Tulip, that's awful! But is the kitchen counter going to be a seating area? Do you plan bar stools there and make it a sit-and-have-a-glass-of-wine-while-we-watch-you-cook-at-the-housewarming-party kinda thing?

If so a stern reprimand, "replace it with a bamboo switchplate for me and don't do it again" might do. And even then who wants cords around their guests knees?

If not, they'd better replace the whole piece, it's like a zit on a puhrty gals forehead.