Stikwood was my knight in shining armor for a *huge mistake* I made. I’m sharing my flops so you can avoid them. 😉
You know the paint-and-primer-in-one that’s “so awesome because you can totally skip the hassle of priming”?? It’s a lie, I tell you. A cold, hard, boldfaced LIE. You see, I tried it. I used *just that* on my kitchen island and I’m here to tell you…Epic fail. Don’t believe it. Don’t fall for it like I did. PRIME, sweet friend. It’s worth the extra step.
However, if you’ve fallen prey to the same lie that I did and now your kitchen island is peeling and looking something like this…bless…
No worries! I’ve got a solution that will bring a smile to your face and make you love your island again. I feel it only fair to warn you: brace yourself – because after you see how fast and easy it is to work with, you might find yourself wanting to Stikwood all the things. 😉
*This post contains affiliate links for your convenience and is sponsored by Stikwood. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Full disclosure here.*
What is Stikwood and why should I care?
There are so many reasons why I love Stikwood – and I think you will, too.
- All Stikwood products are made in the USA and crafted to retain their natural weathering and beauty while letting you feel comfortable knowing where your product comes from. Can I get an amen for made in the USA? I love this!
- Stikwood is made from reclaimed and sustainable wood sourced in the USA, some less than 100 miles from their facility.
- As a company, Stikwood is very sensitive to healthy space design. Their products contain no VOCs and all finishes are done either by nature, or in house. As a mom who freaks out over fumes and chemicals in my home (like when we refinished the hardwood floors in my master closet), this feature means a lot to me.
- All Stikwood products are 100% real wood and are designed to take on the strength of the surface that it is applied to.
- FSC Certification ensures that Stikwood products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. Responsible stewardship as a core value makes me love this company even more.
Ok – but beyond all those amazing things, what you really want to know is: “How is it to work with in real life“? Here’s our experience.
Let’s keep it real
If you’ve followed along with me here for a while, you know by now that I’m a no-holds-barred, tell-you-all-the-things-I-did-wrong kind of person. My goal is to help YOU know what works and what doesn’t – so you can be spared the hassle of things gone wrong. 😉
With that being said, I am *beyond* thrilled to tell you this project was by far one of the easiest projects we’ve tackled – and with such fabulous results!
It really is as easy as:
- Plan
- Peel
- Stick
That’s it. We planned out how much Stikwood we needed and allowed for waste, as recommended via the Stikwood website. They will even help you figure out how much you need for your individual project – they’re very quick to respond and super helpful. I chose Hampton.
First, we thoroughly cleaned the island, being sure that any yuck was removed. Then we just cut the pieces to size using a miter saw for straight cuts and a jigsaw for the detail cuts (fine tooth blades on both, please), peeled off the backing,
and stuck it on the island.
That’s it. For real. Even our four year old got in on the installation action!
Almost done…one more row to go! ↓↓↓
The island already had trim pieces installed and we didn’t bother to remove them. Since Stikwood is thin, (just 3/16″ thick), it fit with the existing trim perfectly. Another win!
Is it time-consuming to install?
I set the stopwatch when we began to see how long it would take, from start to finish. When the last piece went on, I was shocked to see that it had only taken us and hour and twenty minutes! What?? An entirely updated kitchen island in 80 minutes!? Time for a happy dance (and a yummy snack!) 😀
This is what happens when you have sweet little helpers… ↑ 😀
The *only* downside?? Now I want to update my countertops! Lol! Isn’t that how these things go? One project leads to the next and the next… 😉 Oh well…baby steps!
I’m now imagining all the many things Stikwood could be used on!
- Badly damaged or ugly walls? Stikwood.
- Cracked ceiling? Stikwood.
- Want a farmhouse style accent wall? Stikwood.
- Need to update a kitchen island? Stikwood.
- Want that shiplap-look without all the work? Well….you know. 😉
But white isn’t really my style…
Check out all these gorgeous color and style options…
- Sierra Silver
- Hamptons (shown in this post)
- Barrel Oak
- Vandyke
- Black Cherry
There is even a sample set you can order so you can see all your options in person. There are so many more styles than I can list – for the complete list, check out the Stikwood website.
I hope our experience with Stikwood has sparked some ideas of your own and given you the confidence to tackle that project that’s been bugging you. Maybe even to “make right” that one area of your home that didn’t turn out quite the way you anticipated. 😉
You’ve got this.
I LOVE this! A quick update with minimal mess…and time for a yummy snack?! Perfect!
Thanks, Leigh!! Stikwood really is amazing stuff – and it’s holding up great so far! 😀
I’m wondering if this product will work on a kitchen island that is tiled.
Hi Becky! According to Stikwood’s website, “Stikwood will stick to any interior surface. The surface needs to be clean and smooth. If sticking to a wall that is not painted, you need to put a coat of primer and let it completely dry.” (<-- that wouldn't be a problem for you since you're not going over unpainted walls.) I also found this for you, "Some textured surfaces will adhere to the Stikwood products with ease, while others (that are less smooth) may have a few issues achieving maximum bonding. We recommend that if the surface is too textured (I'm thinking popcorn ceiling?), you sand the texture down, clean the area of dust/debris, then apply the Stikwood to the now smooth surface." So, all that to say, I would think, if your tile is pretty smooth, you would be able to use Stikwood successfully. The adhesive on the back of Stikwood is really strong and we were impressed. I'd love to hear what you decide!
I’ve never heard of this product. It really transformed your island! Love the look!
Thank you, Sheila! I’m so glad you like it as much as I do!
Peel and stick and real wood?! Why have I never heard of this? Your island looks amazing!!
Isn’t it amazing stuff?? Thank you, Susanne! I really love it, too.
Sarah this turned out amazing! And I thought plywood was “easy”. Definitely not as easy as this! Stunning.
Thanks Janice! Well plywood is easy, too – but maybe not *as* easy. 😉 I’m so glad you like how this turned out! <3
Love your kitchen island remake with Stikwood. I actually used Hamptons on my basement landing. Big smile. It really is a great product. So glad you got your boo-boo fixed in such a beautiful way. Susie from The Chelsea Project
Thanks, Susie!! How fun to know that you also love your Hamptons! Stikwood is such a lovely product! Have a great day!
Looks good, but it is expensive.
Hi Linda! I totally know what you mean about some things being more costly than others. As you know, I love to find ways to pinch pennies wherever I can, but there are some things that are worth the splurge if it saves me a ton of time and stress and gives me exactly the look I’m going for. But I know that’s not the way for everyone and that’s ok too. 😉 Your home will be beautifully “yours” no matter what you decide to put in it. And I love that about homes. 🙂 Thank you for the kind words about it looking nice. Have a beautiful day!
That turned out gorgeous, I love that stuff and have seen it a few other places. I love that it’s so thin and easy to install. What a update over the chipping paint. Now go paint your counter top with that that awesome rust scat paint until you’re ready to replace them 😀
Thanks Toni! I’m so glad you like how the Stikwood turned out! It is really amazing stuff. And I’ve considered using my floor paint on my counters…just not sure about it yet. 😉
Wow, what an awesome product! I have made the mistake of using the paint + primer. Let’s just say I have three bathroom vanities to redo come the summertime heat. Ugh! Great transformation.
Oh, I totally feel your pain, Victoria! That paint and primer in one stuff isn’t nearly as great as it’s made out to be. Best of luck with your cabinets this summer!
Great post Sarah…I see a kitchen update in my future. Thank you!!!
Thanks, Denise! I hope you find a place to use Stikwood – I know you’d love it as much as I do! 😀
You had me at reclaimed! I love how this turned out. It looks stunning.
I wonder where I can use this fantastical product?
I love that it’s reclaimed wood, too, Lisa! I was amazed at how fast and easy Stikwood went up! Such a fun project!
I must live under a rock, I had NO idea Stikwood was real wood!! I am in LOVE with the wood you chose – it’s perfect!! I can think of SO MANY projects to use it on! It looks beautiful!
It IS real wood! Isn’t that the best?? 😀 I’m so glad you love is as much as I do! <3