Worktop Fashions/Choices

Peartree

I'm rather hoping Majje will come out and give an opinion on this one.

I'm sprucing up my kitchen with very nice new oak doors. But I'm stalled on the choice of worktop. Can't afford granite, before we start. However, every magazine I see, everyone posting with choices, etc, is going for the dark slate/granite look worktops.

But, even though my kitchen is south-facing and full of light, my heart sinks with all this gloomy grey. The laminate worktop companies seem to have a lot of options in the cream spectrum but this isn't filtering through to any of the style magazines.

I'm usually very confident with house style decisions for some reason on this one I am not ! I suppose there is a sneaking worry that if I had to, for some unforeseen reason, sell my house in the next year, the sale might depend on my worktop choice as people base a good portion of their decision on the kitchen - despite the fact it is easily changed!

So.. Opinions please, if I were to go against the fashion and go for a creamy coloured worktop (and maybe even, madly, with a matching oak worktop edging) teamed up with a sort of limestone effect floor..... Well would it be post-modern, would it be anticipating a new trend or would it be, frankly, a bit old lady?

So, MSE style gurus, I find myself amazed at I am not confident in this decision but thoughts would be welcome!

Errata

I think the world and his dog will soon have granite or slate - so it will be on to the next new thing ! How about wood effect ? Although I think cream would look good if it ties in with the colour scheme.

dander

I'm just about to tear the black worktops out of my kitchen (inherited from previous owners) because I can't bear them. I feel depressed every time I go in there with all the black - the floor's black too. It never feels fresh, even when spotlessly clean.

Of course, some people love that all black thing. I think you should just ignore the style mags and put in what you like best. Let your house be about you, rather than about the property market!

Peartree

Errata wrote: »

I think the world and his dog will soon have granite or slate - so it will be on to the next new thing ! How about wood effect ? Although I think cream would look good if it ties in with the colour scheme.

Bless your heart! Should have mentioned that I have stripped wood doors in the house which I have carefully matched with colour of new oak doors. Also have some stripped wood floors (but not kitchen) so concerned that any further wood (worktops) will tip the whole thing in the house over into a 'log cabin' sort of vibe!

Peartree

dander wrote: »

I'm just about to tear the black worktops out of my kitchen (inherited from previous owners) because I can't bear them. I feel depressed every time I go in there with all the black - the floor's black too. It never feels fresh, even when spotlessly clean.

Of course, some people love that all black thing. I think you should just ignore the style mags and put in what you like best. Let your house be about you, rather than about the property market!

I know! I am so confident about every other aspect of my decor and don't refer to anyone and it is utterly bizarre that my confidence has been shaken on something so mundane as a worktop!

I went into my local builders' merchant where they have samples of every single manufacturers' range and was overwhelmed. It wasn't helped by the fact that five members of their staff went past and said 'there's just too much choice isn't there?'

I'm rarely indecisive but must admit I've experienced similar confusion in the shampoo aisle of Boots!

Thank you for being a grey/black sceptic!

bigmuffins

:hello:
just read this as I was passing through! - I was in John Lewis the other day and saw a gorgeous worktop in ........................................ blue! Had lovely sparkly bits under the lights and I fell in love with the colour! Is a light cheery blue not dark! sort of the colour of this smiley!
If there is a John Lewis near you, pop in and have a look (if you like blue!)
I would not go for wood or wood effect if you have wood doors tbh.
well that is my tuppence worth!
Good luck!

Peartree

I've seen something similar and is the sort of thing on the list. I don't think these types finishes look as over the top with an edging

bigmuffins

Hmm not a big fan of edging myself tbh - but each to their own!
I just liked the colour and is different from anything I had seen up till then. Would cheer me up seeing that of a morning!
Bed time for me ... got to work in the morning! nite nite!

jasmin10

Please dont go for the dark high gloss ones. We have just spent the money on a high gloss ebony one from B&Q. I wish so much we hadn't. it's only been in for a few months and the scratches on it are unreal and we have been so careful with it as we knew it was more prone.

We can't wait to rip it out and get a different one but can't afford it yet.

Errata

How about getting some samples of plain wallpaper in whatever you fancy and laying them on a counter for a couple of days to see how each one goes with everything else ?
Know what you mean about 'too much choice' as I recently had to choose some cream emulsion. Only about 300 different shades of cream to choose from !

Peartree

jasmin10 wrote: »

Please dont go for the dark high gloss ones. We have just spent the money on a high gloss ebony one from B&Q. I wish so much we hadn't. it's only been in for a few months and the scratches on it are unreal and we have been so careful with it as we knew it was more prone.

We can't wait to rip it out and get a different one but can't afford it yet.

So I hear and I'm avoiding like the plague. I've got a lot of samples that are, romantically called 'riverwash'. I think this just means bumpy!

Errata, I've got more samples of worktop than you can shakes stick at - I think that is what is making it more difficult!