Kitchen Worktops

Nowadays the kitchen is the most functional and versatile room in the home, a place where not only the preparation of each and every family meal occurs but also a place of work, socialising and of course, eating. This means that the worktop needs to be as flexible as the kitchen itself in order to fulfil its function and take any punishment meted out to it.  Caesar Stone Shared some of their industry knowledge with The Home Staging Network to provide the following Kitchen Worktop suggestions.

Chopping and changing

It’s important to be fully aware what the kitchen’s actual use will be when purchasing materials and agreeing on a design. Maybe there will be multiple materials at play, one for the worktops and one for the breakfast bar; so which one will best complement the island?

Which surfaces can best serve kitchen worktops, so that it can take a chop but also will be tactile enough to have a chat around during a social occasion? Which materials can suit storage spaces as well as being the heart of cooking the family’s evening meal? There are so many options available for kitchen worktops, knowing the right combination to meet the needs and expectations of it is crucial.

The material effects

There are a significant number of materials that can be used for kitchen worktops,
far more than you would think but it requires a discerning look to decide which is the best to serve this multipurpose environment.

One of the most beautiful and popular materials is wood. Wood comes in many shades and colours, and a seemingly almost unending variety of textures, a combination that can not only satisfy many different kitchen uses and expected wear and tear, but also is a gift to the eye. That said, there needs to be a reasonable amount of effort made to preserves wood’s finish and to avoid staining and scratching.

Steel and copper are becoming increasingly practical and hygienic worktops UK families are finding. The lustre can be classy and stunning, giving an industrial feel, as well as being hardwearing. That said, these finishes are susceptible to dints and scratches, which can be hard to buff out.

Harder surfaces like granite, marble and quartz are becoming more popular in UK kitchens as these worktops are not only tasteful but come in a variety of colours. However, they do have their flaws. For instance, there needs a bit of research when choosing a piece of granite, finding a consistent pattern is not always easy and it requires annual sealing to avoid inevitable staining. Classic marble, whilst obviously luxurious is even more susceptible to staining, with the added danger of chipping or in extreme cases, breaking off. Quartz does not appear to have these faults whilst being a hardwearing, versatile surface, with colours and patterns to satisfy even the choosiest of kitchen designers.

Industry knowledge

With the almost unending choice with kitchen worktops, it is very difficult to know which combination of surface can be the right choice, especially as this is a minimum of a five to ten year investment, at the very least.

Kitchen designers in the UK are moving closer and closer towards quartz with it’s vast array of colours and patterns whilst having few of the disadvantages of the surfaces that it competes against.

For more information about some of the kitchen worktops mentioned here and the latest news on developments in kitchen worktops, see our Partner Caesar Stone

For general advice on choosing a kitchen work top which is suitable for you, choose an Interior Designer in your location by searching the Home Staging Network members.