We install {FIRST} countertops, sinks, faucets and disposals.
Our basement kitchenette is going great! I’ve been working non-stop on this room since late last fall, and I’m thrilled with how it came together.
For months, I considered all the countertop options and wavered between hard surface countertops and cheaper ones like laminate.
I wish granite and quartz were nice, but damn… I forgot how expensive they were. Plus, I was impatient and knew it would take weeks to make it happen.
Laminate has a lot of great color options, but I prefer not having the short, round backsplash that most laminates come with. (However, there is now an option to not use it!)
But when I thought about the moody and cozy feel I wanted for this space, I knew what I wanted was good old go-to wood butcher block.
This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.
You may earn a small commission if: Buy through link.
Butcher block countertop installation.
we bought these
Birch Butcher Block Counter
And we had it delivered to our house. I texted a contractor I use on several large projects for help with installation, but they were fully booked for several weeks.
I wanted this tiny kitchen to work with a sink, so I decided to tackle it myself. I used a circular saw to cut each piece to size and brought it down so I could install it in place.
Once I found the fit to be correct, I used this to adjust the wood.
prestained wood conditionerstained them with my favorite Provincial stain (also Minwax) and then one coat of tung oil.
Finished wood counter so beautiful! I really liked the combination of the warmth of the butcher block and the light gray cabinetry.
Once I was sure it was prepped and in place, I screwed the countertop on from underneath. The top bracket of the cabinet has holes for screws, which makes everything very secure.
Make sure the screws are long enough to enter the counter. But don’t make it too long to pass over the top.
I’ve cut out and installed small pieces of countertops many times before, but this is the first time I’ve installed this many and this size. It was a lot of work, but it ended sooner than I expected.
Installation of sinks and faucets.
yay! The countertop was cut, machined and installed. Now it’s time to install the sink and faucet!
again, my impatience inspires my determination. I did a lot of research on how to cut counters, how to install sinks, how to install faucets and disposers, but I had never tried any of them before.
We have had a black quartz kitchen sink for almost 10 years now and we love it. I really like the black vibe and it’s very easy to keep clean.
I placed the sink face down on the counter and made sure there was 2 inches of space in front.
Then I traced the sink onto the butcher block.
However, I remembered that I wanted to use painter’s tape to prevent splinters from coming out while cutting, so I had to start over. 🙂
After laying down the tape, I used a larger bit in the corners and then used a jigsaw to cut out the shape of the sink.
This is important. Secure some wood shavings over the part you are removing so it doesn’t fall to the floor as you cut. Heavy! :
After cleaning, making sure the sink was a good fit, I applied a bead of silicone around the rim of the sink and dropped it onto the countertop.
If possible, drill a hole for the sink outside or in your garage. Fuck it!
I was on top! It’s time to tackle another task – installing a faucet from scratch.
I say from scratch because the site had just been roughed up when the house was built, with no hot or cold shutoff valves or plumbing pipes installed.
Always shut off the water supply to your home before cutting off the ends of any tubes or installing plumbing.
We wanted to install a garbage disposal here as well, so we went through the process of researching how to do the same.
These videos were paused and replayed many times as I went through both processes. But they worked and nothing leaked.
I spent several weeks installing the countertops, sink, plumbing, faucets, and disposal all by myself. There aren’t many DIY projects I haven’t tried, but the plumbing was scary. This will make replacing the faucet much easier. 🙂
The kitchenette is finally ready. I dreamed of having this space for years!
Here’s what it looked like before we started backsplashing:
I just painted the walls up to where the tiles would come. (The color is West Chester Gray, the same as the rest of the basement.)
Now it’s time to start the fun! We can’t wait to show you what this space looks like now!
My goal is to make the TV blend into the wall a bit. (I wouldn’t have chosen it here, but my family insisted on it and now I love it.) Also, balance the weight of the room.
