In this section
- Planning your kitchen
- Buying your kitchen
- Appliances and furniture
- Maintenance and care
- Kitchen design tips
- Accessible kitchens
- FAQs
- Kitchen image gallery
Special features
KBSA Consumer Guide
Our FREE guide contains practical advice for consumers who are considering buying a new kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or home office.
Worktops
Select the thickest worktop you can afford. Thicker worktops are in trend at the moment, with people opting for 50-70mm thicknesses as oppose to the usual 30-40mm thickness.
Worktops in natural materials have also recently increased in popularity, mainly due to their durability and hardwearing qualities but also because consumers are becoming much more environmentally aware.
Also, more unusual materials such as glass and stainless steel are currently very popular in line with the trend for a more contemporary and stylish kitchens.
Wood is also making a comeback in worktops and units, whether that be real wood or laminate.
When choosing a worktop ask about different brands. Formica is the most readily recognised laminate worktop brand and Corian is the most widely known solid surfacing material, but there are many other brands including Orama, Perstop, Luxore® and Swanstone®.
Comprising of natural quartz, Luxore® is a range of engineered stone, it’s non-porous, consistent in colour and highly resistant to heat and chipping. Swanstone® is a reinforced solid surface material, which offers seamless joints and sinks, it is non reactive to moisture and requires no fabricated edges.
Bear in mind that fitting a worktop is a skilled job. Most worktops need to be professionally fitted which will add to the overall cost. If you are fitting a laminate worktop yourself, consider the Pro-Joint system from Orama with its pre-shaped ends which simply fit together to form a neat corner joint without the need for mitring or jointing strips.
Vibrant colours and designs can add drama to an old kitchen. Look at some of the more avant-garde choices such as gloss laminate or stainless steel for an instant facelift.
Worksurfaces don’t have to run in straight lines. For a more adventurous curved design look to solid surfacing materials which are thermoformable (moulded into different shapes) or a natural material such as granite, slate or stainless steel.
Bear in mind that some materials are easier to clean and maintain than others. Spills such as bleach or fruit juice need to be removed immediately from laminates and timber, but stains or burns on solid surfacing materials can be gently scrubbed away.
Granite is particularly easy to care for, whilst timber may need regular oiling. Scratches on stainless steel are self-healing and the material is naturally hygienic.
