We recently had new Silestone countertops installed in our kitchen and I am so excited to show them to you all! We waited a long, long time for these and I am thrilled with how our kitchen remodel is coming along! We lowered our kitchen bar as well and I’m obsessed!
First, let me show you a picture of the new space with our Silestone countertops. It is so much lighter and brighter than how it looked a few months ago with the dark formica counters.
See. That chocolate formica was fine with my old cream cabinets, but ever since we painted the cabinets gray (you can read all about that process HERE) , the countertops were kind of a buzz kill.
We started our process of selecting new countertops at Profile Cabinet and Design in Kansas City. I met them at the Greater Kansas City Home Show last year and was totally impressed with their work! I told them I wanted a LIGHT colored counter with LOW maintenance. And then I came home with these 4 samples. I always tend to gravitate towards the fancier and away from the “cleaner” look, so it was obvious to me which one I loved right away…. the one with the movement! HELIX SILESTONE!
We decided to tear out the raised bar area in our kitchen. I was nervous about the decision, but I know the trend is really lowing the bar and I really wanted the space to feel more open visually.
As a total sidenote: I have decided that if I don’t make it as a painter that I would totally enjoy templating countertops for a living. Seriously. It’s like putting together a life-size puzzle. I’m fascinated with the process. We made the corners of the bar overhand a little rounder than they were previously so that again, the overall look would be softer.
When we decided to lower the bar, it made for a deeper overhang in the bar area. Well, that overhang was right on the edge of needing support or not. And because I know I have crazy kids who swing from chandeliers, we opted to put in support bars. I just feel better with them under my prized Silestone countertops.
And here is how it looks. Our shorter bar in all it’s glory.
My kids even love it. And that’s saying something.
I pinkie swear that they have sat at the lower bar more in the few weeks we’ve had the new Silestone countertops than they did the entire 12 years prior combined. Seriously. The lower bar just feels so much….. “homier”. Is that a word? Our friends agree as well…. the lower bar counter just seems more inviting to sit at.
We did have to cut off our stools to fit. They were too tall with the new lower counters. I literally had a handyman who helps me with some projects saw them off in the garage. Done! The stools are from TJ Maxx .
The Silestone countertops are a man-made quartz and supposed to be extremely durable. Again, crazy kids … so we need durable. Silestone doesn’t need sealed regularly like a lot of the other countertops and I don’t have to worry about things like spaghetti sauce and red wine staining it. #winning
We went with the color “Helix” for our Silestone countertops at the suggestion of Profile Cabinet and Design and it’s perfect with our gray cabinets.
(on a total side note, I keep getting so many questions about my vintage farmhouse clock that I’ll attach my affiliate link for it HERE. Cutest banana holder ever!)
Isn’t that gorg??????????? And on a side note, I’m obsessed with my canisters too. You can find them on occasion on my affiliate link for Antique Farmhouse HERE.
And here is another view of our Silestone countertops. I did a little Facebook video talking about the changes in my kitchen that you can watch HERE. I’m wearing my new favorite shirt in the video so, bonus.
Next week I will be blogging all about the “arabesque tile” that we went with and my pot filler behind the stove. (The kitchen backsplash post is HERE.) Be sure to sign up for my emails HERE if you don’t already get them so you get the details sent right to your inbox.
And, if you loved my Silestone countertops, you can pin any of these photos to your Pinterest to look back on later!
Peace and chicken grease,
Jennifer
If you loved this post, make sure to read about how I chose the patterned carpet for my stair runner. I also made a unique choice repurposing a rusty tin as my cornice in the living room. Interior design decisions aren’t always easy! My recent house projects may help you move forward with making things pretty in your home!
Love the update to your kitchen! After all of the new updates to your whole house, are you still going to sell it?
We go back and forth…. we could be persuaded! lol =)
We are about to remodel our kitchen and I am wanting to lower our bar similar to yours. However, my electrical outlets are on the tile of the top bar so I would be losing them. Did you move your outlet to the side of your bar and if so is your dishwasher right there?
I have the exact same question. We have 4 outlets
Hello! Beautiful kitchen. Is that bead board around the bar (underneath)? I’m interested to know how you got that look. Thanks!
Love , Love your kitchen from your color choices and materials used. Absolutely stunning. We have demolished and will be rebuilding a new home. definitely pinned. Thank you for sharing. Love your blog.
Thanks for sharing a great collection of images and information.
Absolutely gorgeous kitchen! Lowering the bar was the right choice, now anyone sitting there can feel like they are part of the kitchen. Love your chandeliers…where did you get them? Thanks for sharing, has helped me as I am trying to decide what to put in our kitchen for counters. I have been leaning toward silestone, seeing yours …I may just change my color choices so I can use the same as you…it’s gorgeous.
We’ve been stumbling around the internet and found your blog along the way.
We love your work! What a great corner of the internet 🙂
Hi there ~ I’m seeing this about a year later I think. I’m about to take down a bar and replace my countertops with Silestone white diamond. I can’t wait to get rid of that bar and I think we’ll use the seating there more than we ever have as well. I know with the replacement of our counters, this is my one change to take it down! How are you liking it a year later. Your kitchen looks beautiful!
Hi there! Your kitchen looks amazing!!! We are lowering our bar as well and hoping for similar results. We opted for quartz. I’m just wondering approximately the overhang of your bar in the kitchen? We’re also trying to decide if we need support beams or not.
Hi there! My husband and I are buying a house and might be interested in doing this to the kitchen counters. About how much did this project cost you?