When choosing a new kitchen you should give an equal amount of thought to the appliances and cabinetry as you do to your worktops and flooring - because worktops and flooring can be tied in to matching the kitchen cabinets that you’ve chosen. Worktops are an important feature of your kitchen, and will heavily dictate the overall look and feel of the space. They are available in a range of styles, colors and materials, so when making a decision about which would be right for your kitchen it's important to think about the practicalities of different surfaces along the visual element. Worktops vary in size, strength and aftercare, and floors can vary on upkeep, durability and practicality, so make sure you choose styles and material that are most suited to your needs.
Most worktops will take the strain of everyday wear and tear - the kitchen can be a demanding place with hot pans, knife use and all sorts of spills occurring daily. Damage to work surfaces can be prevented by using chopping boards and pan rests, but your worktops to be made from durable material. Natural stone (marble or granite) are the strongest materials for worktops. Wood worktops give your kitchen some character, but need to be cared for so that it doesn't become scratched or stained. Glass countertops increase the feeling of space in a small kitchen, and is perfect for a contemporary or modern kitchen. Available in a range of styles and colors are Corian worktops, useful when trying to match to floors and cabinets. Corian allows you to make a statement with color, and is the most popular choice for matching cabinet doors, sinks handles and side and wall cladding.
The style of your kitchen will be down to your own personal taste, so you may want your cabinets and worktops to match, or maybe just complement each other. Some people may even want to bring together completely different styles. These contrasting styles can look great but they do need to be carefully picked.
If you want to coordinate your cabinets and worktops, pick the same finish for both. Matt laminate worktops and cabinets will give your kitchen a sleek, modern feel. Gloss worktops will hide scuffs and marks, and are available in a wide range of colors. The colors of your worktops and cabinets are also an important choice. Closely matched colors will give a uniformed look - like choosing dark wood cabinets and a dark brown or black laminate worktop. You can also choose a material that can be used for both worktops and floors, such as granite or slate, and complement this with grey cabinets.
Contrasting your counter tops, flooring and cabinets can be a more interesting process. You can either have everything in the same color but different finishes, or vice versa. A white tiled floor can be contrasted with dark matt cabinets and worktops, and stainless steel handles on these cabinets will give your kitchen a modern, industrial feel. If a white floor would be difficult for you to keep clean, try reversing this combination, with a slate floor and white gloss worktops.
Kitchen are a long-term investment, so make sure that however you style your room, its not something you will easily tire with looking at! The kitchen is the hub of the home and is there to be an enjoyable space where you want to spend time. Choosing your ideal kitchen cabinets and work surfaces should be an enjoyable process, but one that you take time when considering.
Bio:
Article submitted by Richard Davonport, Managing Director at Davonport. Founded almost 20 years ago, Davonport has an expert team of kitchen designers and craftsmen of beautiful, handmade, bespoke kitchens. Combining the latest technology with traditional woodcraft and finishing skills, to create bespoke kitchens of the highest quality.