Faux Granite Countertops
Is your kitchen looking a little tired and old fashioned? Is it looking worn and a little worse for wear? When you think about it you will be surprised how much time we actually spend in our kitchens. Of course if you are cooking for a large family that will come as little surprise but even in small families most members will find they spend some time each day in the kitchen. This is especially true if, like many of us, you do not have the luxury of a separate dining room and your family eats in the kitchen.
Of course many of us have a dream kitchen. With all of the amazing kitchen accessories and the multitude of gadgets available it is now possible to have a kitchen designed to meet our exact requirements. Maybe we would love to have granite countertops or maybe a large cooking range. It would seem that whatever we want we can have it.
Many people choose to have granite countertops in their dream kitchen because it looks great, every stone is unique, and the material is highly suitable for use in the kitchen. Granite is extremely difficult to damage or scratch and proves extremely durable. The countertops also remain cool which means the surfaces are perfect for the preparation of various types of food.
Like most things in the world of kitchen design the better they look the more expensive they prove to be. Of course the most fantastic looking designs often utilize the most expensive materials which obviously has a profound effect upon the total cost. Such design also tend to use the very top of the range electrical goods to further enhance the beauty and, before you know it the price goes through the roof.
If you discover that you are unable to afford a new, specially designed, kitchen you can, relatively easily, create a new look and feel to your existing kitchen by simply replacing the doors, facings, fittings and countertops. The great thing about renovating a kitchen in this way is that you can replace different items at different times so that you can spread the cost.
If you have a really small budget it is amazing how far you can make the smallest amounts of cash stretch with just a little thought. If your cupboards look fine then maybe only your countertops need replacing. If you can’t afford new ones you can refinish both facings of doors and cupboards and also countertops. Using various techniques and different types of paints you can create the most beautiful patterns such as wood grain. One of the best ways in which to improve a kitchen for a minimal cost is to create faux granite countertops.
Faux granite finishes are relatively easy to create. It’s a very good idea to familiarize yourself with the look of granite which can be done by looking at plenty of pictures and visits to kitchen sale rooms. Firstly you need to ensure the surface is clean and then prime it with an oil based primer. Once dry you can then use other, water based, paints. Next you need to paint the base color and once that is dry you can add the various patterns different colors and textures. When finished all you need to do is give it at least three coats of a water based Polyurethane sealer in “gloss” finish to make it look like polished granite.
Of course by making your own faux granite countertops you can pick and choose the exact patterns and colors you wish to use. If you want a natural look to your countertop stick with only natural tones. Use a gray, dark green to black background color for the base and natural browns, paler greens and blacks for veins and other secondary features. If you want something a little more exciting you can be more imaginative with your choice of color.
