Spotlight: Counter Remodel in Mission Viejo, CA

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t love a total overhaul for their drab, outdated kitchen, but when money is tight it can be hard to prioritize renovations. What some don’t realize is that beauty can be done on a budget, and getting the most bang for your remodeling buck just means knowing where to focus.

Before Counter

After Counter

We recently finished up a countertop and backsplash remodel for Cathy in Mission Viejo. She wasn’t thrilled with her old setup, but wanted to work within a limited budget. By sticking with her existing cabinets and simply redoing the counters, we were able to create a truly beautiful space together at a fraction of the cost.

Cathy’s old counters were composed of small white tiles, meaning that a considerable amount of grout was all too visible. Her new countertop is a solid slab of Cambria Fairbourne quartz – a more resilient material in a much warmer color. And as a hidden bonus, it’s a more hygienic setup: between the lack of grout channels and the non-porous nature of quartz, bacteria has nowhere to hide.

Not only can plain walls be boring, they are also susceptible to splatter stains and steam damage from food cooked underneath them. We installed a backsplash of Crema Marfil marble tiles with this in mind. Going with larger tiles minimizes the amount of grout needed – which resulted in a smooth, elegant surface that’s even easier to clean than it looks.

Cabinet undersides are the perfect place for a light source: they allow for close-range, unobstructed illumination of the counter surface (and whatever you might be preparing on it) while also keeping the glare out of your eyes. Cathy’s lights turned out great, and add a warm ambiance to the entire kitchen space.

What do you think of Cathy’s renovations? Let us know in the comments!