Wow, that looks really nice and makes a world of difference in the space. Also, LOVE those light fixtures!

wow what a great solution. Hate seeing perfectly servicable kitchens torn up. What an environmentally friendly way to reuse everything but still have it look great.

..and really like that mirror at the end of the kitchen.

really love, LOVE the concrete! so very cool! however... the cabinets now look... um... not so cool. sorry.

I agree, I love the concrete but I think the cabinets need to be painted.

I saw this done in a book on budget remodeling a few years back using a floor leveler product. Then it was stained a dark brown using.....coffee! I can't remember the name of the book now. ARGH... Glad that this had such a detailed tutorial with it.

That's great! I love tutorials like this :) I do wonder if it would stand up to heavy use, like someone sitting on it... I'm assuming that when it's used on the floor it needs a pretty sturdy sub floor in order not to crack.. Particleboard might not be sturdy enough... Anyone have any experience?

@NYCGreenMomma - your comment about the cabinets is unhelpful and a bit mean spirited. The post is about their countertop transformation which they've been nice enought to share with the rest of the world, and not about their cupboards staying the same.

Nice job!

@nycgreenmomma - but isn't it "green" to keep what's already there...?

Is there a new stainless steel "backsplash" added on that tiny strip between the upper and lower counters, or is it concrete too?

I like it. But I think the mirror would freak me out. Nothing like not being used to it and seeing someone with a knife out of the corner of your eye lol.

Looks great!

Beautifully executed!

That is totally amazing and going in my files for if I ever buy a fixer-upper.

Regarding long-term durability, considering how inexpensive and relatively easy this appears to be -- and the much larger environmental and monetary cost of ripping out and replacing counter tops -- this seems worth a try. If it didn't hold up, you could always still go with the replacement option.

Also good news for people who plan to do a big reno down the line but need a temporary aesthetic fix before that can happen.

wow, the concrete looks great!

Somehow, it looks nicer and shinier than poured concrete...? Will a thin layer be less susceptible for cracking than a slab?

I do agree that it makes the datedness of the cabinets stand out more. But when you are using the kitchen (cooking, cleaning), you will see the counter WAY more than you will the cabs. So it's a smart change to make.

I love this counter, it looks great! Tho I do think that the counter is a bit at odds with the cabinets, now. It kind of feels partially done and if the cabinets were changed to follow through with the design, I think it would be perfect. But whose to say that this isn't the plan? Sometimes it's easier to do things in stages.

I think the countertop looks so fresh and new. I agree with some of you the cabinets look dated...my suggestion is to al least change the hardware on the cabinet doors, that will make such a difference!

Great idea and great results.

I didn't see anything wrong with the old surface, actually -- but the new surface looks GREAT.

I wonder what the actual colors are in real life? -- I ask because the color of the cabinetry looks so different in the second photo. Is it due to a difference in time of day and lighting or something else? In any case, with that concrete surface, I agree the cabinets could use a paint job - but what color? White? Gray? Black? Maybe even a soft, muted gray- green?

Agree! Great project but those cabinets are just dull & lifeless. Need a hand to paint them?

amazing! it looks great! any plans for the cabinetry?

Awesome!

Not loving it. Every countertop resurfacing, I'm sad to say, looks like a resurfacing job to me. I'm certain this was a hot mess to work with, and a tremendous amount of work for those who did it, but it just looks way out of place here. If you had a square-edged, uninterrupted slab to cover, it would be more believable. The overhang on the top, along with the old enameled sink that was kept instead of a stainless model (and not an undermounted sink), are dead giveaways that it's a resurfacing job. Also, shame on the people who neglected to mention they couldn't apply this on the vertical surface, and had to use a stainless strip. A DIY tutorial should point out issues this one. From a design standpoint, the concrete looks downright kooky next to the honeyed oak cabinetry. I like eclectic, but this is just a clash of pretty much everything -- including the Captain Bligh lights stuck into a coffered ceiling, next to -- cracked ice panels under fluoro bulbs?!? Yikes.

@Bluebrush - I don't understand what's wrong with a refinishing job; using phrases like "dead giveaway" makes it seem like they were trying to get away with something and fool everyone with their evil plot.

It's not the emperor's new clothes, it's a new counter surface, for crying out loud!

Like it, don't like it, but don't make it like they're doing something "wrong."

That is amazing!

Holy cow, this is one of the most exciting things I've seen on here in a long time! I need to hold myself back before I run home and start concrete-ing every surface of my home :)

And I just did a price check: it took them 3 10lb bags, and they're $15 each online. $45 and 3 part-time days. Gasp.

(By the way, any of the questions above about weight or longevity, color or sealing, they answer very well on their blog post.)

I love concrete surfaces, but have been too timid to make a poured concrete table top. But this - this looks do-able. I'm with @CRIV227, every table I see is not a candidate for concrete.

Awesome!

Love the counter, but I agree that now the cabinets seem out of place somehow.

i don't get it. replacing a commercial grade under counter sub-zero or summit with a ge pos? changing out the entire counter and sticking with that absurdly small sink that you can barely wash a cup in? and don't get me started on those salty fishnet glob light fixtures... is this an apartment or a galley on a riverboat?

@ carrotsticks! it appears many of us here are "mean spirited and unhelpful." I was actually being kind. the new counters do indeed look amazing but those cabinets... HORRIBLE! not a good match. at. all.

@ earthy cruncher - "but isn't it "green" to keep what's already there...?"
YES YES YES! there are dozens of ways of addressing outdated cabinets WITHOUT destroying them and adding to our landfills. yep!

@xg Certainly not an under counter sub-zero, simply an old busted mini fridge. The sink is just a bar sink since it is in fact a bar... I understand your anguish with kitch lighting and accessories but its only a theme. Get your kicks elsewhere

@everyonewhousesthewordgreeninquotations, get with it.

I love the concept, but I have to ask, why didn't you update the hardware as well. I think that it would elevate it just a notch.

I have this wood desk that I wanted to refinish, would it be possible to strip the old finish and varnish, then cover it with concrete like in the example above? I wanted to do like white concrete top with a glossy finish, then strip and paint the bottom of the desk an orange or just do a wood finish.

I wish you wouldn't make so many assumptions. This project was not for our own home and there were budget and time constraints that did not allow us to do everything we would have liked to do. Even with an unlimited budget and timeline I assure we would not agree on all the finishes and that is fine.

To clarify, this product works just fine on vertical surfaces and is quite easy to handle. We have covered all four walls of a room without any issues. The decision to use a stainless steel backsplash was simply a design decision.

Sorry you had to look at this project, hope you have a great day.

Tim- I just found this "before and after" and I have to say, I am blown away! I have lurked on Kara's site before to get interior design ideas, and this is exactly the level of professionalism that I have learned to expect with her (and your) work! If readers would take the time to CLICK THROUGH to your tutorial, they would see the rich polished wood (paint it? seriously?) that is all over the kitchenette- ceiling included- and how everything ties together into a lust-worthy, eclectic space. And I LOVE the vintage glass bobber pendant lights- but you didn't say where you found them? A fixture like that would work perfectly in my coastal powder room.

hannahchristine, I don't know the paslays at all, but I did see the pendant light as another project on their blog :) http://karapaslaydesigns.blogspot.ca/2012/08/diy-japanese-glass-fishing-float-light.html

I think it looks great. The blog is about the counter refurb not the cabinets or lighting etc. I have been thinking of doing something similar to this with my countertops. Just have been scared to take the chance. Mine are mauve laminate but in great condition.If I take this project on are you guys available for questions in the case of an emergency? :)

This is so impressive, I totally want to do this! thank you for this post.

Hm, this might be just the thing for an old patio table I have. It's got a heavy duty metal pedestal and a boring plywood top. I like this better than the tiles I was considering.