Kitchen Remodeling: What I'd Do Differently! Farmhouse Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

[@cynthiawelton5041]

Such good things to think about- I never would have thought about the sprayer and the sink slant but I will now!

[@caroledzenga7842]

You are one of the most genuine designers to share your thoughts on what you would have done differently differently. Your kitchen is absolutely beautiful and I appreciate your thoughtful insights. Your design is perfect in my eyes.

[@blonks4]

Great video! Thanks for all the info and tips! it was very informative :) I’m redoing my kitchen into a “grand new kitchen” and I am beyond excited! I’ve waited since 2004 when we bought our house. We’ve done lots of remodeling and this is the last big thing. I read some negative comments on here which I’m confused about. All I can say is ignore the haters! People pay attention.... When you make a negative comment “anywhere” it will speak volumes about you, not the other person. We ALL need to think before we speak. Don’t be filled with hate, because what it shows is that you are filled with envy.

[@withadistressedheart]

the countertops are beautiful and the color so unique and creamy.

[@fordguyfordguy]

What a great, honest video. A couple of critiques if you don't mind - concrete countertops are in incredible value - if you do it yourself! If you hire *anything* out, it can be very expensive! Your "sealant" looks like it might have actually been a cheap acrylic coating? There are both penetrating sealants as well as polymer based sealants that won't peal. Think what you would put on a concrete floor - that is what you want on a countertop. On your range top, nothing keeps you from raising it up. On the sink scratches, can we assume that is a firebrick clay product with porcelain overlay? Thanks again and hope I wasn't too harsh. You have a beautiful kitchen!!!

[@compassandradio6261]

Glad I came across your video. I think your advice about concrete countertops is especially smart.

[@tulipthorn]

Good tips. The single drawer handle is a good one. And yes, it's the little things.

[@lydiajones4727]

I like how detailed you are about about details--I am very detailed focused so I resonate with this but as you I don't mind some roughed up as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Thanks so much! Yep - it's a balance! Beautiful imperfect details.

[@frankielopez707]

Thank you for the details you shared! It really helps for those of us who are designing a new kitchen for the first time. The stove bit was my favorite tip.

[@HoloHoloAdventures]

Love hearing your regrets and how to make my kitchen the way I want.

[@renee72]

I really hope your clients realize what a benefit they receive when hiring you. The desire to heighten the stove and the comment about the sprayer definitely show that you are attentive to even the little details and that says volumes about you and your work.

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Tonya - wow, thank YOU! That comment sure means a lot. I really appreciate it!! Learning as I go, but I keep a little notebook of lessons learned from each job so that each time I can do better for my clients! xx -Chloe

[@jynx6364]

You're kitchen is beautiful! I love it...Im sorry that you are having trouble finding a sealer, maybe someone already mentioned this before, but if not I thought maybe I could pass some info on to help you if no one has mentioned this to you. I have the same counters and the same company of concrete mix and forms as you do, so I have first hand experience, im not just saying this out of the blue. My bf and myself actually did the work ourselves. We installed 950 lbs of white concrete, just like your kitchen, they came out amazing. The main pro of concrete is if you are a DIYer, since you hired someone it kinda defeated, what most people think is, the number one purpose of why they are so great in the first place and thats cost (don't get me wrong concrete counters are great, but like you said its a look/style and you've gotta like that if you want it professionally done). I love my counters, I love them even more because I did them and I know I couldn't afford any of the other stone options but I still wanted quality/durable/good looking product. In the end everyone comments how beautiful they are and they cant believe they are concrete. What I can relate to is that, like you, I had one spot of our counters that the sealer peeled as well, and it sounds and looks like the peeling isn't the sealer, like in my case. Its the concrete install that might have been troweled too early and it left a powdery finish, (easy check, if you ran your finger across it would show white dust, even just the slightest amount will cause the sealer to peel) especially if you did add the whitening additive to make the counters more white, this is more likely to happen. If that is the case than you just have to sand past that till theres no more residue but you want to keep your counters white and not to show aggregate so the other option is to sand and apply a top coat of the concrete "feather finish" to the top of your counters, that way you keep the same white finish. The sealer I used was from the same company and its worked really well, but no sealer will work if the base isn't solid. I loved your video, thanks for sharing!

[@kopenhagenkid]

Great video beautiful kitchen

[@christihendricks2151]

Concrete can be done differently it can be poured off site and brought to your home so not breaking it off needed if you need to remove it. Also you can have a acid wash on it so it doesnt peel off. Finish chould be a epoxy or poly type finish, like a bar top so it doesnt fall apart. So its not the concrete counter tops its the way you chose to finish them.

[@jillh5739]

It’s so fun to see little pops of gold fixtures coming back! I have always loved my gold pulls on my cabinets, they add such a fun touch to my farmhouse kitchen

[@Holly_Ho]

I feel like the concrete you could probably remove the sealer and pour clear epoxy over them and sand the finish to matte it down. That’s the only way I could think to keep them from staining. Also the range may have adjustable feet, if it does you could probably raise it up to where you want it

[@jhmlkmorrow]

Love your Kitchen and how fresh it looks. Just a couple of comments - Range heights are consistent to work with a finished countertop height of 36 inches, but with your cement countertops, it probably raised that finish height.

[@allisgrace1313]

I agree with your thoughts on your range....that would drive me nuts! However, your kitchen is beautiful!

[@korswe]

Beautiful kitchen remodel. Concrete countertops are quite nice. Unless you make pasta on your countertops, just about any countertops are fine as most people don't cook that much anyways.

[@camilla6110]

Love, love, love your kitchen, Chloe! Everything is so unique and authentic...perfectly picked. Perfectly edited! And the picture of your horses is the smile factor!! ☺️☺️😉😉💕💕. It’s your attention to detail, the antique pieces, and like I’ve said before, your art of restraint, that gives it true European Farmhouse flair. You can tell you’ve thought out each item and It’s just lovely!!

[@TheRayDog]

Good second thoughts. Thoughts on inset vs full overlay, I went frameless, which requires full overlay. Love both the look and extra space gained.

[@Am-dc5nl]

This is very helpful! Thank you for making this video!

[@normaquintero3598]

Great points. Thanks for your honesty. I do love your kitchen.

[@gindymartin8979]

You can remove the sink scratches with Bar Keepers Friend and a wine cork. You work it in with the cork and they magically disappear.

[@jrs3359]

Marble countertops absorb stains just as easily as concrete… your countertops aren’t sealed correctly. That’s why they’re peeling/ staining. Also concrete countertops don’t have to be poured in place, it’s quite easy to pour them in a frame and set them so they can be Removed later. We poured our own concrete countertops, we bought big box store concrete countertop mix, we spent maybe 300-400 for all the material. It was so easy, if someone is just slightly into DIY it’s a great option. Seal them correctly and you have an impenetrable solid stone countertop for a fraction of the cost. I LOVE mine.

[@hereforit2347]

Very informative video. Thanks. And your kitchen is lovely. 👍🏾

[@fireandlemon131]

Just starting down this journey, and your candid comments are very helpful. We will watch your other videos too! Thank you!

[@Mrs_Guac_and_Glock]

I'm sooo glad I stumbled upon this playlist. I'm starting to plan my kitchen remodel and videos like this are so helpful!

[@stacey444]

Try Bar Keepers Friend cleaner on your sink scratches. Works on mine quite well.

[@gabrielakarl3859]

I love ikea cabinets! Had them in all my remodels and had no regrets! Also they have a 25 year warranty

[@toodie535]

for those with chemical sensitivities, aren't the surfaces Melamine? Easy to clean but glued with toxic glues? looking for sustainable products.

[@debrap947]

Inset cabinets are my dream. We did an Ikea kitchen last fall...it's what we could afford and more practical as we are in a mobile home.

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

I think they’re fabulous!! Nothing wrong with it at all, and great price points! 🙌

[@Oakwoodhomesllc]

Thank you for all the tips!

[@tammyhoffman124]

You are not kidding about the sink. I wish would have know that before mine as well. I still love it and would do it again though. Im like the sink police my grown daughters roll their eyes at me and say they never want one if you have to be crazy like that!! lol

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Tammy Hoffman lol you made me giggle!! It’s so true, and I had no clue! There’s no fixing it now so I just try to live with it. I’ve found scrubbing with a little baking soda and Castile soap “scrub” makes it shineeeee!!!! Let me know what you think!! ♥️♥️🙏

[@tammyhoffman124]

Boxwood Avenue yes I do stub it with that. I have also learned do not leave black iron pans in it longer then 5 minutes. Or on my Quartz countertops. Thanks again.

[@FurryPoodle]

great video. thanks for sharing

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Thanks for watching!

[@rockfieldlangley1955]

Great info!

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

Here's my two cents on built-in microwave (my friends have one) ... Appliance sizes change ever so slightly as time goes on. Microwaves don't last as long as other appliances (my experience). Factor in future cost of redoing cabinet when you need to replace. I don't use mine much and am so glad I put mine waist high in shelf in my pantry. Close the door and don't see it. But I live alone so no worries about kids needing access etc.

[@NoelPendergrass]

Mine is in a cabinet as well & I close the door and its sight unseen. I also don’t have kids so it works! Wish I had done it in every place I’ve lived lol

[@TheDoctorsubie]

Typically the cabinet the 'built in' microwave sits in has ample space for accompanying microwave various sizes (give or take); it's the mounting bracket and/or microwave 'frame kit' that is specific to each different type of microwave (i.e. Viking vs Wolf, etc...). My Viking microwave crapped out 2x in the past 10 yrs, but luckily I DIY repaired by replacing the $4 switches in the microwave and saved myself $$$

[@09honest]

I always wonder how you clean one of those drawer microwaves. Doesn’t it splatter on the sides and how do you get in there with the sliding door?

[@markhondaturbo]

@@09honest I wonder the same thing. And with the microwave drawer being below the counter height, I can see my wife's hair falling in, or other crumbs falling in from above. Also the time it takes to open the drawer or wait for a motor to open the drawer can get old if you are just trying to add a couple more seconds to your cook.

[@09honest]

@@markhondaturbo yes! I know I shed hair like crazy, so my hair would fall in it too! Lol and that’s another good point. The motor could burn out and cause the appliance to need repairs as well. I think I will pass on a drawer microwave if I ever design a new kitchen.

[@vl5562]

Wolf is the best brand for range/oven and can be adjustable to your countertop height. Koehler has the BEST farmhouse sink made with cast iron. Never get fire clay sink.

[@juliehassen5099]

Thank you so much for these ideas

[@ginacrusco234]

Helpful info on the concrete. Thank you.

[@milkandhoneyvlogs3715]

Granite farm sinks are amazing! Love mine!

[@christinalappin]

I'm on Pinterest all the time and It's easy to get caught up with aesthetics without knowing if it fits your family's lifestyle. I love how you're shining a light on how important functionality is. My dream kitchen had concrete countertops but after hearing your thought i'm going to have to make some alterations to that dream lol. Thanks for sharing new subbie.

[@miabolte6575]

My sister had nicely sealed concrete counter tops for years. Keep looking for the right product. :)

[@wladyslawjagiello]

Nice kitchen! You can easily get your range lifted. You can also have another hole drilled to put your sprayer in the left side and in its stead install a soap or hand lotion dispenser or even instant hot water.

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Unfortunately we can't drill, it would crack the cement countertops :/ but yes, I def could lift the range - it would involve removing the caulking behind the stove though - so I just let it be :)

[@janefromthecountry1820]

Your kitchen renovation is one of my favorite. Beautiful! I wish you would make a new video of your kitchen remodel like Lisa Bass just did this week! And a look at your pantry. Love the rustic door! Concrete counter is not for me. But I love the neutral color. What color is your kitchen painted ?❤

[@angelaedwards5349]

Your kitchen is pretty. Check to see if the range has adjustable legs so it can be lifted up, only if your countertops dont have an overhang in that area. FYI, quartz manufactures make countertops that look like concrete. Thanks for sharing.

[@aleciawimer8506]

Where is your farm sink from? I couldn’t get the link to open. Beautiful kitchen!

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

It's a kohler sink, here's a new link: rstyle.me/+CQmt8vHyLPyDnBSaeeFKfA

[@davisfamily7111]

Hi! Thank you for this video 🙏 one question…. What would be alternative options to the flat end panel on the side of the island?

[@TheRayDog]

Panels made in the same look as a cabinet door.

[@silviaperdomo8215]

Thanks for this, im about to remodel my kitchen and this will save me from making a few mistakes! :)

[@originofsomeone4010]

You can raise the legs of your stove to put it a little above countertop

[@aneeval123]

Such a helpful video! I love the tip about inset cabinets and placing the handle in the middle. For the farmhouse sink have you tried Bar Keepers Friend? This may help to remove the scratches. I used to have a farmhouse sink and this is what I used on the scratches. Thanks for a great video!

[@chadkernell4497]

I like your kitchen. I really like your range. What brand is it?

[@MasteringTheModel]

Check out Stone Coat Countertops, they should be able to take care of your concrete countertops problems for the cheap.

[@jacandtea]

Wish you would’ve showed us more pictures and stayed on it for a bit so we can see what you’re talking about as you talk about it

[@brinag8604]

Ya, I didn't understand half of the references to the terms.

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Sorry about that! Thanks for the feedback!

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

@@brinag8604 sorry about that - thanks for the feedback, I will try to shoot more b-roll for my videos!

[@brinag8604]

@@BoxwoodAvenue no probs! 👍🏼

[@tcruz18]

Yeah, I really wanted to see the pantry issue she was talking about...

[@livingauthenticallyonmyownterm]

Chloe, boy I LOVE your kitchen !!! I see what you mean by your sink scratching and your countertop sealant coming off. That's really too bad. I'd never think the sealant would come off. Thanks for your video. I came from Lisa's channel and subscribed to your channel. Be well ♥️

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Hi Sheila - thank you so much for taking the time to say hello and to subscribe!! I hope I am able to track down a good sealant!!

[@briannab6315]

We have a concrete bar countertop in our basement and our contractors poured them off site and installed like a normal countertop. It was not poured in place.

[@nafnaf0]

A regrets list is the most valuable thing you could share. Didn't know concrete countertops could be such a pain. Single handle for pull-out cabinets, yes. Yes I hate stuff laying around on the countertops, also not a fan of the open upper shelves.

[@jjpringle4201]

I just need to say I have concrete counter tops and I love it! I had it instilled during the pick of marble or granite tops and I'm so glad I went with concrete. I went with black concrete(very bold) but I had the concrete sanded down to show some aggregate. I also got to choose the thickness of the concrete. A word of caution...there is a 2 part sealer that will prevent stains from more acidic spills. And one last comment...you mentioned the cost of shipped material? Home Depot has concrete????

[@jjpringle4201]

Sorry I replied before I finished watching your

[@jjpringle4201]

Stain issues...you will need to sand down the entire countertop and apply the 2 part sealer. You will not have any issues with stains.

[@allthingsnu4673]

Your kitchen is beautiful! Thanks for sharing this info. I had no idea about inset and full overlay cabinets but I do now.

[@susanseverson3965]

What is the name of your cabiniets? Your kitchen is beautiful!!

[@Leolioness44]

Do your research. I thought I had to have concrete countertops but when I realized the cons outweigh the pro. The decision to reject concrete was painful because i really loved the look, it really wasn't about cost. Because they aren't cheap at all. So I ended up going with Cambria Quartz Britannica . The main Interest was there low maintenance Performance And They're amazing durability . And I just love them

[@gurrrrlish]

super helpful & i learned a lot

[@TheHomesteadingStitcher]

I LOVE my concrete countertops. We put one on the island and lived with it for two years. We are currently in the midst of our big kitchen remodel and are replacing all the countertops with the concrete. We have done house flips and my husband is in construction so we are DIYing them and we seal with tung oil. I do strip and re-oil a couple of times a year, but it’s super simple and only takes an hour or so actual work time. My island did react to some sort of acidic liquid (I have three children), but re-oiling brought it back to like new condition. I never want anything else. Sorry you aren’t as pleased with yours! It stinks to have to live with something you aren’t pleased with.

[@rebeccareid89]

I know this is an old comment- so I hope you see it. We are hoping to do polished concrete flooring- would this be as problematic as the countertops?

[@blueberryblues3365]

Does your range have feet on it ? They can be adjusted so the range can be more level with the counter. That is how we adjusted our 5' range. No problem. Also - a friend of ours has concrete counters with a waxed finish. They does not chip or peel off. Yours may have to be removed then redone but they look polished and don't stain as much.

[@christinenguyen2530]

Thank you very much for the fantastic tips; especially about concrete countertops.

[@jukes243]

The negatives you mentioned would (in time) make me crazy. It's the little things that count. TYFS.

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Design is truly in the details!! Hope others can benefit from my learning experiences :) thank you!!!

[@yogithashetty2587]

Wish you had more pictures of each examples ! Thankyou for the ideas

[@sunnylife7203]

Great tips. With regards to your range height, did you know a lot of ranges have adjustable feet/legs? Not sure if this is an option with yours or if it would work with everything else but thought I would mention it. I would second the bar keepers friend. That stuff is gold with white farmhouse sinks. I have one and use this stuff it always gets rid of any metal scratches or rust and makes my sink look brand new again.

[@Kaththee]

I absolutely love your kitchen. I agree about the cabinets go Ikea or go full custom but depending on where you live full custom can be as affordable as semi-custom or even stock. We live in Atlanta area and our solid wood custom cabinets cost less than Wellborn's quote or Cliqstudios. I didn't want full inset because you lose so much space on the drawers and I didn't want full overlay because it looks too modern for my decor. I did have some of the doors partially inlaid so I could use latch type overlay hinges and turn knob pulls. But no matter drawer fronts custom kitchens have a quiet elegance that you can't get with semi-custom or stock cabinets because each wall section is made as a whole instead of made of blocks of cabinets. Where semi-custom cabinets come together the thickness between is doubled and when you repeat that doubling in a room of cabinets you get a lego block like effect. It is something we are used to seeing because few kitchens are completely custom but when you see custom cabinets your eye picks up on the difference regardless of the type of door fronts you choose. Your kitchen is stunning. We live in marble country and marble is the cheapest option and concrete the very most expensive. I love concrete but I have a very hard working kitchen that needed easy countertops so I choose quartz and I swear by it. Still the concrete is prettier. I didn't know it couldn't be removed without tearing up your cabinets. That is something I am glad to know!!! I love my shaw sink. I had a beautiful glass soap vessel and I dropped it in my sink and put a huge hole/crack in the finish. Now I use plastic only soap containers and I am use rubber mats rather than the grates which make keeping the sink dry difficult to impossible. As for draining it, I use a hand held squeegee made by Kohler. It has a scrubbing side and a squeegee side. I am on my second one. I can't live without it because I hate a wet sink. One might help you keep your sink draining in the correct direction.

[@lsheridan4388]

Barkeepers friend works great in porcelain sinks.

[@2malsahm59]

Amazing kitchen glad I just found you... Must be because I just looked up concrete countertops the other day. I'll be watching all your videos

[@rebekah3483]

Hi, I'm here from Lisa from Farmhouse on Boone. I love your kitchen and from what I've seen from others intros about you, your lifestyle! I didn't know the difference in the cabinets until watching this video and I had to go educate myself in the middle of the video! I have to say, (from my crash course) your cabinets appear to me to be much closer to full overlay than not! I love how you can't see the face of the cabinet! New subscriber here! Looking forward to watching some of your other videos!

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Haha makes me feel better! 🙈☺️ thank you so much! Thanks for being here, I am grateful! It’s nice to “meet you”!! Have a great day!!

[@allans7281]

I am now redoing my kitchen love the video. What is inset compared to full overlay cabinets? You mentioned your farm sink is chipping what kind of material do you have? I’m looking to go with a composite stone which is 80% quarts. Advertisements preach scratch and fading resistant( Looking for the Italian Villa vibe) Thank you for your video. I hope everything’s going well :) Allan

[@mikecassidy5889]

Is your butcher block island custom made? Do you have better pics of it? Love what we can see if it. Thanks.

[@tnmtnmorning1178]

What color grout did you use on your backsplash?

[@marcus2491]

What about the pot filler... Are you happy with it's placement? Please let me know I'm have the hardest time figuring it out for my remodel. Thanks

[@Sunsethomestead]

Did you ever find a sealant that is working good for your countertops?

[@stevecrute7915]

What’s your view on dekton counter tops?

[@alldopethings]

Thank you for this

[@bhargavichinniah4450]

Where do you buy farmhouse style kitchenware

[@MsDayzie]

You might actually be able to call your manufacturer for your range. There’s a potential for installing legs to the bottom. Every manufacturer is different. Some come with adjustable screw legs like dish washers do.

[@khaiteful]

The inset cabinets need to be adjusted frequently overtime i know other cabinets do as well but with inset you can notice the gap more and it will bother u if your r a neat freak! Very good video :)

[@tnc925]

Get to it already!

[@feliciabernal4256]

I was wondering what you meant by inset and overlay cabinets?

[@alexaschubert8277]

Ever since watching your video I’ve been trying to learn more about what you were referring to about the different types of cupboard doors, would you consider doing a video on it? Would be super interesting! :)

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Hi Alexa!! Great idea!! Yes, I can absolutely do a video on it! That's an excellent idea - I am going to reach out to my favorite cabinet maker to see if her can make me some sample boards to use in the video. In the meantime, here's a good blog post (not mine) about them! parkandoak.com/inset-vs-overlay/ I'll say, with inset, it's important to use a reeeeeeally high end cabinet maker to do them *right*, if they are done in the slightest way incorrectly, they can look very very bad!

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

I guess I should echo/clarify - In my opinion, a full overlay is a really good alternative to save a little and still get a nice high end finish!

[@alexaschubert8277]

Boxwood Avenue thank you so much for the thoughtful reply! The blog post is really helpful, and I look forward to a beautiful video on cabinets soon! Love your videos so much!

[@sondrasix5503]

It is beautiful. Julie sent me over 💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Thanks for stopping to say hello!! Thank you!

[@ChristopherJohnsonArtist]

What did you seal your concrete countertops with before use?

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

We used the StoneLok system - hasn't held up unfortunately.

[@ChristopherJohnsonArtist]

@@BoxwoodAvenue I'm going to have concrete counter tops but with a layer of chukum on top which is also used on pools. I'll ask my architect if that also stains easily. Thanks for sharing this issue.

[@pamcadd8658]

My microwave almost looks built in, but it's just an inexpensive model that would be easy to replace if that were ever needed. Above my single wall oven, there is a cabinet just a couple of inches taller than the microwave. This cabinet does not have two doors - I asked for one narrower door that leaves an opening a little wider than the microwave. This makes it look finished instead of "microwave in a hole." And the narrower door hides a handy storage space.

[@desorn6856]

Did someone already say how easy it is to move the faucet handle over? You can sometimes have it in front too. You might have to switch hot and cold water lines but it's super easy :)

[@aprillara9663]

I love your tips. I would love to see more pictures!

[@DogsDogsAndMoreDogs]

Have you considered the Rustoleum countertop paint (not the one with flakes, just the normal paint)? I've used it on old formica countertops and it has worked really well and has lasted. No stains, flaking or chips.

[@AbbottStark]

Thank you for being so vulnerable. Very helpful video!

[@scotttillinghast9665]

Just jack your stove up. Put another hole and move the sprayer then fill that hole with a soap dispenser. Epoxy coat your countertops. BTW an alternative to pour in place is pour off sight then install just the same as marble. Just replace your handles. Sell the ones you have. NBD.

[@bellad1063]

What are inside or full overlay cabinets? Thankssss! I love the concrete lol

[@joycekveum2205]

In Reno I prefer Daltile, they are easier to work with.

[@epiccollision]

Just seal the concrete in epoxy, clear if you like the colour, Color pour if you want to cover it up, indestructible and food safe.

[@SaYa-jj7gh]

Loved this video and playlist! Interesting and helpful, thank you all for putting it together!

[@nikkisjourney4143]

Where did you get your stove?

[@cierra0brooke]

Skip to 2:30 to start

[@karlywallace2914]

SUCH A HELPFUL VIDEO GIRLFRIEND! Love love your videos!

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Yay! Thank you so much! 🙏🙏♥️

[@bloomsbyamelie]

what an amazing kitchen!

[@BoxwoodAvenue]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[@leiladelianidi2694]

Hi, I'm your new subscriber from Batumi, Georgia(it's a little country near Armeniya, Azerbaidjan, Turkey, Russia.) Love your channel very much. As about your countertops i can suggest you solution how to fix it. You can make epoxy layer over your existing concrete countertops. And even make them look like marble ones. I watched it on youtube channel named "Stoan coat countertops". Watch their video- "How to install epoxy over old countertops". Be safe, stay at home, take care of yourself. Hope you'll be fine there.