Your kitchen is the most used room in the house, and the kitchen benchtop is central to mission control it. Take the time to understand your cooking style and your appetite for maintenance and it will help you choose the right material.
All materials are good for different reasons, so understand there’s not really a one-size-fits-all solution. As with any design project, material selections will be informed by your budget, aesthetic “wish-list” and your threshold for maintenance.
ENGINEERED STONE BENCHTOPS
The trend for “real imitations” continues. Engineered stone, like Caesarstone, now looks like marble or even polished concrete. It’s made from 93% quartz aggregates, organic pigments and resins. You get a high-performance surface with great heat, stain, and scratch resistance.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY LAMINATE
Say hello to a new breed of laminate benchtop, which includes a broad colour palette with loads of choices in a finish, patterns and textures, including the trend for “real imitations” of natural stones. Laminate is the most affordable benchtop option.
TIMBER COMEBACK
Timber is making its way back into our kitchens big time, both as cabinets and benchtops. It indulges well with many other materials, colours and architectural styles, and it adds warmth and texture to both natural and engineered stone, making it a great accent or feature. Timber, just like natural stone, is porous, which means it needs protection. Sealing timber surfaces is essential to the routine maintenance.
HYGIENIC STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel is one of the most hygienic benchtop materials. Sinks can be welded straight into stainless steel making the benchtop completely seamless. Check out any commercial restaurant kitchen – stainless steel will show scratches, even dents, but this adds a patina to the material and creates and industrial utilitarian look. Another hygienic choice is a synthetic solid surface like Corian, which can be formed or moulded into any shape. Additionally, the material doesn’t show joins, which produces a continuous, seamless benchtop. Originally made as a hygienic, non-porous laboratory worktop, it’s great for our domestic kitchens, and cuts and scratches can be easily repaired.
You can place hot pots and trays on benchtops made from stainless steel and some natural stone, like granite. Steel can even take the heat out of hot pots.
If you still can't decide what's the best benchtop for your kitchen, consult Kellyville Kitchens today.