See how we used Formica laminate countertops & backsplash in our kitchen to make it look like real marble!
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve shared anything about our kitchen, but so much has changed lately! It’s time I shared an update on one of the biggest additions yet, our laminate countertops and backsplash! When we designed the kitchen, we knew we’d need to splurge and save in different areas with the countertop and backsplash being one of them. But just because we needed to save in that area, didn’t mean they needed to look cheap! Quite the opposite really!
Laminate has come a long, long way from what it used to look like. These days, you can get patterns that look exactly like the real deal. In our case, I loved the marble look and was happy to find a laminate product that closely mimicked a beautiful marble pattern. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the winner!
Laminate Countertops & Backsplash
Here’s the exact pattern and material we used, Formica Calacatta Marble in the Gloss finish, which makes it even more realistic because of its smooth, glossy texture!
Since we’ve been working on the kitchen in stages over the last two years, we had the countertops installed first. Our kitchen has looked like this for a while now…
Laminate Waterfall Edge
To really give our countertops an even more realistic look, I had the company who built them (Christoper’s Kitchen & Bath for anyone local) build the countertops to have a waterfall edge. It’s made completely out of laminate and it’s a showstopper! It really makes the kitchen look more expensive and high end.
And then, a couple of months ago right before Ania was born, we had the backsplash installed as well…
Laminate Backsplash
The backsplash was always the missing piece, let’s be honest, there were several missing pieces, but as soon as the backsplash was installed, everything started to take shape…
For the backsplash, I wanted it to look like a big slab of marble, so we had them build it 3/4″ thick. To make the outlets work right, we had to install extension boxes, but it was completely worth it!
Of course, I love how easy it is to maintain, and the price point. We were able to get the look I wanted on a budget. You can’t beat that! The Formica has tricked quite a few people. We’ve had several friends and family convinced it was the real deal, only to have their jaw drop when we say it’s Formica.
Here’s how it looks today, with the vertical planking and shelves installed too… I’ll share more about those next!
Next on the list, is building our vent hood and installing our pot filler. We’re officially ready for them!
We’ve come a long, long way! And bottom line, if you want the look of marble, but not the price, Formica is an excellent option!
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I am still gaining inspiration from your posts as we venture into life at our new house. I was completely inspired when we moved in, but now that we are here it doesn’t really feel like home. I’m struggling. I have to keep reminding myself God blessed us with this house.
We’ve already agreed this is not our forever home, but will suffice for the next five to six years when we are ready to move to Colorado (both of us miss the mountains) and have emptied our nest of kiddos. Your posts are helping me to keep dreaming of what this house can be while we are living here.
I’m so glad my posts are helpful for you! I do understand your struggle. I’ve felt it before too… especially when there are so many projects that need to be done in order for your inspiration to start feeling realistic. I’ve always found it helpful to work one room at a time, focusing on doing what I can and making the changes I can do without major work being done. It’s still hard, but slowly I make progress and it starts to feel like home. I hope that helps! Hang in there! 🙂
Hi there. We are starting our kitchen remodel. Just left Home Depot and picked out the Calaatta marble in satin touch finish. I love your waterfall finish.
I am curious what edge you used on the countertops? I also have a large island I need to do so I am looking for advice. Thank you for your wonderful post!!
Kim J.
Hi Shayna – The counters look amazing!!! Laminate sure has come a long way!!! WOWO!
Your kitchen looks ‘great’ for a budget minded project.
You have an eye for making things look so nice!
Autumn blessings to you and your little one.
Gorgeous!!! Love, love, love it! Everything is coming together and looks beautiful!
Beautiful! Totally looks real and so great!
Wow what a great look!!
They look gorgeous and they will hold up really well! We’ve done the same thing and have not been disappointed:)
Drop dead gorgeous! Your link for the countertop wasn’t working do you mind sharing again please? We are in the market for a remodel and I love this!
Beautiful baby girl!!!!
Thank you so much! We love how it has turned out! I show the link working on my end… let me know if you’re still having issues! 🙂
Looks fabulous!
This looks really pretty! I know you’re glad things are coming together.
[…] kitchen has come a long, long way. After we had our backsplash installed, it was time to add vertical planking and open shelves in the kitchen. From the very beginning when […]
What a beautiful kitchen – thank you for sharing! I am in the exact moment in my kitchen project where I have to move away from a stone countertop due to cost and your results with laminate are giving me hope. One thing I’m extremely hung up on is a black seam being visible along the edge. Looking at your photos, this doesn’t seem to be an issue in your kitchen? Or maybe the seams don’t stand out as much as I fear they will? Any insight you have would be super appreciated!
Thank you! I’m so glad you are finding inspiration in our kitchen! I understand your concern… I had it too, but our countertop maker did a fantastic job! There aren’t any dark seams along the edge. It looks like a thick piece of marble and we love it! They told us when they made it this way, that we’d need to be careful with the edge, just because of how they’d need to make it, and so far we haven’t had any issues. I would do it over again in a heartbeat! I hope this helps! 🙂
Love it.
What were the edges of the backsplash finished with?
Thank you! They are finished with the same laminate material. Hope that helps! 🙂
This is so beautiful!
Did you use Formica laminate sheeting built up to 3/4” think? We are looking to make cost effective changes to our kitchen and we love your backsplash look!
Thank you so much! The backsplash is built out at 3/4″ thick to make it look more realistic and like a true slab of marble. I hope that helps! 🙂
Hi there. My husband and I are in love with your countertops, and would like to try to achieve something similar. How did you finish the edges on your countertops and backsplash? Is it one continuous piece that has a sharp bend around the edges of the countertop? The reason I ask is that I really like the square edge look, but from what I’m seeing online most edges need to be rounded or else they need to be cut. From your photos it doesn’t look like yours are cut, so how did they achieve this? Also how did you finish the edges on your backsplash? Are the edges wrapped or are they painted?
Thank you! Our local countertop company gets all the credit for executing what I wanted flawlessly. For the finished edge on our countertop and backsplash, there are two separate pieces, but they made the seam line up perfectly, eliminating the laminate “black seam” that gives them away. I’m honestly not sure how they did it, since we hired it done, but I can say the edge looks incredibly realistic in that it looks like a solid slab of marble. If you’re hiring this out, my advice would be to go over all your edge options. I talked in great detail about how I wanted the edge to be as seamless and realistic as possible. To me, that meant a square edge without the black seam. I hope that helps.
How did you get a straight edge on your counter tops without the “brown edge” showing? This doesn’t seem to be an option on the Formica website.
Thank you!!!
Our local countertop builder made it work and they did a fantastic job!! He knew I wanted it to be as realistic looking as possible and told me he could create what I wanted. He mentioned that the edge may not be as durable and may chip easier over time, but we haven’t had any issues with it. I’d recommend talking to a local countertop company and see what they say. I’ve had several other readers mention big box stores like Lowes and Home Depot are not able to create the same edge, or the waterfall edge, so check with your local countertop companies to see how they can customize this for you! I hope that helps! 🙂
Formica sells something called Ideal edge. There is bull nosed, waterfall, double radius and ogee. You can see a video of it on their website.
I cannot find the gloss finish! Only Etchings and SatinTouch. Maybe they don’t make the gloss finish anymore, or did you get the SatinTouch Finish? Thanks!!
Hi there! We have the gloss finish, but I’m wondering if that’s part of their SatinTouch line. I know they still make the gloss finish, but perhaps you’ll need to contact a local countertop company to see if they can give you specific product details. From what I’ve heard from other readers, Home Depot and Lowes can’t recreate the same look, so a local shop sounds like the best option.