Crafting Custom Countertops

Project: Miami Beach Condo, Episode 5, Part 3



Bob confronts the remodeling challenge of choosing a flooring material that will deaden sound without sacrificing the sleek, clean look of tile or stone. So the contractors end up installing cork underlayment and click-together cork tiles.

Meantime, the kitchen counters must be laminated on-site after the pre-fabricated countertops fail to fit in the elevator.

Shiny, faux-chrome edging completes the look of the shared dining-kitchen counter, as Bob tours a condo creation by designer DD Allen's, this one done in classic Miami white and pink.
Part 1: Installing Cork Floors
Part 2: Fitting a Vanity Top and Sink
Part 3: Crafting Custom Countertops
Too big for the elevators in the Miami high-rise, the kitchen counters need to be joined together on-site. The installers make a field joint to bring the two main sections together, first by applying contact cement to the edges, then by angling the edges together so the Formica seam forms tightly.

Next, the crew takes on the round dining center. For this specialty rounded counter, Princeton Custom Cabinetry uses a Verola plywood from South America. Once in place, a stainless steel post goes beneath to give the rounded counter some extra support.

The plywood is covered with contact cement, before spacers are laid across the face of the plywood so the crew can position the Formica correctly. When the last spacer is removed, a tight and consistent seam is created.

Once the Formica surface is completely set, the excess is trimmed from the edges of the counter using a straight trim router bit. The edges are trimmed with a funky, retro-looking material resembling chrome.
In this condo renewal project, Bob and the crew demonstrate how to use space, color, and choice finishes to make the most of a small space.

The kitchen is converted into an elegant dining space looking onto the living area, while a closet is transformed into a bar with recessed lighting and glass shelves. And the small bathroom turns into an oasis with luminous glass tile, a wash of color, and sleek new fixtures.

Pocket doors with an antique-look are installed so as to separate the living and sleeping spaces, and furniture is selected to reflect Miami's unique personality.

Finally, the outdoor space overlooking Biscayne Bay is made practical and, perhaps most importantly, comfortable.

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