Detail: Copper Countertops

When it came to the kitchen counters, Stephen Florimbi opted for thin over thick: “I wanted something that had a classic New England look with a slightly modern touch.” This boatbuilder found his solution in a material he’s more than a little familiar with: copper.

He cut out two sheets of the metal (one for either side of the stove), glued each section to a piece of Durock cement board (a special tile backer that can withstand the metal’s heat), and laminated them onto matching pieces of medium-density fiberboard.

From there, he created a jig to carefully bend the edges of the copper around the backing before screwing the new countertops to the cabinet frames. “It’s hygienic and boaty,” Stephen says. “And it can handle anything that’s hot.”