My UGLY formica countertops were just SCREAMING for an Ambush Makeover! But since I could not take them on a plane to the Today Show so Kathie Lee and Hoda could work their magic, ultimately, the responsibility fell to me! Yikes!
Firstly, I removed the wood backsplash and washed down the countertops so they were very clean. It is a good idea to use a rubbing alcohol or ammonia to remove any grease and all buildup on your countertops.
Depending on the state of your old countertops you may need to fill any holes or scratches that you find. After the filler is dry now is the time to sand your counters, to help the paint adhere.
Then I simply used a small sponge roller and painted on a white bonding primer which I made gray by mixing in black paint. Here is a picture of the gray primer just rolled on.