First I studied granite samples online and did my homework. Then I set out to buy, or in some cases, shop in my own basement for existing paint and supplies. All I needed was a good primer (2 coats), some natural sea sponges, and as many colors of acrylic craft paint (little bottles) as I wanted, at about $1 a bottle, with some on sale for as little as $0.27 cents!
Next, I wanted some glitz, so I bought Martha Stewart glitter. The crowning glory of my supplies that would pull of this look together successfully, was Envirotex Lite. It's a coating that spreads on like corn syrup, and is equal to 50-60 coats of shiny poly. That, along with some inexpensive foam brushes, and tape and drape for cabinets, I was ready to go.
I started with my powder room. It turned out so lovely, that I moved to my master bath. Which was amazing. Moving along, I did my entire kitchen, followed by my upstairs guest bath, and my mother's house too. I'm an addict!
Once you get a good stash of primer, paint bottles, and your glitter, the only new stuff you're buying are the foam brushes (thrown away after each use), and your Envirotex Lite. Total cost for my bathrooms, on average: $25-50. Total cost for my kitchen: $125.
Now, I'm going to share the look with you. Please know that however "nice" they appear online in photographs, the photos just do not do them justice. They are amazing! I swear, while they may not be natural stone, they are prettier than any granite. I encourage you to get out there, use your thriftiness, and cover-up your ugly laminate countertops America! You will not be sorry you did.
By Suz from Belleville, MI
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By
03/02/2013
This is beautiful. I am so excited to try it. I love the very last picture - can you tell me what colors were used for this?
By
09/11/2012
They're gorgeous! You did a beautiful job. I'm thinking it was probably very time consuming, but the results certainly look worth it. Did you sand the original surfaces to give the primer something to grip, or was that not necessary? How much time did you have to give each coat of paint to dry? How long does it take for the Envirotex Light to dry, and how do you prevent the look of drips on the edges and other vertical surfaces? I'm intrigued!
09/11/2012
I did this in my kitchen - covered the ugliest gold laminate ever! The envirotex lite is a bit tricky, and you need a heat source to get rid of bubbles - a propane torch works well. It works best if you have a partner to help you mix and pour and smooth. It sounds a bit scary, but the results are so worth it.
By
09/11/2012
They look beautiful! I definitely have some ugly formica in my house! My only question is: the Envirotex Lite product safe to use on kitchen counters...heat resistant and safe for food to come in contact? Thanks for taking the time to post the info and the pictures...Awesome!
By
09/10/2012
Wow! Don't they look great. Is acrylic primer OK? How do you get marble effect? I imagine its by merging colours before they are completely dry. Is the topcoat available in UK? Does it wear well in kitchen? Cheers, Malcolm
By
09/10/2012
Bravo! You are genius and a true artist. Your post makes me wish I had some ugly formica to deal with. Your finished product is just gorgeous!
By
09/10/2012
Looks amazing! I wonder do you need to be artistic? And how does it wear in the kitchen?
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Painting Formica Countertops