How to Create a Faux Marble Countertop with PaperIllusion Wallpaper

Our house was built in 1926 and a bedroom closet was later converted to a half-bath, probably in the 1960s. The cabinet pictured here was cut to fit the space, and still functions pretty well today. But as you can see, the countertop was discolored and not too pretty. The walls were recently covered with PaperIllusion Florentine Marble Earth. The counter was updated with Crepe Illusion in Bronze (a discontinued color, left over from a previous project). This is my teenage step-son's bathroom and everything needs to be durable.

I usually tear an entire roll ahead of time. For a small project like this, I tore a few pieces to get started and additional pieces as they were needed. Before you begin tearing, you'll need to decide if you want the "grout" lines to show. PaperIllusion Wallpaper has an underside that resembles grout when applied and layered with other pieces. If you look closely at the roll pictured here, you'll see the gray underside. I've done wall treatments both ways, but for this project I decided on a smooth finish without gray lines. I tore the pieces in a downward motion so the gray underside would not be visible. My pieces are divided into two piles: the ones on the left are torn all around, and the ones on the right have straight edges.

After preparing the surface, I dipped an irregular piece of PaperIllusion Wallpaper and applied it to the countertop. I always do a "test" piece to check for adhesion and coverage problems. You'll need a medium-sized bowl of lukewarm water that easily accommodates a piece of torn paper. When you're ready to go, just dip a piece, shake off any excess water, and prepare to place it on your surface.

Place the piece onto your surface, and gently press it down with a sponge. Sometimes the piece will slip around. Don't worry, this is normal. Feel free to lift and move the piece until you're satisfied with placement.

Look closely at the surface of your paper. Are there bumps or air bubbles? If so, use a smoothing tool or credit card to gently move them out and away from the center of the piece. If this doesn't work, remove the piece and apply it again.

Use a terry washcloth to gently blot the piece, taking special care around the edges. The piece should be firmly attached to the surface, with no traces of air bubbles or excess water.

I waited about an hour to see how well the paper adhered to the surface. In this case, everything looked great. If your paper doesn't adhere properly, you'll need to apply a coat of wallpaper primer and allow it dry thoroughly before proceeding with a new test piece. Once you're satisfied, it's time to cover your surface.

The oiled-bronze fixture was installed previously by our plumber, so I papered around the faucet and handles. Even though this part of the project took a couple of hours, I did everything over two busy days with lots of interruptions. That's one of the advantages of PaperIllusion Wallpaper. You can do a little and return later to do more. Clean-up is easy and very little measuring or trimming is needed.

Allow your PaperIllusion project to dry for at least 24 hours. You'll want to protect it from water damage with at least 4 coats of water-based polyurethane. I chose Minwax® Water Based Polyurethane in a clear, semi-gloss finish. It's also available in gloss and satin finishes. Use a synthetic bristle brush or foam brush to lightly coat the entire surface. Let dry about 2 hours between each coat. After applying the final coat, allow 24 hours before light use.