Choosing the Right Kitchen Worktop for You

When creating your ideal home, you want to consider what functions are important to you and what makes you tick. All rooms will have a great mix of practicality and personal touch. Whether this is the colour scheme you choose, the décor you add or the multiple pictures of your dog adorning the shelves, they need to make you want to be in them. This is exactly what you want to be thinking when envisioning your perfect kitchen. Perhaps you approach cooking as a scientist conducting experiments or an artist creating a masterpiece, or maybe you simply use the kitchen as a place to relax with a glass of wine and watch someone else cook. There are a variety of beautiful and practical materials to choose from for your kitchen worktops, but which are right for you?

Quality Quartz

The durability of quartz is one of its major benefits. A combination of natural quartz crystals and resins creates a surface resistant to scratches, chips and cracks. They are non-porous and have a sealed, smooth surface that prevents spills from penetrating and leaves spillages easy to clean. They also come in a wide range of colours and finishes meaning you can opt for a solid colour, speckled design or marble-like pattern. What makes quartz different to natural stone is the option for a consistent appearance. If you desire your kitchen worktops to be uniform, then quartz offers this.

A quality quartz kitchen worktop is less likely to damage compared to other materials, can come in various colours and patterns and is easy to maintain and protect. Of course, this comes with a cost. Quartz is relatively more expensive than various other kitchen worktops but when you are planning on keeping it for a long time then it fails to disappoint.

Gorgeous Granite

Like marble, granite kitchen worktops are always unique. They may look similar to others but being another natural stone the formation of patterns, whether that is waves, speckles or veining, is always one of a kind. From a functional perspective, granite hits all the right notes. It is durable and highly resistant to scratches, chips and cracks, heat resistant so you can place your hot plates, pans and cooking utensils directly on it and, what makes it different to marble, it is easy to maintain. Granite is a low porous stone which makes it highly resistant to spills and stains and unlikely to absorb liquids. This means that regular cleaning with simple soap and water should be enough to keep your granite kitchen worktops as good as new.

A gorgeous granite kitchen worktop also adds value to your home, but the downside is how heavy the stone is. You will need to have it professionally installed which will come with additional costs. It is low porous and easy to clean.

Sensational Sintered Stone

Sintered stone is a man-made material created by heating a powdered natural minerals into a solid mass. With these origins, it’s no surprise the material has been designed with specific intentions and kitchen worktops are one of them. All things have been considered when forming the stone making it durable and robust to withstand a demanding busy kitchen. It is heat resistant for all those hot pans and what’s more, it can be cut and crafted for the specific dimensions of your kitchen. This means you won’t have to compromise on your dream look if your perfect worktop didn’t fit.

A sensational sintered stone kitchen worktop is also highly UV resistant, so won’t fade over time whether used inside or outside the home and is also eco-friendly. Yes, sintered stone is regularly produced by combining natural and recycled materials and uses minimal energy and water in the process. Mother nature would approve. All this kitchen worktop perfection does not come cheap and will require professional installation due to the hardness and density of the material, but it is worth the investment when in years you can gaze upon your kitchen worktops, and they will still look as good as new.

Other materials available

There are other materials available for kitchen worktops which may be less expensive, but they seldom offer the beauty and refinement that is becoming of your dream kitchen. Laminate is an inexpensive material which is easy to clean and resistant to stains and scratches. However, they can be susceptible to heat and sharp objects which might not make them the ideal choice in a hot kitchen full of hot utensils. Stainless steel is often the choice for the catering industry as they are relatively inexpensive, durable, heat-resistant and hygienic. Perfect for a busy restaurant kitchen but less appealing in your home. The stainless steel can be extremely noisy and is easily scratched and blemished. Perhaps a little too clinical a look for your kitchen worktops.

We can help you make the right choice.

At Bellagio, we pride ourselves on understanding our customer’s individual needs. With over 30 years of experience, we are professionals in making sure the right choices are made to create the stunning kitchen you envisioned. Our craftsmen are ready to help you decide which material is perfect for your needs and befit your wants, but we believe it is important for you to understand the options available and so below is a brief summary of what to expect from each fine material.

Quality Quartz

Pros – Highly durable, non-porous, great selection of colours and patterns.
Cons – Susceptible to UV fading, vulnerable to heat damage.

Magnificent Marble

Pros – Unique appearance, heat resistant, natural cooling, hypo-allergenic.

Cons – Porous and susceptible to stains, high maintenance, requires regular sealing.

Gorgeous Granite

Pros – Unique appearance, heat resistant, low-porous, low maintenance.

Cons – Requires professional installation, heavy surfaces may require additional support, requires regular sealing.

Sensational Sintered Stone

Pros – Durable, non-porous, cut-to-fit, UV resistant, eco-friendly.

Cons – Requires professional installation, vulnerable to heat damage, prone to cracks and chips.

With so many great and beautiful options to choose from, we know it isn’t always easy, so we want to help simplify the process.

Get in touch and let a Bellagio installation turn your house into your home.