Worktop ideas for your Kitchen

Worktops are a huge part of any kitchen project. Not only can they bring design and style to a kitchen but they can also help you make the best use out of your kitchen when correctly chosen. 
If you are designing or renovating your kitchen and it is time to choose the worktops, there are multiple factors to take into account to help you make the right choice.
In this post, we will review some of these factors, as well as give examples of our favourite worktops that we have fitted.

Factors to consider when choosing the right worktop

When fitting a worktop, the main factors to consider are what materials, thickness and finish will withstand daily usage, from differences of temperature to spillages or cooking actions.

1st. When you think about the design of your kitchen, what look do you want to achieve? Do you want a cold light texture? Do you want to bring in a rustic woody ambience? This will be a starting point to dive into the right materials to achieve the said look, just make sure they connect well with the rest of the design elements, such as cabinetry, floor or the overall colour palette of your space.

2nd. What does the layout plan look like? Will you require worktops on the hob run, sink run, island or all of the above? This will indicate how malleable your worktop should be to accommodate what the worktops will be used for.

3rd. What is the ideal thickness to choose? How much will you use your worktops? Do you love cooking and enjoy hosting dinner parties? Then this might mean you need a sturdy worktop to hold itself against cutting and prepping food, as well as temperature swings, spillages and cleaning products. If you prefer eating take-outs, then you might require a lighter, less dense worktop.

4th. Ask yourself whether you are good at staying on top of cleaning and maintaining the overall state of your kitchen, and think about your household actions as well. Do you have kids who like to draw and play on top of surfaces? Are you happy with cleaning the worktops each time after use? This will help you understand what sort of finishes to get on your surfaces. From matte to polished, there are a few factors to take into consideration to better accommodate your lifestyle.

Our favourite worktops to fit

1. The bold and durable - Iron Grey by Neolith
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‘’Iron Grey stands out because of the dark base in greyish tones combined with a subtle shine giving rise to a metal grey which is elegantly presented.
An iron oxide-inspired model that transmits personality and remains intact over time.’’ - from Neolith’s website

This bold and stunning option is part of a collection of 7 models of different tones and textures, and can set your kitchen up for a lifetime. 
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Pros- It is very resistant to multiple activities, elements and time, which means this worktop will be a long term investment. It is also thin and not overly heavy, giving you a good balance between the darker iron tones and a lighter thickness.
Cons- Not the most economic option in the market, but again it can last forever.

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 2. Tranquil, beautiful and textures like classic Marble - Entzo by Dekton
 
‘’Inspired by the Calacatta Gold marble. Realism and naturalness are breathed between the random shapes that draw their golden veins.’’
 
If you are going for a clean look, something minimalistic but classic we always suggest a marble look. As it is a porous and high maintenance surface, we never recommend using real marble for kitchen worktops. However, many quartzes or ultra compact surfaces are now available in textures and veining that replicate and look like real marble. You can choose between a variety of finishes as well, ranging from a matte finish to a polished one.

Pros- The design flexibility and adaptability as it is available in large slab sizes and varied thicknesses in 12mm, 20mm or 30mm. It is also a highly durable material.
Cons- More costly than the average worktop option and there is limited availability on some Dekton colours as UK fabricators do not always hold stock in the warehouse which may result in longer lead times.

3. A simple worktop that has been at the top of the market for 40 years - Corian
 
Corian worktops were introduced by the company ‘Dupont’ over forty years ago, and they came to stay. This material is a mix of acrylic polymers (aka plastic), and stone-derived materials and can be manufactured into thicknesses from 6mm onwards.

Pros- It comes with an unlimited variety of colours, textures and finishes, it is very easy to clean and resistant to stains. From the design point of view, it’s very malleable, which means it can be adapted for backsplashes as well as tops without the need of visible  joints.
Cons- While it is a resistant material, it can be dented or scratched as it is a softer material but these can be repaired. It also does not handle heat well and hot pans can burn Corian but this is often repairable.

4. The flexible Quartz - Verona Quartz
 
Quartz is another favourite material for worktops, mainly due to it’s great resistant properties. It is fabricated from natural quartz which is one of the hardest minerals found in the Earth, and combined with small amounts of glass or metallic flecks. This creates a worktop that is highly durable and offers a great diversity of colours and patterns.

Pros- Quartz won’t crack, scratch, or get chipped easily, as it is highly resistant to any activity. It is also extremely adaptable to any style or design due to its versatility, low maintenance and great resistance to stains.
Cons- Susceptible to heat damage; not always the best price in the market or the easiest to install.

5. The classic Granite - Colonial Ivy
 
Last on our list, the classic granite, one of the most used materials for kitchen tops. This material has been on the market for decades, mainly due to its flexibility and durability, but also because of its timeless look and ability to become a strong centrepiece. There are plenty of colour shades you can use for your top, and because it’s such a strong material, you can also use it on floors and walls if you want to match multiple parts of your interior design project.

Pros- High durability; highly resistant to heat and scratches; stunning look and finishes.
Cons- Can be quite expensive depending on the finish; has a cold to touch sensation, so it doesn’t give you that cosy feeling for your space; can be porous, which means it has to be properly sealed so that it does not get damaged by liquids; not ideal for cutting as it can dull knives.

Our conclusions
 
Worktops can come in a variety of shapes, colours and finishes. Choosing the right one for you will depend on the design of your kitchen, as well as on the factors that are a priority for you. Our advice is to think about your day-to-day life and how much you will make use of your kitchen space and worktops. This will help you come up with a list of priorities that will help you choose materials for your space that look good and can last you for a long time.
 
Unsure on what to choose? Reach out to us for a chat!

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