Before & After: Laminate Countertop Goes Concrete!

Sarah Dobbins
Sarah Dobbins
Sarah is a freelance writer and photographer and mother of four boys. Her hobbies include writing emails at 4 am, fixing up her century-old home, critiquing superhero spin kicks, and trying not to kill her garden.
updated Jul 17, 2020
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Wooden kitchen counter with black countertop, small sink, and coffee maker, labeled "before" in orange.
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Updating old laminate countertops without having to completely replace them can be a big challenge. Faux finishes can often look, well… faux, and tackling a DIY project (like pouring your own concrete countertops) can be tricky and exhausting. That’s why I was so impressed with this project from interior designer Kara Paslay.

Kara managed a realistic concrete look without the hassle and weight of fully-formed slabs. First she removed the laminate to reveal the particleboard underneath, and then just dressed it up in a few careful coats of concrete! She used ARDEX, which is a versatile product that’s meant for floors, but Kara’s an experienced concrete pro, and she decided if it was good enough for floors, it was good enough for countertops! With some light sanding and then some sealing, the countertops were ready to rock.

tan sofa on pink chair

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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

She tackled not only this laminate countertop, but wood and marble surfaces too! Go see her step by step process, with lots of before and after photos, at Kara Paslay Designs.

MORE DIY COUNTERTOPS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• How To DIY a Penny Covered Kitchen Countertop
• Pouring Your Own Concrete Countertops
• Plywood: The Best Cheap Kitchen Countertop

(Images: Kara Paslay)

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