Welcome to the grand unveiling we’ve been eagerly anticipating – our stunning new countertops are finally here! After weeks of planning, anticipation, and a bit of organized chaos, our kitchen has taken a monumental leap towards becoming the heart of our home. It’s safe to say we’re absolutely thrilled with this pivotal transformation.
For those joining us on this home improvement journey, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. When we first moved into this house last December, our kitchen was, to put it mildly, a blank canvas awaiting a complete overhaul. The original space presented a significant renovation challenge, a room that truly needed a vision to bring it to life.
But enough about the past! Our focus today is on the present and the future, embodied by our magnificent, brand-new Corian countertops. We selected white Corian for its reputation for durability, seamless design, and timeless aesthetic. What truly surprised us upon installation was the substantial, stone-like feel of the material. Far from appearing plastic, these counters possess a remarkable density and heft, reminiscent of fine marble but with a uniform, vein-free elegance. Their surface is beautifully sleek yet boasts a subtle matte finish, offering a chic and sophisticated appeal that closely mimics honed marble. Our installer enlightened us that the white matte Corian is particularly resistant to visible scratches, a practical advantage that will undoubtedly serve our busy household well. In short, we’re utterly captivated by their beauty and functionality.
The Journey to Seamless Perfection: Our Corian Countertop Installation
Naturally, the installation process involved a period where our kitchen resembled a construction zone. But having lived through various stages of this renovation, we’ve become accustomed to the temporary disarray that precedes beautiful results. Witnessing the transformation unfold was an experience in itself, filled with fascinating details.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Corian installation was observing how the individual slabs were meticulously joined to create a completely seamless surface. The installer expertly applied a specialized glue-caulk to the seams, then used unique, defibrillator-like heating tools to rapidly elevate the temperature of the material. This process, while seemingly simple, is crucial for achieving that signature seamless Corian look.
Following the heating, the seams were flash-cooled, and the installer diligently polished the surfaces until any trace of the joints vanished entirely. We’re genuinely convinced it’s impossible to discern where the slabs meet – a testament to the installer’s skill and the unique properties of Corian. During this particular phase, which involved some fumes from the glue-caulk, our family – including Burger (our dog) and Clara – enjoyed a long walk, while John wisely retreated to our bedroom. We were relieved that, despite the chemical process, the installation was surprisingly clean, avoiding the typical dust and mess often associated with kitchen renovations. Returning home, we found our kitchen transformed, filled with fresh air from open windows and a fan, revealing nothing but pristine, white amazingness.
Consider this corner, where a significant seam once ran, now completely invisible thanks to the installer’s expertise. The transformation is truly remarkable; there’s no evidence whatsoever of a joint. It’s like magic, turning distinct pieces into a unified surface. And yes, that is indeed a baguette casually placed on our new counter – a symbol of our excitement and perhaps a touch of everyday luxury that these new surfaces invite.
Living with Corian: Unrivaled Durability and Simple Maintenance
Our installer was incredibly helpful, providing detailed insights into Corian maintenance, which I diligently noted. His patience with my “furious scribbling” was much appreciated, as these tips are invaluable for preserving the beauty and longevity of our new kitchen investment. Here’s what makes Corian such an outstanding choice for busy households:
- Non-Porous Excellence: Corian’s nonporous nature means that stains cannot penetrate its surface. Most spills and marks can be easily wiped or scrubbed away, even if they aren’t caught immediately. This makes it an incredibly hygienic and low-maintenance material, ideal for food preparation.
- Stubborn Stain Solution: For those rare, more challenging discolorations – like a forgotten red wine spill – a simple solution of 10 ounces of water and 1 ounce of bleach in a spray bottle can effectively lift the stain from the top layer of the Corian. This powerful yet gentle method ensures your counters remain pristine.
- DIY Resurfacing Capability: One of Corian’s most remarkable features is that its white color extends completely through the entire thickness of the material. This means that if an extremely stubborn mark or light scratch ever occurs, it can be gently sanded out in a circular motion using very high-grit sandpaper (400 grit), followed by a fine buffing pad. Our installer thoughtfully provided us with these tools, empowering us to handle minor touch-ups ourselves. This DIY-friendly maintenance eliminates the need for professional resurfacing for decades, offering incredible long-term value.
- Comprehensive 10-Year Warranty: Our Corian countertops come with an impressive 10-year warranty, covering any potential cracks or manufacturing issues. Should any problems arise, the same seamless repair method used during installation can be applied, making any prior damage completely undetectable. This peace of mind is truly invaluable.
These incredible features, combined with the real-world experience of John’s sister – who has enjoyed the exact same Corian counters for five years with three active children and a large dog, reporting zero repairs or persistent stains – make us absolutely ecstatic. We’re happy to report that we’re not nearly as meticulous with these counters as we initially were with our first kitchen’s granite surfaces. The light color of granite had us overly cautious, but with Corian, we’ve confidently embraced full kitchen functionality. Spaghetti sauce has already made several appearances without any disastrous consequences, proving Corian’s resilience.
The Ripple Effect: New Counters, New Goals
However, the pristine beauty of our new Corian counters has created a “first-world problem”: our existing cabinets now look significantly outdated by comparison. The stark contrast highlights the need for the next phase of our kitchen renovation.
But fear not! Our plan includes sanding, priming, and painting these cabinets, along with finally replacing the unique “eyeball” hardware. Once these updates are complete, the cabinets will undoubtedly be a worthy complement to our beautiful new countertops. We’re eager to tackle the custom work of rebuilding and cutting down some matching doors, preparing for the satisfying steps of priming and painting.
For those interested in the decision-making process, you can delve into why we chose white Corian and its cost implications here, and gain insights into the templating process here. This particular post, however, is truly a celebration of the visual: glorious photos showcasing the countertops we patiently awaited for 20 sinkless days. If you’re curious about the prelude to this installation, you can read more about removing the old counters and sink here.
Observe that expansive 3-foot by 5-foot peninsula! Pictures, while helpful, truly struggle to capture its impressive scale. It’s even larger than the wooden dining table we previously had in this space. This generous surface is a source of pure joy, offering abundant room for spreading out activities – whether it’s baking, crafting, enjoying meals, or serving appetizers. The kitchen’s functionality has increased by at least 100%, and this is before we’ve even added stools or the aesthetic wood trim pieces on the back and side of the peninsula to conceal those currently visible brackets.
Speaking of the peninsula, notice those gracefully curved counter edges. This thoughtful design ensures there are no sharp, protruding corners that could accidentally poke Clara in the eye, John in the hip, or me in the belly. With our dramatically different heights, these gentle curves are a practical and safety-conscious detail that we deeply appreciate.
Navigating Renovation Life: Our Sinkless Saga and the Return of Convenience
Many have asked how we managed with a kitchen in progress, wondering if we resorted to eating out every night. Fortunately, this time around, we’ve been blessed with a fully functional fridge, stove, and dishwasher – a luxury we didn’t have during our first kitchen renovation. This allowed us to continue cooking and eating at home, even without counters and a sink. We improvised a prep space by leaning a piece of plywood on top of the cabinets, using a cutting board and various platters to avoid direct contact with the plywood. However, the novelty of washing pots and pans in the bathtub quickly wore off. So, the return of our beautiful, integrated sink is an absolute delight!
Our thoughtful counter fabricators even provided us with a handy cutting board, ingeniously crafted from the sink cutout. This versatile piece can also double as a trivet. While super hot items shouldn’t be placed directly on Corian, we’ve always used cutting boards or trivets on our old granite counters, so this isn’t a new habit for us. For those in our local area wondering about our installers, we were absolutely thrilled with Five Star, who were contracted through Home Depot, where we ordered our Corian. More details on that experience can be found here.
A Touch of History: Our Kitchen Time Capsule
But wait, there’s a charming little secret we tucked away before the counters went in! Behind one of the cabinets, we carefully placed a time capsule, destined to be discovered only when these beautiful counters are eventually removed, likely decades from now.
John, with his characteristic thoughtfulness, penned the message inside. It reads:
Today our new countertops are being installed. We are a family of three (well, four if you count our chihuahua Hamburger). I’m John Petersik (age 30), my wife Sherry (age 29) and I moved here 11 months ago in December of 2010 with our daughter Clara (age 1.5). We write a blog about our home improvement adventures called Young House Love (www.younghouselove.com). If you’re reading this it means you’re probably getting new counters too. Hope you enjoy them!
We securely stapled the Ziploc-bagged capsule to the back of the corner cabinet by the window, ensuring it remains safe and sound until its future discovery.
What’s Next on Our Kitchen Renovation Journey?
Ah, memories! It’s incredible how quickly your eyes adjust; we can barely picture the top of the cabinets without these new counters now. So, what’s next on our extensive list? We need to cut down and hang a cabinet for the built-in microwave next to the pantry. Following that, we’ll begin the intricate process of retrofitting and building matching doors for the secondhand cabinets we’ve added to the room, ensuring a cohesive look. Then comes the satisfying task of priming and painting all the cabinets. After that, we’ll tackle the backsplash installation, hang our built-in range hood and elegant floating shelves, and completely redo all the lighting. The cork floors are next on the list, followed by the installation of our new stainless steel dishwasher and the addition of crown molding throughout the kitchen. Whew! While we initially aimed for early January, it looks like we might not be fully done until late January, but we’re steadily inching towards the finish line. Taking things one day at a time truly seems to be the secret to maintaining sanity during a large-scale renovation. That, and the sheer joy of washing dishes in a functional sink again. Oh man, it’s truly wonderful to have that essential back in action.
UPDATE: We’re absolutely head-over-heels in love with our new counters! For a post-installation update and our long-term review, be sure to check out this follow-up post.