This project lived in my head for a long time before it was actually realized. We busted a fabulous hole in the wall that divides the kitchen and the living room and I just couldn't bring myself to top the opening with just any old counter. I had a vision, a beautiful undulating slab of wood with a live edge that would provide a much needed extra counter for eating and serving and be narrow enough at one end to allow the front door to swing freely. Oh, and it needed to be affordable.
First Jason cut a notch out of the slab so that it would run flush with the opening and continue along the living room wall. This step was nerve-racking, talk about measure 50 times, cut once! But it worked out beautifully. Jason used a circular saw with a nice fresh blade and a slow and steady pace. He said it would have been easier with a table saw, but he doesn't have a table saw. (He might need to add one to his Christmas list!)
Next I got sanding. First I used a wire brush along the live edge to remove some bark and clean it up. Then the whole piece got a good sanding with an orbit sander and fine grit (220) sandpaper. There were a few deep grooves in the slab that I filled with epoxy. Once the epoxy was nice and set I used a small chisel to scrap off the extra epoxy and went back in with more sanding until we got a nice smooth finish.
To finish the counter I applied Howard's Citrus Shield Wax. I simply followed the instructions rubbing on the wax with a soft cloth, waiting about 15 minutes and buffing the surface. I wasn't in love with the finish until I had applied about three or four coats.
Installing the counter was fairly simple, Jason screwed it to the opening from underneath with wood screws, predrilled at an angle. Where the piece runs along the wall we supported it with two small L brackets.
Two counter height stools from Hayneedle take the area from nice shelf to functional dining space. Hayneedle was kind enough to provide me with these fab stools and I love them! If you haven't checked out their site, I encourage you to take a look! The have just about everything for your home and garden and at really great prices.
The only person who loves this new spot more then I do is that smiley little guy up there! If you have questions about working with your own live edge slab please feel free to reach out, I don't want all my googling and you-tubing to go to waste!
