Today we kept working on removing the old balcony where the new deck will be installed (we were rained out yesterday), so we hope to have more progress photos to share soon — likely by Monday if all goes well.
In the meantime, we wanted to share a smart, budget-friendly kitchen idea that caught our attention. We hadn’t seriously considered stainless steel countertops before, but after seeing how Linn and her husband installed theirs—quickly and affordably—we’re sold. Here’s Linn’s account:
I wanted to share a DIY tip for countertops that isn’t very common but works beautifully if you’re on a budget and don’t mind a little hands-on work. When my husband and I renovated our kitchen, we installed stainless steel countertops for about $400 for a small 20-square-foot run. A big-box store quoted us roughly $3,000 for a similar product and installation. Below are photos of our old Formica counters during the renovation:
We made a plywood template to the exact size of the counter and worked with a local sheet metal shop to have a piece of 20-gauge stainless steel cut and bent to fit our template.
Next, we installed the plywood on top of the old Formica counters…
…and then laid the stainless steel over the plywood (it’s covered in protective film in this photo)…
We found this option far less expensive than many other countertop materials. If you don’t want to spend your entire budget on granite or marble, this method is a great alternative.
Stainless steel looks sleek, is extremely durable, and requires very little maintenance. It’s also easy to clean.
We really love how it turned out! — Linn
Obviously, Linn’s kitchen transformation included many other updates as well. For more details on the stainless steel countertops and the whole kitchen project, check her blog for step-by-step posts and photos. Have you considered stainless steel for your counters? Did you know a local sheet metal shop can often produce custom stainless surfaces for much less than pre-fabricated options and contractor installation?
UPDATE: Several readers asked about long-term care and durability. Linn wrote a follow-up post with her thoughts on how the countertops are holding up over time.
Psst — we also announced this week’s giveaway winner; check our recent post to see if it’s you.