If you want to use your own favourite counters without hacking them, you can use Invisible Surface Space Eliminator.zip from http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/laphelotsimsolutions/ which is like putting a plant on the counter and stops Sims using it.  When you have done that, you can use this invisible apartment-hacked counter to place over the visible counter, which will have the result that the Sims who belong to the apartment will appear to have sole use of your non-hacked counter.