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The right kitchen worktop helps you create a stunning kitchen with ample work space. If you love your kitchen, you will spend valuable time there and that’s why the worktop has to look great, function well, and to be comfortable and stylish.
Designers, architects and furniture companies constantly launch new forms and materials onto the kitchen industry: from marble to concrete or granite to Corian, there are plenty of options. In this article we will describe the principal ones, focusing on those we think you have to keep in consideration if you are planning to buy or renovate your kitchen.
The key points to keep in mind when choosing a worktop are:
- The worktop has to be aesthetically pleasing
- The worktop has to be not only “beautiful” but also functional
- Chose a very hard and resilient material
Laminate – an evergreen
This is the classic chipboard wood panel or MDF panel. To understand the difference between the two, you can also read our previous article lacquered VS laminate.
Arredo3 – Modello Kali – laminate anthracite and wood effect
PROS: many color and finishes, waterproof, resistant, good value for money
CONS: poor resistance to scratching, impact, wear, steam, heat
Stainless steel – elegance
PROS: industrial strength, durable, shiny, nonporous and easy to clean and disinfect
CONS: dents and scratches easily; fingerprint smudges show up easily
Marble e granite – tradition
PROS: hardness and durability, variety of textures and colours available, easy to clean
CONS: they are both porous materials. That means they can absorb wine, juice or oil, producing a stain that might be impossible to remove
Granite is more resistant and durable than marble, which is also more expensive
Quartz and Okite – the “easy” option
For those who love the marble effect but they are looking for a less demanding material.
PROS: abrasion resistance, durability
CONS: quite expensive material
Stosa – Bring – worktop in Okite
Wood – natural
Wood offers a natural beauty that will enhance the appearance of any kitchen.
Scavolini – Motus
PROS: aesthetic factor
CONS: a wood countertop is not sealed correctly, it offers a porous surface where germs may hide and multiply
Concrete – rigorous
From furniture to worktops, to obtain an object with this material you have to work spreading it manually.
PROS: resistance and durability, water-proof
CONS: very expensive
Corian – stylish
Corian derived from a blend of natural minerals, pigments and acrylic polymers, and it was patented by DuPont more than thirty years ago. Today, Corian is a popular material thanks to its excellent features.
PROS: resistant, continuous surface without joints, easy maintenance, also suitable for curved surfaces
CONS: very expensive
Glass – minimal
Ideal for modern settings
PROS: heat resistance, easy cleaning
CONS: fragile, high cost
Nanotechnology – futuristic
The worktops obtained with these new technique have an incredible feature: this futuristic material is able to repair itself from scratches by simply using a warm cloth on the damaged area – a real magic!
Countertop in Fenix
PROS: anti-fingerprints, durable, soft to touch, it can also be used for other surfaces such as chairs, tables and accessories
CONS: very expensive
In summary:
For a classic style kitchen it is better to chose a wooden, marble or granite worktop.
If you prefer a modern style, opt for a glass, Okite, Corian and Fenix worktop.
If you want to save some money without loosing quality, the best choice for you is laminate.
Our advice is always to go to a shop-dealer and borrow a sample of the worktop you like and try it before.
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