New Kitchen Counter Tops

 When we moved into our Grace Village condo about 10 1/2 years ago the kitchen still had the original counter tops installed in 2008 I think. 

The flooring had been replaced at the same time we replaced the wood laminate flooring in our bathrooms. The washing machine failed to stop filling with water and overflowed into the hall bathroom ruining the floor. We tried to pick kitchen flooring that looked OK with the counter tops from the choices presented to us.

However, for over a year now the counter tops have been delaminating, i.e., the colored part separating from the base. Also, when we moved in, the seam where the counter next to the stove met the intersecting counter had separated. That reached the point of 1/8 inch gap by last year. 

We came to an agreement with Grace Village that we would share the cost of replacing the counter tops. I was allowed to choose from the samples at Copper River a laminate (not granite or fancier stuff). I chose a really light color because the kitchen always seemed dark with the existing laminate. I really like how this lighter-colored laminate goes with the almond appliances, the wall paint, and the wooden cabinets. I don't think it is the best match with the flooring, but it will do.

Here the seam is almost invisible which had not been the case for the 10 years we lived here.

My husband never liked the brown/gray laminate. With a legitimate reason for replacement, we changed, and he is much happier.