Nov 9, 20224 min read

Layton RV Kitchen Renovation and Countertop Paint Tutorial

The big, total gut renovations are super satisfying. But you know what? There is something to be said about salvaging nearly everything in a space, and still making a HUGE impact!!

BEFORE AFTER

Demo of this RV kitchen was simply removing appliances and the sink. I prepped everything for paint by sanding the cabinets with 80 grit, cleaning the entire space down to get rid of all the dust, and primed the walls and the cabinets with STIX primer.

I painted the cabinets and doors a beautiful gray (color linked below) and spraying them made the finish so smooth and perfect. I painted the walls white to provide a little contrast, but also keep the space bright. I wanted to reuse these countertops because the shape of this countertop is hard to match with laminate, and also will create a raw edge by the sink which I would have had to patch and cover, which I didn't want to. So I decided to use a countertop paint kit to transform these countertops!

Countertop Paint Product

Giani Marble Epoxy Countertop Paint Kit *Amazon Affiliate Link

All the items you need for this come in the Paint Kit, except painters tape.

Step 1: Prep the Surface

I sanded the countertop with 220 grit sandpaper, just to loosen up dirt or grime, and make sure it was all smooth. Then I cleaned the countertop with a Brillo Pad multiple times, making sure to rinse off the cleaner very, very well. After I cleaned, I rinsed with more water, and dried with a microfiber cloth to get as much fuzzies and debris off as possible. Then I let the countertop fully dry, about 2 hours.

Step 2: Tape off the Cabinets

You're going to be pouring epoxy on the countertop in a later step, so you need to completely tape off the cabinets so that nothing will drip onto them. I did a large layer of tape around the base of the cabinets, laid a tarp across, and then taped the tarp down to my initial later of tape.

Step 3: Prime the Countertop

In your paint kit you will receive primer and a fabric roller. I applied 3 coats of the white primer, letting it dry 4 hours in between coats. I rolled thin coats to let it fully dry and to provide maximum coverage. I also made sure to paint the edges of the countertop, making sure there were no drips.

Step 4: Paint on the Marble Veining

In your kit, you will get some gray paint and a detail brush. I used this to draw in my marble veins. Again, the details in the directions that come with the kit are VERY detailed, and their website has a lot of sample veining. I actually drew out my "map" of where I wanted the veins (first picture) and it was a great way to get a visual and make sure I wasn't adding too much or making the veins too similar.

Step 5: Spray Water and Fluff

The kit comes with a spray bottle that I used to apply some water and a larger brush that I used to fluff out the marble veins. This makes them more subtle and more natural looking.

Step 6: Repeat for the Edges of the Countertop

I made sure to pull my veining onto the sides of the countertop as well, this made it really look like a full slab! I followed the same steps as above.

Step 7: Applying the Epoxy

To apply the epoxy, I followed the directions and mixed in the activator. You only get 30 minutes until it starts to set, so I had to work quickly. I poured it all over the countertop, and then I used a foam roller that comes with the kit to smooth it all out. I set it on thick to create a thick coat. There were some bubbles and brush marks, but they really resolved themselves once the epoxy dried, and even after a few days!

The countertop came out SO good and I would 100% do this again! It was such an affordable way to transform the countertops without too much hassle in fitting a new laminate piece.

Then it was time to put the rest of the kitchen together. I added Subway Peel and Stick TicTacTiles, and decided to put Musselbound behind them which is a mortar replacement for real tile. I did this because peel and stick tiles can peel up in your RV with the heat and cold, but the musselbound will help these tiles stay flat for a very, very long time!