, but I agree wholeheartedly that walking on wood floors is preferable. Between concrete floors at the hospital, and stone floors at home, my legs are exhausted.
Hi Denise,
I didn’t mention it, but a lot of other people have. I’m sorry about your legs. Maybe a rug with a thick pad would help. My rental in 2023 had a thick pad, but it was ugly AF, so I don’t recommend it for aesthetic reasons, but it definitely made standing easier.
I know I missed this, but what color paint did you use on your cabinets? Everything is gorgeous.
Hi Ronelle,
Crown Point uses Sherwin Williams and I selected Greek Villa.
I love the marble and tile and I can’t wait to see the lampshades on the lamps. My one big question is do you have wonderful pieces to put into your cabinet with glass doors. That would be wonderful.. just asking.
Hi Daria,
No, at this time, it’s mostly
crapplates and glasses from Pottery Barn.What products did you use to prime and paint your floors? Wanting to paint some wood floors in my own home. Stunning home you have!
Hi Emily,
Thank you so much! The floor guy used Benjamin Moore floor paint in White Dove oc-17.
Thank you for sharing your journey. I am on a similar one and have learned so much about how difficult it is to get everything right, even with a good plan, contractors, and your inherent brilliance. Whenever I see the amazing photos, I am inspired to keep trying, not to give up, even though I am having to do most of the works myself and am exhausted with it all!!! I have a lot of respect for you and feel privileged to have been an observer along the way!! ❤️
Hi Barbara,
Thank you, but anything that appears to be inherent is the result of my years of experience. Hats off to you for doing most of the work!
Laurel –
Your home looks effortlessly beautiful – and we know the amount of effort that went into creating that impression…
Awaiting the installation of your chosen wall coverings …
Enjoy your upcoming party…
Thanks for the videos… they do put things into perspective.
Please tell me more about the sandpaper with sponge backing. I would love to give it a try on my etched marble. Thank you!
Hi Bonnie,
There are numerous brands. I don’t remember the exact one I have, but it’s similar to this.
Sometimes if something acidic gets on the marble, it leaves a rough or shiny patch. These sanding sponges smooth it right out. They were also helpful for smoothing out the leathered finish the fabricator put on my expensive honed stone.
Hi Laurel,
I so enjoy all your posts! I love the marble countertops and also a timeless “aged” look to things. My problem is so many things fall out of the cupboards and crash-land on my laminate countertop! I guess marble isn’t in my future. I adore your wood flooring in the kitchen. It speaks to the history of the house and I think of all the people that walked there before you and wonder what their lives were like. Your kitchen looks new and fresh and lovely and yet I feel the age of the building, all at the same time. It must be joyful to be in such surroundings!
I so enjoyed this post, Laurel. You’re almost to the goal of finishing all the details, shedding the stress, and just enjoying living enveloped by the beauty and comfort of your beautiful home. Cale is sweet to visit so often. His presence adds the sweetness of sharing with family to the scene. Just for the fun of it: Is the little Staffordshire’s “hot spot” his permanent home? Here’s to more parties to come. Isn’t God good!
Hi Gloria,
The doggie’s partner broke in a tragic accident. I will keep him in the kitchen for now. He seems to like it in there. Cale is sweet but he comes most of the time to engage in Aikido with his favorite sensei.
Laurel, the white kitchen tile with the white grout looks absolutely stunning – I just adore it – as does the marble counter top. I have marble in my wet bar and in one bathroom, but I have to say I’m not fond of the etching that occurs or the maintenance required. As beautiful as it is, I’m not sure I would choose it again to be used for a flat surface. I love reading about the detailed process of your renovation. It really an education for lay people on how complicated and time consuming it can be.
Everything looks lovely! But I have been waiting for checkerboard floors to complete the loveliness – is that not going to happen?!
Hi Janet,
Please understand that I’m doing the best that I can, but I have to stop pushing myself so hard.
I would like to do it, but there are other more pressing issues. I must pace myself. I’m frequently on the verge of total burnout and I really cannot keep pushing myself like this. First and foremost, I have to earn a living. This website is my only means of support and I’m trying to work smarter, not harder. What I’m trying to say is from the beginning, this is an ULTRA marathon, not even a regular marathon and definitely not a sprint.
Happy belated birthday, Laurel! You look MAH-VELOUS, as does your kitchen! Your expertise in planning every detail is evident. I’m especially drawn to the design and quality of your cabinets. Crown Point Cabinetry for the win! I hope your party is fun for you and your guests and that all goes smoothly.
The lampshades are perfect! There is gray in the marble also. Wood flooring in kitchens is definitely more comfortable to walk and stand on than tile floors.
I looooooooove marble too. I am obsessed with it. Yours is gorgeous and I love the tiles. My marble is etched a bit here and there NOT by me but contractors and my kids! They would put hot sauce and tools on it. My god. At first I was so raging mad but now eh it is what it is. You used light sandpaper? Mine are honed Carrera marble. Would that work on honed? My cabinets have chips here and there too which really makes me mad. I had them professionally repainted and it did not last. Ugh. Your kitchen is stunning!
Hi Janet,
My countertops are honed. The leathering was over the already honed marble. They made a half-assed attempt to fix it, so I asked what I could do to fix it myself and they recommended the 220 grit sandpaper (made wet). The lemon juice made it easier and faster. If there’s a less conspicuous spot, you could experiment there, or if you have a left over piece, you could experiment there, too. That texture was so awful, I had nothing to lose.
I just noticed that you have the small marble backsplash below the tile. Yours looks nice but most of the time when I see it in other’s pictures that little strip of backsplash jumps out at me. Why did you have it installed instead of the tile going all the way to sit in the actual counter? Is there a “design rule” I’ve missed? I love your space and am looking forward to learning about the finishing touches. Styling at the end of the project is my weakest area.
Hi Brenda,
It’s there because I wasn’t planning on tiling that wall. Originally, I wanted wall paneling there. Therefore, I did a small backsplash. However, you are right. Normally, it should be the tile going all the way down to the counter. It does that on the range side. What happened is I needed to order five boxes of tile and I only needed two boxes for the range side. My GC said the price to do both sides was virtually the same so I figured why not as I had the tile.
Your backsplash is stunning! I love the look of the tile. Marble countertops have a look that cannot be duplicated. So glad that you have a workable finish.Some friends with a polished finish marble are going crazy trying to keep them from getting stained and etched. Maybe not the best choice for their expectations.(lol)
Hi Caron,
Polished is more durable, but also shows the etching much more. A bit of etching gives the marble a bit of character, but the more I use the kitchen, the better the counters get. I really adore the marble!
Your kitchen turned out so lovely, and I’m sure that you’re enjoying it!
Regarding marble, I have Danby marble in my kitchen–it’s been there for almost 11 years. I do love it, but it has gotten chipped and etched, which I knew would happen. I don’t bother with trying to get the etches out because then I’d spend my whole life obsessing about the counter tops. I have a very large kitchen and a very sloppy husband, so there you go.
Hi Diana,
I can relate. When Cale comes to visit, I put down some silicone pads by the range. They’re translucent and virtually disappear. He is very sloppy, too. The only time I’m bothered by an etch is if I’m wiping the counter and my sponge feels like it’s catching on the stone. That’s when I take the fine sandpaper sponge and lightly go over it. It’s more of a tactile thing for me.
It’s so perfect and beautiful. I had to smile when you said you LOOOOVE your marble countertops. I just redid my kitchen and I feel the same about my Imperial Danby. I could look at them forever. Yes they cost the moon and there will be etches and chips but I’m so glad I did it. I have been replacing all my doorknobs with Emtek Providence knobs and have been very happy with them. Good quality and very well priced.
Hi Laurel,
If the grey lampshade doesn’t work out you could go with a colored shade. I like the idea of going with a color pulled from the flowers.
As for the kitchen floors, could you still have tile installed? After the party of course.
That’s a good question, Mary. I’d have to rip out the wood to have the tile put in.
Can you tell me what sanding paper with fine sponge you used for your countertops for the etching?
Hi Sydney,
It’s similar to this.
Everything is so gorgeous. Well done! Hope your party is a hit too. Have fun.
The Lamps in the kitchen,,,,,,,,,beautiful!