Which Kitchen Worktop? Pros and cons?

[Slaav]

Can't find any links or threads so asking for real world advice pls?

Wood - impractical and needs TLC
Marble / Granite - great but spills etc an issue???
Composites - just always seem a cheap solution? Especially in a traditional style kitchen?

Etc etc.....

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

[Slaav]

Bl00dy hell.... loads to look at and digest already - thanks guys.

WIll do soem research and come back with my stupid questions if you dont mind.....

[Slaav]

untruth said:

Wozy68 said:

I'd agree, I'm not a great lover personally either.

Out of interest, Wozy, what do you recommend usually? I'm having the same thoughts about what to do.

I have had granite, and it was lovely to work on, but I feel like a good laminate is immeasurably cheaper and it isn't ridiculous to replace it once in a while either.

Bearing in mind my post at the start.... Would you mind explaining in idiot language what's so great about laminate?

I was heading down the Granite route and now having very serious doubts looked online and they seem to look good (laminate) but no idea what the feel like etc

Thanks and sorry for requesting the 'Janet and John' info

[Slaav]

Thanks again all.

To aid my search and decision process, I have been giving this all plenty of thought; FFS, I dreamt last night and a scene was in a kitchen!!!

1) I am not a maintenance frisk
2) regular oiling or TLC is unlikely
3) I like to be able to take pots and pans off heat/gas and place directly on work tops for plating up.
4) our house is some way from a show house so imperfections are fine
5) hate to admit it but I want people to like it - I touch and feel work tops....
6) would consider splash backs in same (but thinner obviously) material up to cupboards
7) cost is (within reason) not a major issue as it's a small kitchen so won't be 22m of Worktop
8) although now being completely tanked now, have had historical issues with slight damp at one end of kitchen but this should now be sorted.
9) one wall of kitchen will be bare Cotswold stone - look/texture etc

It is our home but we are not here 7/7 and no kids so won't need to be ultra heavy duty.

Now, what to do ?

[Slaav]

Otispunkmeyer said:

you can have the ghastly bright red sparkly polished granite worktop out of the kitchen in the house I have just bought. WTF was the previous owner thinking!

Thanks for the kind offer but not sure it will fit in with our twee Cotswolds house.....

However, PICTURE REQUIRED,!!!! Just for comedy value pls

[Slaav]

Wozy68 said:

Zinc? Now that sounds interesting

Wozy, where are you based? I love the pictures above..... Shame we bought the wrong house (with hindsight) and are not in a position to move yet to get the kitchen space we want!

Would love to see some other designs etc?

We are going down the 'classic' (aka boring) shaker style in most likely cream or a light green hue with one wall (iwith in built double oven) in original Cotswold stone, lighter stone tile floor and cannot make up our mind on colour for Worktop, let alone final material! Limited natural light into the galley kitchen so expect to need lots of lighting.... Now questioning our original thoughts and thinking a highly reflective darker Worktop will reflect light and contrast with the rest of the 'beige' effect?

Help!!!

[Slaav]

Finally getting this in place! My God there are loads of decisions and options with a kitchen! Even down to numbers of sockets, ceiling speakers? Where the isolators go?

And then picking the Worktop and splash backs.....