Well, contest or no, I’m getting rid of this horrible kitchen. I’m still in the process of planning everything out (when I have a spare moment or two), and have decided on laminate countertops. When I was younger, I dreamed about solid surfacing countertops. I’d go to the home stores and wander through their kitchen displays.. run my hands over the gleaming, smooth solid surfacing countertops. Then, I saw the price.

*COUGH COUGH* They want HOW much?!

Laminate is looking good, REALLY good! Actually, laminate has come a long way since that disgusting orange stuff on my cabinets. Laminate is more durable. It’s more stylish. And I think it’s more waterproof than it used to be. I did some surfing and found this nice design at Wilson. It’s Kalahari Topaz. I like it.

It’s light-colored, which I like. I couldn’t ever go with a solid-white in my kitchen– those whites show every little crumb, and I’d be spending every waking minute wiping crumbs off the thing. This textured, mottled look has the brightness of white, but it’s variegated enough so that crumbs won’t stand out and scream at you as you walk through the kitchen.

Slowly, ever so slowly, my kitchen dreams are taking shape…. I still have to make a schematic of the electrical, the plumbing, and the new window… then I can delve into the cabinetry and lighting fixtures. And then I can move out of the kitchen– I hope to eventually install a nice deck with patio furnishings and matching patio cushions outside the door, for al fresco dining on hot summer evenings. Dream dream…