Before & After: Faux Marble Countertops & Backsplash

Kim R. McCormick
Kim R. McCormick
Kim has been sharing creative projects and ideas as a Contributor to Apartment Therapy since 2010. Her writing highlights stylish, budget-friendly solutions to common household problems. Kim is a fluent French speaker and a houseplant enthusiast.
published May 20, 2011
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Dated kitchen with dark wood cabinets, electric stove, and white countertops.
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Danika found herself in a spot that many renters and homeowners can relate to — her countertops were dated, and a “real” renovation wasn’t in the cards. Fortunately she has some impressive painting skills, and her kitchen has seen one good-looking makeover.

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While in my mind “faux” can often immediately go to “tacky,” these results prove that categorization to be unfair. Danika says she worked as a decorative artist for twelve years, and her handiwork here is impressively realistic. She anticipates that the finish on the countertops should hold up for about five years — just in time for a full kitchen overhaul. (She has also used the technique to turn her Ikea Docksta into something a little closer to a Saarinen table.)

Check out Danika’s blog for more pictures and step-by-step directions, or watch her video tutorial for creating the effect. She might be a professional, but she swears it’s easy.

MORE HAND-PAINTING ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• A Fabric-Inspired Hand-Painted Wall Mural

Images: Gorgeous Shiny Things via Dwellings by Devore

Filed in:
Home Projects
before & after
kitchen