Uh-oh. I'm starting to really dig Formica's 180fx Soapstone Sequoia...

Maybe it's because of the subtle color. Maybe it's because of the honed finish. Maybe it's because it looks like it belongs in a farmhouse. Who knows???

But I'm thinking this one is a contender. Everyone's screen is different. So it's really difficult to see the true colors. But trust me, this color and finish is more real looking than the other samples.

Now... if it lives up to the greasy fingers and serrated knife test, I'm in business.
((giggle))



The sample compliments my wall color and accent red color too! YaY!





This next one I cut out my black countertop to get a better idea.









Then I took my trusty saw and cut the sample to make a countertop "edge" to get a better visual...





The best angle to see the "honed" finish.




I found a few others who went with Soapstone Sequoia. Click on the photos to go directly to their blogs.








These next few are from Pinterest.











Ooooh, this one has a beadboard backsplash like me!




So... Whaddaya think???

:> )

UPDATE: I went with Formica Soapstone Sequoia laminate and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!
See my post about it HERE!

Are you ready for some laminate countertop samples??!!

Alrighty then, here we go...

First let me say type, these samples are just a sample of what I'm waiting on. So let's call this the "first batch."


L to R top row: Formica 180fx Calacatta Marble/etchings finish, Wilsonart HD Deepstar Slate/mirage finish, Formica Laminate Argento Romano/etchings finish.
L to R bottom row: Formica 180fx Jet Sequoia/etchings finish, Formica 180fx Soapstone Sequoia/honed finish.



I really loved the Jet Sequoia. It looks like black soapstone. Perfect for this old farmhouse.



That was until I saw the dreaded fingerprints and smudges!! See the spots?
ACK!!!!



Heck, my fingers weren't greasy and yet they left marks!!
See more?
Double ACK!!!
I really didn't want to. But I had to 86 it.



My second choice was the very pretty Deepstar Slate.



That was until I read everyones complaints online with dark, shiny laminates and how it shows fingerprints, smudges, scratches, dust... more so than a lighter laminate with a matte finish. Jeepers, you would think after living with this black, shiny Rustoleum transformations countertop I would know that by now. Hey, I was in denial.

I can't believe how difficult it is to choose a basic laminate countertop. I am torn! I love the contrast of the light cabinets with a dark countertop. But I strongly dislike trying to keep it clean, shiny and smudge free. Man, I can't imagine trying to pick out a pricy stone countertop. My head would explode.

So that was round one. I'm waiting on two more batches of samples so I've got two more rounds to go. Hopefully in the end, I'll end up with a knockout!

**ding**ding**ding**

:> )

My Rustoleum Countertop Transformations Update...

Well, it's been three and a half years since I "transformed" my kitchen countertop.

How has it held up??

Not bad. Not bad at all. Mind you, it's just my sweet hubs and I so not a whole heck of a lot of wear and tear going on.

I will say I never cut directly on the countertop and always used a cutting board and trivets. But my sweet hubs did cut directly on it once and when he did, he made a small slice in it. But after all this time the texture has lifted off slightly. Again, not bad at all. Especially for the price of the product.

There are some spots where it chipped off.



Some spots wore off along the seams.





I was considering doing it again. But I'm also thinking about getting a new countertop instead. Like I've mentioned in the past it was a lot of hard work to transform the countertop and quite frankly I'm too old and too tired to do it again.

Granite, quartz and marble are the hot trends for countertops. But as lovely as they are, I'm not sure about them. Besides the obvious high price, I'm not a fan of shiny, glossy countertops. Yes they are gorgeous but our home is very much lived in. It would be covered in fingerprints and hand smears and that's not so gorgeous. ((giggle))
I love the look of a wood countertop. But I know I would spend my time worrying about any drop of water or liquid sitting on it. (I do that now with my free standing butcher block.)

I have seen some wonderful laminate countertops in Formica 180fx and Wilsonart HD. They've come a long way from our 80's laminate countertop. Truth be told, as dated and unattractive as our white countertop was, there were no chips or cracks in it.

Here's a blast from the past...



I ordered and received some laminate countertop samples and will share with you in my next post.

In the meantime, if anyone wants to put in their 2 cents about their countertops (pros and cons-laminate to quartz) please feel free to chime in. I'd truly appreciate your comments.



:> )

Took a drive to one of my favorite little antique shops...

When I walked in I saw a basketful of vintage calendars that were taken apart for the prints.

As I thumbed though them my eyes got as big as saucers!!

Some were from a 1976 bicentennial calendar with Currier and Ives prints AND they were only a buck a piece.

Heck, it was a no brainer!!





I do believe these boys are quite happy hanging on the wall along with our Founding Fathers portraits.



1776 was a good year... So was 1976.

♥

It was a big, puffy clouds day...

My favorite kind of day.

:> )

TONIGHT on Early Work Mercantile...

Gwenda...



Polka Dot Folk Art Rooster...




Just click on the Early Work Mercantile banner below to go directly to my page.






:> )

A Wednesday Giggle....

:> )

It only took me a couple of years...

When I found a vintage dry sink on Craigslist a few year back, I struggled with wanting to paint it.



Not because I loved the groovy, dark stained pine. But because I've (kind of) had a change of heart about painting vintage/antique furniture even if I really dislike the finish. I guess it's about preserving history. Yeah, I know. Who wants to preserve some of the 70's era furniture?? Like those gigantic, bulky, dark pine waterbeds where you could park a small vehicle on the headboard shelf right next to the center mirror? Okay. Maybe there are some who would. But personally, I've never been a waterbed fan. After about 5 minutes, I need a Dramamine.

Anyway, I decided to go for it!! I also decided to paint it red. Gee, who would have thought??!! ((giggle))

I used Olde Century Colors in "Country Red." Seemed appropriate.

I had an extremely old bottle of Valspar Vintage Antiquing Deep Toner. I have no idea where it came from. But I found it in our basement. I needed something to antique the dry sink with and when I opened it, it wasn't all crusty and dried up. Works for me! Although the fumes almost rendered me unconscious, the color was perfect. If I wake up tomorrow with an arm growing out of my forehead, I'll know why.



I finished it off with a light coat of wax.



Ta-dah!!





Man, I love the look of this antiquing toner! I must admit it is worth using the stuff and possibly growing another body part. I'll take the risk.

Happy Monday.

:> )

Took Betsy for a ride...

I was looking to buy some Olde Century Colors paint. I found out the closest dealer was only 11 miles away! YaY!!

So I drove over to the cutest, little prim shop, I had no idea existed!!

When I walked in, my eye was immediately drawn to a particular sign. I knew it had to hang on our powder room door.

Now it does...





(((giggle)))

Have a terrific weekend, all.

:> )

Just because...

Happy Tuesday.

♥

Ooops, I did it again...

Let me just start out by saying this past week has been one heck of a week!!! I won't go into details. But I will say I was going on week two without a washing machine. Ack!!

I don't know about you, but when I get stressed I paint. No. Not pictures. I paint entire rooms. ((giggle))

I decided to use (the leftover) Behr Antique White again. This time in my "dining room." I type "dining room" in quotes because we really don't use it. It just looks nice and quite frankly my sweet hubs is not fond of the antique table and chairs. Folks were a lot smaller and lighter back in the day. ((hee hee))



I'm very pleased with the color. It is a tiny room so the darker color walls made it feel even tinier. The Antique White paint color brightens it up nicely.

Here's a photo of the previous color. It's was cozy. But a little gloomy.



So now it's time to kick back and reflect on this past week from h*ll and learn from it. Heck, we may even sit in the dining room and eat dinner. Hmmm... What are the odds of talking my sweet hubs into that?!

Happy Sunday, all.

:> )