Decisions. Which comes first, countertop or floors?

You can feel it in the air...the end of summer. You can feel it in my home...the end of the home remodel. YIPPEE!! I don't think I have ever needed a September to come like I've needed this one to, if only mentally. It's been such fun to blog about the work we've had done and have done on our home to see the progress. It's a good thing blogs are ongoing because I couldn't have done ONE remodel blog if my life depended on it. In truth, are you ever really done? #homeownership101

The next few blogs will come in parts to cover the kitchen and floors. Which comes first? I'd say countertops. Thus we begin with...

Part 1. Countertops

Does it matter if they "go together"? For us, the consideration was about the semi-open floor plan that we have and the fact that our good-sized G-shaped kitchen with peninsula countertop is visual once you enter the main living area. The kitchen itself bends back around, less unseen.

Before remodel pic with ceramic tile countertops (original to us and have been really great!):

At the same time we were discussing the type flooring we wanted, I (more me) was also considering whether I wanted to go with white or black countertops. Pinterest and Instagram are gold mines for helping homeowners gain inspiration and visualize what a product or color scheme would look like in a room. My thoughts were leaning towards a black countertop to bring cohesiveness across the living, edge of seen kitchen and small dining area. Black would ground things. Whereas I could not "see" that white would bring the same effect for us.

Pic shows the end of peninsula between kitchen and breakfast dining, back to den living to entryway. Gotta flow!

Prior to going with a contractor and connecting to our countertop man, I ordered a sample of the material I was really drawn to a quartz Charestown Cambria Matte. Charcoal gray (black) with white veining. Lots of factors about quartz I liked. A potential heat factor and cost led us to at least being open to other options. I am SO glad we spent the $30 and ordered the sample, whether we chose the quartz material or not. It provided the visual we needed to layer on the flooring and everything else.

Here is a pic of the sample inspiration:

Our contractor, Ron, suggested we meet with a guy, Sam, he uses for countertops and see what all options he could show us. We met him in brrr 🧊 cold January at Pinnacle Granite Solutions here in Abilene. We were able to see quartz, granite, natural stone, and in between. We had shown Sam our sample quartz, so he knew what direction we were wanting to go. He took us to a slab that he thought we might like at a nicer price (2 slabs instead of 3, too). Although we looked around the freezing cold warehouse, this was EXACTLY what we had envisioned and loved it. Negresco Black Leathered. The perfect matte black with faint veins of gray and flecks of white and gray. Brazil done good!🖤

Pic of our Pinnacle slabs:

That was a happy day! I think the longest part of the remodel was waiting for the day that we got to see our countertops brought in and laid. That was a quick rush from the hotel! Exciting times. Click on the ▶ below to see more top pics.

The kitchen remodel will continue with a Part 2 post to tell you about the backsplash, sink, lighting, appliances and window shade accessories. I hope you will come back for that! But so you can see how the counters turned out, here are some finished pics with a sneak peek at the fabulous floors - which may be my favorite thing about the remodel! Click through ▶

That's it for Negresco Black Leathered! I feel like we nailed the French Country flair we needed in the room. The "old" leathered surface transports you to any old, European kitchen. We are so, so happy with our choice and actually found ourselves experiencing it two other places in the house as well. Watch for it 👀

Thanks for following! xox