Nixons offer a choice of different work surfaces which can make your decision making difficult, so it’s worth taking the time to get your surface choice right.
Picking your kitchen worktop can make or break the look of your kitchen, with a choice of Corian, Silestone, Granite, Laminate, Solid Woods, Dekton, etc. there are plenty of options. Which ever surface you prefer, take a look below at some of our best picks/tips.
Think about how practical your surface needs to be? Would you have to maintain your worktop for example? Solid wood surfaces, glass etc. scratches and marks easily so if you have young children, this may be not ideal as scratches etc. may spoil the look of your kitchen.
Love cooking? Consider a heat-resistant material such as granite around your hob, so that you can move hot pans off the heat and onto the worktop.
If hygiene is a concern, think about anti-bacterial materials, such as Corian, Silestone or Dekton.
Hardwood worktops:
Often used in Food preparation and dining areas, Islands and breakfast bars. Hardwood also gives a contrast to the rest of your kitchen and can often compliment other surfaces and introduces a warm feel into the kitchen. Hardwood such as Iroko is a good surface for sink areas as it has a high oil content if you are considering wood surfaces.
Maintenance: Can stain easily so ensure spillage are cleaned up promptly to preventive spillage seeping to far into the wood, scratches can be easily sanded out of the surface. To prevent the surface drying out and to reduce movement, ensue its oiled every 6-8 months with a good kitchen surface oil which has antibacterial properties also. Watch you don’t apply too much that the surfaces becomes sticky and the old can’t soak into the surface.
If hardwoods are properly sealed and maintained they will last for a long time, but don’t use the worktop as a chopping board, or place hot pans directly onto the wood, as it can scorch.
Composite worktops:
A composite worktop is a surface made of more than one material, usually an earth stone mixed with a resin. It is man-made and can be made in many different shapes to create curves etc.
This work surface can be used anywhere within the kitchen including around hobs. It can also be used to create a dramatic effect within the room.
Colours such as dark grey and blue look fabulous in modern and contemporary kitchens and are certainly one of the more popular choices. Make sure you wipe up spills to prevent any marks forming. Keep clean with a soft, damp cloth and a mild detergent. This is a very tough work surface however scratches etc. to composite work surfaces can be sanded out.
Granite worktops:
Nothing innately exhibits the classical properties of elegance and beauty more than natural stone. A natural product right out of the ground. It’s a hardwearing stone, different granites have different qualities when considering maintenance and appearance. The only way you can accurately gauge the true beauty of granite is to simply see and touch it. Nixons can arrange factory visits to the fabricators so you can see the varying selections.
Unlike man-made products, this is a material, which has a natural make-up, and beauty, which is impossible to recreate under factory conditions. Variations in colour and vein mean that your Granite kitchen worktops will be completely unique and nobody has the same surface.
The quality of granite kitchen worktops is undeniable and the strength of the material makes it easy to maintain. However remember granite is a porous product and Cosentino Sensa maybe a viable option so that your surface is sealed. Sensa is a granite surface by Cosentino, a high-quality surface that offers such reliable performance that it comes with a 15-year certified guarantee. More information can be found here.
With advances in modern technology, granite can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes.
Laminate:
Laminate worktops from Nixons are an affordable alternative to natural or other solid surface, they still look good and are hard wearing. If you have a budget to work to our laminate worktops can help you get the look you want. They are water and stain resistant and available in a variety of colours and finishes, including natural looks like granite, marble and timber, they are also available with ABS square edging to give a more natural look.
Corian:
With innovative designs and an enduring color palette, Corian® will make all of your design aspirations come true. Achieve your dreams while still selecting a quality product that will stand up to whatever your life may throw at it. You can rest easy knowing you’ve picked a surface to last a lifetime!
Corian suits most schemes and is available in a variety of colours – choose bright hues for modern kitchens, white for architectural, and any pale shades for traditional rooms. Low-maintenance. Clean with a soft cloth and mild detergent.
Dekton:
A fairly new contender, this revolutionary product Dekton is a new concept in the world of design and architecture. Consisting of sophisticated raw materials used in the glass, porcelanic and quartz surfaces production, Dekton is a material with unique characteristics and has a number of application possibilities such as worktops, flooring, cladding, facades which can be used for both inside and outside.
