Anyone w/70's Cabs Replace JUST Countertops?
Hello You Wonderful Helpful People...Wife of Prefab here again. For a number of reasons, we have decided to keep our original (1970's) Eichler "faux walnut" formica veneered cabinets in our kitchen and baths, but to replace the white formica countertops with a quartz product that better ties in with our slate-look-a-like tile floors and those groovy faux walnut cabinets better than white formica countertops. Plus, we want to upgrade the sinks, faucets...you know how it goes. Here's where I need some input: I'm living in terror that when they remove the formica countertops they will damage the faux walnut veneer. I'm sure there's no way to repair the faux walnut, as it's so funky I'm sure it doesn't exist anywhere else on the planet. Can anyone with these 1970s cabinets help me sleep at night and tell me they took off their counters, replaced them, and the cabinets were okay? Thanks so much. Stressed and sleepless in Sunnyvale.
if your cabinets are actually veneered in formica, consider looking at samples available. I have a walnut formica top to my 1955 Knoll credenza. I found the exact pattern is still available at my home depot.
if not Formica brand, check Wilson Art and others as some manufacturers sometimes buy discontinued patterns from other manufacturers.
Thanks, Joe. That's a great idea. Who knows, maybe we'll reface all of the cabinets in new Formica. The original Formica is in great shape and I like the funky look of it, but there might be something even cooler out there. And if the new countertop installation/removal of the old counters screws up the old Formica veneer, let's HOPE so! Brook (Wife 'o PreFab)
What condition are your sliders for the drawers in or have you had to repair them? I too have the 70's medium/dark walnut veneer which is in pretty good condition and the cabinaets are well layed out. The drawer hardware is very worn (I want full drawer extension...would love self closing but that is altogether a much bigger challenge). I've looked at drawer sliders but was not able to located appropriate designs. Joe had the 70's kitchens well designed (triangle layout)!
The in thing is a "wet lacquer" finish which would be very nice. I definitely believe the darker walnut veneer has a timeless look and would like to update it with a modern lacquer like finish. If anyone knows craftsmen that achieve this sort of finish, please let me know. Every vendor wants to replace the cabinets and doors (at non-standard height ofcourse...I enjoy the lower height eichler cabinets thank you).
As for the counter tops, I have seen minimal hardware to hold the tops down and believe it would not be much of a challenge to remove w/o destroying the cabinets.
