Quartz Let Me Down

There are people who don't really use their kitchens and there are those who do.  We use ours.  So when we were remodeling our kitchen, we wanted sturdy but pretty counters that could take some abuse.   We thought quartz fit the bill but now, less than a year later, we are not impressed with how they are holding up.

In fact,  I think I liked our old laminate countertops better.  I disagree with Consumer Reports and say that my laminate counters were easier to care for than the quartz.

We all know laminate can't take heat.  Turns out quartz can't either.  A couple of weeks ago I missed a trivet while setting down a hot pan.  The pan ended up on the bare countertop.  When I finally noticed what had happened and removed the pan, I noticed a sparkly, pitted ring on the counter.  It looks like the resin that holds the quartz chips together had melted away.  With laminate, heat leaves scorch marks.  With quartz it leaves sparkles.

Around the same time I found a HUGE mystery scratch near the sink.  No explanation for that one; we don't use our counters as cutting boards.  I was really shocked at how noticeable the scratch is.  Sure, our laminate had scratches, but they weren't easy to see.

I have also recently found a chip in the bottom edge of the counter above our under-mounted sink. Now every time I do dishes I worry about possible damage to the counter.  A worry I didn't have with our laminate counters.

I'll be the first to admit we are rough on our environs but that's why we went with quartz.  We bought into the hype. We were expecting an easy care, durable surface that we wouldn't have to worry about too much.  What we got is something else entirely.

Transition Moulding...A Small Success

Wow!  What a gorgeous day today!  I am practically giddy with how mild the weather has been lately.  So giddy that every little triumph seems extra special.  I am currently quite pleased with some transition moulding we put up over the weekend.

We needed it because the pre-existing moulding throughout the house is smaller than the moulding we used in the kitchen.  Was there a reason we bought taller moulding for the kitchen?  Who knows?  I can't remember.  

Anyhow,  it would have looked weird to butt the two sizes right against each other so we needed a transition piece between the two.   The block kind they sell at the stores would be too big and wouldn't look right style-wise.  So I talked my husband into making some himself, something that would work with the plain-Jane ranch moulding but also go with our cabinet moulding, which is a bit fancier.  

Happily, we had some leftover oak moulding from a book case he made for our previous home that would be perfect.  Didn't cost us a dime and looks pretty too!  (I wouldn't be such a pack-rat if it didn't pay off as often as it does!) 

Yay!  The holidays are over!  I'm no Grinch but I am always relieved and happy when all that craziness is over!  I wanted to tell you about a project we just completed.  It didn't take long to do but it was highly satisfying to finish it because it took care of a few things about my bedroom that were bugging me, one for almost 15 years!

What did we do?  We made and installed a fabric headboard for our queen bed.  It was so easy and totally changed how the bed and bedroom looked!

No place for a bed--wall 1: bathroom door,
wall 2: patio door, wall 3: closet, wall 4: window

About 15 years ago I wanted a headboard for our bed.  Like many young couples, we just had the bed frame, which made the bed look out of place in the large bedroom we had at the time.  When we finally shopped for a headboard/footboard my husband talked me into a wood and metal number that I didn't like.  I should have stuck to my guns-that darn bed bugged me from day one!

Fast forward a decade or so when we move to our current home, where our master bedroom is small and awkward. There's really no place to put a bed.  For a few years, we tried angling the bed, which looked dramatic but offended my husband's rigid taste in furniture placement and took up a lot of room.  What to do?    Make a bed that works with the space!

Years ago, a friend of mine mentioned that she made her own fabric-and-plywood headboard and that it was easy to do.  I figured I'd give it a try.  Originally we purchased sheathing wood because the Home Depot kid told us that's what most people who make covered headboards use.  Then we saw the "contains agents known to cause cancer in the state of California" stamp on the board.  No wonder the stuff smelled awful.  Didn't want that by my face each night!  (I digress but I love California for having all those strict labeling laws...CA rocks!)

So we switched to plywood, measured the width of the bed (60" for a queen) and cut it to size.  Laid out the upholstery fabric and foam, wrapped it over the edges, and secured it with a staple gun, making sure to double under the fabric edge so it wouldn't unravel.  I also double padded the sharp corners by back-tucking the foam. It's important to lay the fabric straight across the board so the pattern is level and not pull the fabric so tight so that the foam bulges like my fat thighs do in spandex!  Even though we were careful as we worked, it took only a few minutes to complete.

We then secured it to the wall using heavy duty picture hangers and wall hooks.  That was the challenging part.  Trying to do math and logic when you are overtired (and we were overtired) is not good.  It took us multiple tries to get the placement right and then even longer to get the board attached.  (If you try a wall-mounted headboard I recommend using larger hangers if your foam padding is thick.  We had to jury rig ours by using keychain rings to extend the hangers' reach.)

In the end, we triumphed and the headboard is now snugly attached to the wall. I'm happy to report we are already reaping the benefits.  Removing the headboard and footboard from the bed frame decreased its size by almost two feet so the room looks and feels a lot bigger.  Bonus-our down comforter looks better without the footboard 'cuz now you can see its plushiness.  (Love that plushiness!)  Double bonus-the new headboard is streamlined and fits with the calming, cozy feel I want in our bedroom.  Jackpot-it also physically fits under the window of the only wall you would logically put a bed.  No more angled space-hogging bed!

 The only issue is that old window above the bed leaks cold air like crazy; I was worried we'd be sleeping in a draft but last night was really cold and we didn't feel any air movement.  Maybe it won't be an issue after all.

Ta-dah!

Thanks, Cathy, for giving me that good idea all those years ago!  You always were a great neighbor!