Maybe the front counter was trying to tell me something. It wasn't very cooperative. First the plywood was warped. I straightened that. Then came the edging. I added bottom lips for thicker edges. When I started routing the finished edge the follower bearing on my router bit came off.
Fortunately, the little parts (bolt, washer and bearing) didn't go far. And I caught it quickly so the damage wasn't that bad. Just a setback. Between filler wood, glue, staples, wood putty and sanding, that boo boo was fixed.
Then came the layout. The three sections of counter were all laid face down on the laminate. Efficient layout saved some formica for a matching table top (future development).
I rough cut the formica into sections using a battery powered circular saw. It's cordless and lightweight but low RPM. Maybe that's how it bucked and took a bite out of the laminate's backside. While it didn't go all the way through the scar was deep enough to blister the top. I was bummed until I realized I could just rotate that rectangular piece 180 degrees. Then the problem spot fell in the scrap zone where the front counter was notched for the air conditioner. Whew.
Despite a trio of mishaps I pressed on. Contact cement was used to adhere formica to plywood. My router bit behaved itself after making triple sure the bolt was well torqued. Alas! The front counter got laminated.
I'm pleased with the pattern and colors. Between white walls and ceiling, and black and silver appliances, I like how the counters tie everything together.
Neutral tones leave open many possibilities for accent colors. Lil' yeti is coming together.
