Kitchen island worktops with wow factor
Discussion
Morning all,
The next project is the kitchen, and plan is simply the classic combo of gloss white units with grey quartz worktops and oak flooring. Colour is going to be added with the tiles plus adding detail such as oak internals to the open wall cupboards etc, just to ensure its not too bland a room yet is comfortable and warm.
It’s a large open-plan room and a kitchen island takes centre-stage at the kitchen end. Currently that island is same gloss white units and worktop, and I am wondering if I should change that worktop for something spectacular. With kitchen places closed I am struggling to find much inspiration from the internet, can anyone make some suggestions?
Kitchen designer I am using could only suggest Zebrano wood, looks okay but not convinced from their catalogue.
The next project is the kitchen, and plan is simply the classic combo of gloss white units with grey quartz worktops and oak flooring. Colour is going to be added with the tiles plus adding detail such as oak internals to the open wall cupboards etc, just to ensure its not too bland a room yet is comfortable and warm.
It’s a large open-plan room and a kitchen island takes centre-stage at the kitchen end. Currently that island is same gloss white units and worktop, and I am wondering if I should change that worktop for something spectacular. With kitchen places closed I am struggling to find much inspiration from the internet, can anyone make some suggestions?
Kitchen designer I am using could only suggest Zebrano wood, looks okay but not convinced from their catalogue.
I'm not closed 
There's a large range of hardwoods available if that's what takes your fancy.
But if you want something special then have you considered a neo-industrial look, combining wood and metal? I'd love to do a kitchen in a fairly dark wood with exposed hinges and bracing in anodised aluminium.
If I ever get the time to do a demo kitchen that's the sort of thing I'd be tempted to do.
There's a large range of hardwoods available if that's what takes your fancy.
But if you want something special then have you considered a neo-industrial look, combining wood and metal? I'd love to do a kitchen in a fairly dark wood with exposed hinges and bracing in anodised aluminium.
If I ever get the time to do a demo kitchen that's the sort of thing I'd be tempted to do.
Depends entirely on the look you want. Zebrano is lovely, I still have it in my flat from a refurb 10 years ago and it looks great. Like all wood, needs a bit of maintenance.
But I love genuine stone. A proper slab of patterened stone is a natural work of art. We will put it into our new house one day. I miss this granite slab from the old place. I wanted marble, but it is a bit problematic from a staining point of view sonot really practical.
You can get something made from Caesarstone or similar, but I really like natural stone.
93 kitchen island by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_0958 by baconrashers, on Flickr
This is the walnut in our new house. Pretty, but too dark for the cabinet and floor colour. I wanted Zebrano, but it was not available at the time. That wood has a beautiful grain.
DSC_0586.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
But I love genuine stone. A proper slab of patterened stone is a natural work of art. We will put it into our new house one day. I miss this granite slab from the old place. I wanted marble, but it is a bit problematic from a staining point of view sonot really practical.
You can get something made from Caesarstone or similar, but I really like natural stone.
93 kitchen island by baconrashers, on FlickrDSC_0958 by baconrashers, on FlickrThis is the walnut in our new house. Pretty, but too dark for the cabinet and floor colour. I wanted Zebrano, but it was not available at the time. That wood has a beautiful grain.
DSC_0586.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
I would love something like that in an industrial loft conversion. Some sort of weathered and rusted steel, smooth and matt lacquered.
I have a real dislike of "engineered" finishes, which is a personal foible. I prefer the actual, natural material - but in worktops this is a silly attitude.
However, so many attempts to recreate natural material is awful and will be horribly unfashionable soon. Witness those "wood" prcelain tiles, which anyone can tell are fake from the razor sharp grout lines after installation. Grim.
I have a real dislike of "engineered" finishes, which is a personal foible. I prefer the actual, natural material - but in worktops this is a silly attitude.
However, so many attempts to recreate natural material is awful and will be horribly unfashionable soon. Witness those "wood" prcelain tiles, which anyone can tell are fake from the razor sharp grout lines after installation. Grim.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 11th June 11:01
(major risk of going off-topic, but why kitchen islands? You have to walk round them to get to half the cupboards. The wall behind a conventional work surface stops things falling on the floor, gives you another tier of cupboards at shoulder height that are immediately accessible when cooking and make an excellent mount for lighting the area where you'll be using knives and of course makes plumbing and wiring simpler. If you want a table in the room, you can put a table in the room.)
ATG said:
(major risk of going off-topic, but why kitchen islands? You have to walk round them to get to half the cupboards. The wall behind a conventional work surface stops things falling on the floor, gives you another tier of cupboards at shoulder height that are immediately accessible when cooking and make an excellent mount for lighting the area where you'll be using knives and of course makes plumbing and wiring simpler. If you want a table in the room, you can put a table in the room.)
They work well in a really big kitchen, so workspace is always handy. I saw one I liked dividing the dining living space. It had a big upstand, to hide mess, a bit like a commercial set up. Harry Flashman said:
Depends entirely on the look you want. Zebrano is lovely, I still have it in my flat from a refurb 10 years ago and it looks great. Like all wood, needs a bit of maintenance.
But I love genuine stone. A proper slab of patterened stone is a natural work of art. We will put it into our new house one day. I miss this granite slab from the old place. I wanted marble, but it is a bit problematic from a staining point of view sonot really practical.
You can get something made from Caesarstone or similar, but I really like natural stone.
93 kitchen island by baconrashers, on Flickr
Harry Flashman - I saw your original thread when it was live but couldn't quite remember your user name to re-find. This pic stuck in my mind as exactly what I wanted when the refurb started, indeed a natural work of art. But I love genuine stone. A proper slab of patterened stone is a natural work of art. We will put it into our new house one day. I miss this granite slab from the old place. I wanted marble, but it is a bit problematic from a staining point of view sonot really practical.
You can get something made from Caesarstone or similar, but I really like natural stone.
93 kitchen island by baconrashers, on Flickr
garyhun said:
Dekton trillium.
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This was our primary choice, but when we contacted 2 of the accredited stonemasons we were advised they weren't offering Dekton at the time due to a number of issues with it. It'll be down to it's brittle nature and chipping easily when being cut to size, ruining whole sheets of the stuff. [url]
Don't get wood, it's a pain to maintain and can be ruined if (when) you put a hot iron pan on it. Totally unsuitable and is all form over function.
We went 316 stainless steel in the end and couldn't be happier. It looks incredible with the corten steel coloured island doors and works well with the dark grey L-shaped section also.
The scratches and patina it's gained over the last 18months looks good also and it's wonderful to work on, especially when baking or making pizzas.
No issues with hot pans or staining either when compared to silestone or granite.
There's a reason it's used in professional kitchens all over the world.
Edited by -Ad- on Thursday 11th June 12:46
Where did you get the stainless steel from? I like that idea as it ties in with sink plus the details on oven/job/hood.
I agree that wood is a pain to live with, that’s why I am reluctant to go for zebrano. I know My wife will never put a hot pan down but I will and she will say “I told you so”. And that will be that.
I agree that wood is a pain to live with, that’s why I am reluctant to go for zebrano. I know My wife will never put a hot pan down but I will and she will say “I told you so”. And that will be that.
singlecoil said:
a neo-industrial look, combining wood and metal? I'd love to do a kitchen in a fairly dark wood with exposed hinges and bracing in anodised aluminium.
Have you got any images of what you’re thinking of?I’m hopefully starting my bungalow renovation and extension in the next month or so and one of the things that Mrs G and I have set our sights on is an industrial look kitchen.
TallTony said:
Where did you get the stainless steel from? I like that idea as it ties in with sink plus the details on oven/job/hood.
I agree that wood is a pain to live with, that’s why I am reluctant to go for zebrano. I know My wife will never put a hot pan down but I will and she will say “I told you so”. And that will be that.
I would rather have stone than wood, and did the kitchen worktop in the new place as a stopgap for a few years, as we may one day extend the kitchen. Walnut was cost effective and it looks nice.I agree that wood is a pain to live with, that’s why I am reluctant to go for zebrano. I know My wife will never put a hot pan down but I will and she will say “I told you so”. And that will be that.
As for hot pans - I out a trivet down, or leave them on the hob. But I definitely miss being able to plonk a hot tray from the oven straight onto the island, for sure.
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