Page 52 - Designing Ways 253

WORKTOPS

Kitchen Worktops

by Stienie Greyling

orktop materials have
changed radically in the last
Wfew years, offering a vast
choice across all budgets. Technology
has given us extremely tough materials
that are virtually indestructible options
for the busiest of homes. Meanwhile the
trend for open plan kitchen layouts and
living room style in kitchens has led to the
introduction of luxe materials for those
able to provide them with a little TLC.
The most popular materials for kitchen
worktops are granite, quartz, solid wood,
laminate, stone, stainless steel and glass.
As a kitchen worktop is one of the
most hardwearing areas in the kitchen,
it is essential to invest in the worktop.
Worktops are available at a variety of
price points and this is a major factor
when it comes to decision making for
most households. Many of the made-
to-measure worktops are costly and can
prove unrealistic if on a budget. Try
opting for a quality lookalike instead.
If budgets are tight, try mixing and
matching the kitchen worktop. Place
panels of more expensive stone in harder
working areas such as by the stove or sink,
and wood or laminate everywhere else.
Combining worktops is on trend too, so
the kitchen will look great.
The kitchen layout will help determine
what worktop would be suitable. For
instance, straight runs are cheaper and
easier to fit, while seamless materials such
as composites make sense if you have lots
of corners.

52 Issue 253 • dw