apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I LOVE bold color but I have a habit of applying it in the worst ways. (thanks to AT, I'm learning....). I especially love colors that are sidways from ROYGBIV. Tomato red, grannysmith green. This is wonderful. All you need is a black and white checkerboard floor. Way to go.

good job! this looks really nice -- and i have a particular affinity for renters who have to improvise temporary fixes and makeshift solutions. i can't paint in my place, but i CAN cover the countertops!

Wow! WHAT a difference. That's a good-mood-inducing kitchen if I've ever seen one.

Love the color! Good job!

I am beyond impressed with the countertop. I'm an avid do-it-yourselfer but I would never be brave enough to contact paper the countertops because it's so difficult to work with. Bravo!

where did you get the contact paper? need to do something with our backsplash-- can't afford tile, want a pattern (so paint won't work)- thanks, lj

Very nice transformation--I voted the top category.
Is contact paper durable enough for a countertop? How long will that last?

so funny - it looks almost identical to my kitchen... and i painted it the same color - LOVE it

Like Pixie, I was wondering how the counters would do--at first, I didn't even realize you did them--they look great! Nice vibrant green, too!

I, too, am wondering how well the contact paper will stand up to the normal activity of a kitchen. What happens when water gets in those seams? Does anybody know someone who has done this and lived with it for a while?

The contact paper solution is genius. Two questions: (1) what happens when you go to remove contact paper from a surface like this after it has been there for a long time - does it come right off, or does it leave dried-up stickiness on the countertop? Just wondering about the practicality for when I eventually move out and need to return the kitchen to its original state. And (2) where does one buy contact paper like this?

I would also like to know how well the contact paper will hold up. I'm thinking of painting my melamine countertops with krylon fusion spray paint, I feel like the enamel would be more durable, but I'll have to report back on that one.

For more contact paper than I've seen in one place:

http://housewares.hardwarestore.com/37-188-contact-papers.aspx?viewAll=yes&sortBy=

I'm dying to play with this stuff:

http://alsacorp.com/products/sheetingfx/sheetingfx.htm

I think the clear caulk will really make a big difference in how well the contact paper holds up.

Not sure about the microwave above the stove.. Does it last the heat?

Thanks for all the comments! I found the contact paper at Home Depot, in their paint/home dec section. It's faux leather, but once it's down it looks like a standard slightly textured countertop finish.

I've had it on the counters for about three weeks, and it seems to be holding up really well--none of the seams have peeled or lifted, and it hasn't been damaged from wet glasses or dishes sitting on it. I just caulked around the sink to seal the edges, since water can sit behind it, and the stove, and so far so good.

I think the most important thing is to start with a really clean countertop, and use something with a straight edge to smooth on the paper as you lay it down and remove the air bubbles. When you're ready to remove it, you can use a hair dryer to soften the adhesive, and then use Goo Gone or rubbing alcohol to dissolve any leftover glue.

Let me know if you have any more questions, and thanks for voting!

Bibikonn,
There are microwaves (this looks like one) that are meant to be put over the stove and have a ventilation fan built in...I had one, and it lasted at least as long as I lived in that apartment.

love the countertops-- genius!

sorry, but i am sooooo sick of that color!

WoW! Nice job on the countertop! Love the color. Guess you will have to come to Mn and do my kitchen!

awesome countertops and kudos for choosing such a vibrant color! I too want to redo my countertops but I'm a renter... this just might work

There is a company called Alkor that used to make a countertop-width roll of about 28" wide that I covered my avocado green counter top in NYC that lasted for the 9 years that I lived there.

The appliances were harvest gold, the bath fixtures were turquoise and the carpet was pale blue grey, walls upholstered in blue.

I thought I would get suicidal in winter with the north windows, so I had all of that changed, except the HG appliances and the turquoise tub/toilet/sink since I was a renter.

Great Job!!! Love the Green! Now lets see some great recipes come forth. MissKitty

Are you crazy! It's pretty dangerous to have a microwave above a stove. Only thing you can mount on the place like this is a digestor and even the digestor must be more than 60 centimetres above the stove. There is a big chance you will be harmed by electricity in the future. Good luck.

That microwave is causing a lot of angst! LOL

It is a microwave / exhaust fan combination and is a very common appliance.

Maybe those posters aren't from North America and it is not very common elsewhere.

Not to worry--it's meant to be mounted above a stove, and has an exhaust fan in the unit as well. :)

beautiful lime green color backsplash however paint is not practical and it is hard to clean. You might find better design ideas for kitchen backsplash here:

http://www.sainttropezboutique.us/products/tiles/glazed-tiles.aspx


Cheers,

Sandra.C