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Being that im very handy im in the process of doing some remodelling on my house in park slope. The wife wanted a new kitchen so we reconfigured the kitchen and added a few cabinets. we will also make a new island. Im not planning on living here more than a few years more and dont want to spend the money on granite or stone, and i hate the look of a tile countertop. What i need is someone who can fabricate and install plywood/formica coountertops on three small areas.. anyone have any ideas?
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If you're looking to resell the place, do the nice stone countertops. People who have the money to spend on a place in Park Slope will be turned off by cheap, ugly countertops--especially if they're not interested in doing major renovations before they move in. Penny wise, pound foolish.
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Hmmm, not everyone. I'd rather pay for cheap formica countertops that I did not like, as opposed to expensive stone or granite countertops that I did not like. In otherwords, via the price of your apartment, give the buyer the 3k you will spend on Stone or granite. He/she can then go to a fabricator and buy exactly the type of stone they want or (if they just spent every cent to their name buying an apartment) make due with Formica. Of course, I haven't seen BCODSNPKSLOPE's place, but in general, I do not view the present real estate market as supporting stone. P.S. I'm a big fan of butcher block counter tops. The only fabrication needed is cutting them to size. Cut right on them, flip them over after a while when they get food stains. AffordableFor better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.
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Not everyone, but definitely some people. A nice countertop isn't going to turn anyone away, but an ugly, cheap one certainly will turn some people away--especially when one is talking about the people who can afford a multi-million dollar property.
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novanglus » Not everyone, but definitely some people. A nice countertop isn't going to turn anyone away, but an ugly, cheap one certainly will turn some people away--especially when one is talking about the people who can afford a multi-million dollar property.
Most people like that are going to want to do the kitchen over to their liking as soon as they get the place anyway. -
Those same people would wonder "why Formica?" It doesn't make sense to cut corners on one of the most visible features of a home if you plan to resell it.
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novanglus » Those same people would wonder "why Formica?" It doesn't make sense to cut corners on one of the most visible features of a home if you plan to resell it.
We'd need to know about his apartment's place in the market, as well as how long s/he is going to stay to really help her/him decide Stone vs. Formica. I respect his/her choice, and only wish I knew of a good Formica place. .....Because I don't like formica, if I were him, I would beat the hell out of it for my remaining time in the apartment. Then, when I went to sell it, remove the counter top. ....What others may view as a void, I would view as blank canvass that a new buyer could easily imagine making their own. If they were broke, they could choose Formica. If they were Whynot, they chould choose butcher block. If they were wealthy, they could choose stone.For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor. -
I just don't see the market in this part of Brooklyn as supporting the choice. We looked at over thirty apartments (this is a house, so it may be different) in the Park Slope/Prospect Heights/etc area before we bought our place, and didn't see a single place with Formica in the kitchen--it was all granite or Caesarstone/quartz. Everything I've always read/heard indicates that you don't want to stick out in a bad way when it comes to the big-item finishes--you don't want people thinking they're getting an inferior product in a high-end market and you don't want people think they're overpaying for luxury in a more moderate market. Just my dos pesos.
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Lowes and Home Depot has precut, pre fab formica in stock. It can easily be cut down and you need to purchase the trim kit (a strip of plastic you iron on when you are done). Lowes does cut wood, not sure about formica, and you might for a small fee, get the lumberyard place around the corner to cut it. For an island I think the butcher block would be much better for yourself and resale. Lately I have seen some islands use stainless steel which I assume would be inexpensive (wood with a sheet of stainless on top). There is a place across from Lowes on 2nd Ave that cuts stainless steel. Also if they are small spots you may be able to purchase the pieces that are cut off of larger slabs of granite, etc. for a much lower price.
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I agree that stone countertops would prolly be the most eye appealing to the house. Ive also seen that everyone who has bought a house in the last ten years on the block I live on has literally gutted the house and done their own thing. My house is set up so the third ( top) floor is a rental unit and the first and second floors are the main apartment. Alot of people redo this so the main apartment is the two upper floors and they rent out the garden apartment. This house has been in the family for years and frankly Im here because i promised my parents they could die here which is their final wish.If i were planning on keeping the house and living here , then I would have had custom made cabinets and granite without a doubt. My goal here is to have a functional kitchen there with more counter space than was there ( i had to block off a doorway to accomplish that ) but in all likelyhood a future owner would probably relocate this kitchen as it is only about 61 inches wide and 116 inches long, and was a galley kitchen. The problem with the countertops that Lowes and Home Depot sell is that they would have a piece in the 45 degree angle and being that is so close to the sink, within a matter of months water will permiate the seam and make the countertop look really ratty. Im looking for someone who has the correct router blades and or zip saw who could take and make a template then fabricate a countertop using 3/4" plywood and glue /trim sheet formica to it. I would want the same thing for the island because the issue with the butcher block is you have to maintain it constantly coating it with mineral oil and between caring for two ill parents, a wife who has had two bouts with cancer, trying to make a living,and all the other associated crap that life gives you, I just want cheap and easy for now .
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Formica it is. I'd find someone who can create some custom pieces on Brownstoner.com ...go to the Forum, search Formica. Good luck. P.S. Your parents emailed me and told me to say "thanks for helping us out".For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.
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I just wanted to add that Novanglus, you are completely right in your assessment of luxury and the market. Ive gone out of my way here in the last five years to correct alot of the inferior finishes here such as removal of the horrid drop ceilings and installing sheetrock and having the old plaster ceiling trims and moldings immitated with urethane foam and installing those. Ive made a handicap accessible apartment for my parents, upgraded electrical, installed wood flooring and tiles as well as replacing bathrooms , making a new front yard, removing aluminum siding from the rear of the building and having it stuccoed as well as new rubber roofs on the rear extension and main building. Ive also began restoring the old mantle pieces to their original grandeur by remooving the paint and exposing/polishing the marble and soap stone Stacey ive looked into the remnants of granite but unfortunately the pieces are so big id need to buy at least a whole slab which right now is more than I wish to spend
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You might want to give a call to Built it Green NYC who collects items from homes under renovation and resells them. I think your purchase is also tax deductible. http://www.bignyc.org/commoninventory
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You can get Formica at Lowes or Home Depot. I would rather have a nice formica counter than an ugly stone one. Also a new countertop is an easy project; it definitely would not be a deal breaker for me if I were buying a place.
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