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House Beautiful writer Kelsey Stewart reported using two rolls of Amazon marble-pattern contact paper to cover dark granite countertops in her rental kitchen. She said the project took about seven hours and the covering remained in place about a year later, while noting that installation was difficult and left imperfections.
House Beautiful writer Kelsey Stewart says she used two rolls of marble-pattern contact paper bought on Amazon to cover the dark granite countertops in her rental kitchen, describing a brighter look after a do-it-yourself installation that took about seven hours. Her account offers a low-cost, removable-looking surface update for renters, but it is a personal experience rather than a product test establishing how the material performs in every kitchen.
Stewart said the existing dark countertops made her rental kitchen feel dark, prompting her to try adhesive contact paper with a marble design. The headline describes the find as costing $50; the report says she ordered two rolls, but does not provide a detailed receipt or state whether that figure includes every tool used for the project. The product is offered in multiple sizes, ranging in the report from 11.8 by 78.7 inches to 47.2 by 196 inches.
In her account, Stewart advised cleaning the countertop before application and working in small sections: peel back some of the backing, press the adhesive side onto the surface, then smooth it as she went. She recommended using a smoothing-tool kit to help remove air bubbles. The backing has grid lines for measuring and trimming, according to the report. Stewart said she worked alone, and that a second person could have made it easier to handle the paper.
The project took her about seven hours on a Saturday. She identified air bubbles as a major difficulty and said the countertop’s curved edges added complexity. Stewart described her finished work as imperfect, but said the paper had not budged in about a year and that the change made the kitchen appear brighter. Those outcomes reflect her own home and installation; the report does not describe independent testing or performance across other surfaces.
A Lower-Cost Countertop Update
The project shows one way a renter or homeowner might change a kitchen’s appearance without replacing the countertop. At the roughly $50 price point cited in the headline, contact paper may cost less than a full countertop renovation, though the article does not compare it with contractor quotes, other materials, or the cost of tools and extra rolls.
The account also makes clear that a modest materials price does not mean a quick or effortless job. Stewart spent around seven hours applying the covering, and bubbles and curved edges complicated the work. Readers weighing the idea should distinguish a visual refresh from a durable countertop replacement: the report documents one person’s result after about a year, not resistance to heat, cuts, cleaning products, or heavy daily use.
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How the Rental Kitchen Changed
Stewart’s report is a first-person home-improvement account, not a news announcement from Amazon or a product manufacturer. She explained that she was drawn to do-it-yourself projects and wanted to brighten the dark granite counters in her rental. The article presents the contact paper as one possible surface treatment and notes that Amazon listings include finishes beyond marble, such as wood and plain white.
The writer also said the material could be used on other items, including as wallpaper or to refresh a nightstand or dresser. Those are suggestions in the report, not projects the article says she completed. Her main example is limited to the kitchen countertops and her experience applying the paper there.
“The project was anything but easy”
— Kelsey Stewart, House Beautiful writer
Product Performance Beyond One Kitchen
The report does not identify a verified total project cost beyond the headline’s $50 description, nor does it specify whether that sum covered both rolls, the smoothing kit, or other supplies. It also does not establish the exact product’s current price or availability, which may change.
Stewart’s claim that the paper remained in place for about a year is a single household’s experience. The source does not state how the covering handled heat, sharp objects, spills, frequent cleaning, or removal from the countertop. It also does not confirm whether removing it would leave residue or affect a particular countertop surface. Readers should check the listing and product directions for material compatibility and care guidance rather than assume the same result.
Check Fit Before Applying
Anyone considering a similar update would first need to measure the countertop and select a roll size, as Stewart recommended. The report’s suggested process is to clean the surface, prepare a smoothing tool, and apply the paper gradually while pressing out bubbles. A second person may help with positioning, based on Stewart’s experience working alone.
The House Beautiful account does not announce a follow-up test or a change to the product. The next practical step for readers is to review the product’s current dimensions, price, application instructions, and care limits before buying; the writer’s results should be treated as an individual example, not a guarantee.
Key Questions
What did the House Beautiful writer use?
Writer Kelsey Stewart used marble-pattern adhesive contact paper from Amazon to cover the dark granite countertops in her rental kitchen. She said she ordered two rolls.
How long did the countertop project take?
Stewart reported that the project took about seven hours on a Saturday. She said working alone, air bubbles, and curved countertop edges made installation more difficult.
Did the contact paper last?
Stewart said it had not budged after about a year in her kitchen. That is her personal account; the report does not provide independent durability testing or establish how it performs in other homes.
Is the project really $50?
The article headline describes the Amazon find as $50, but the report does not give an itemized project budget or say whether the figure includes tools and other supplies. Product prices and availability can also change.
What made the installation challenging?
Stewart said removing the backing and positioning the paper was tricky, especially without help. She named air bubbles and curved edges as particular challenges and recommended smoothing the paper as it is applied.
Source: housebeautiful.com
