Advice on kitchen worktops

aodh_rua

We're installing a kitchen in a new build. Our kitchen supplier is quoting over 4k for granite worktops, splashbacks and island, which is outside our budget. We were considering a laminate for now, but I have come across Silestone and I'd appreciate any advice on quality/ease of care.

Is there a rough relative rule of thumb price comparison to granite?

Lobsterlady

We had the same problem when doing our kitchen. I really wanted granite but prices were coming in at 3k (5 years ago). Silestone, if I remember correctly, was very expensive too. So in the end we went for a laminate top, in aubergine...with matching glass splashback. It was so much cheaper, and I'm still very happy with it! Plan was to replace with granite or a silestone later on, but money just gets chewed up on a new build, that we did the garden instead:-)

Sarah3

Lobsterlady wrote: »

We had the same problem when doing our kitchen. I really wanted granite but prices were coming in at 3k (5 years ago). Silestone, if I remember correctly, was very expensive too. So in the end we went for a laminate top, in aubergine...with matching glass splashback. It was so much cheaper, and I'm still very happy with it! Plan was to replace with granite or a silestone later on, but money just gets chewed up on a new build, that we did the garden instead:-)

Hi LobsterLady,

Love your kitchen. Can I ask where you got it?

Lobsterlady

I used a local kitchen/furniture fitter (Limerick), I did check out local homebases and kitchen stores also but found I got a much better 'bespoke' kitchen by using someone local. Price range was no different from using a larger company. It's basic vanilla gloss units, with nice modern pull out drawers, larder etc. He also fitted work tops as seen, and the island unit also. I sourced splashback myself, local glass company. Just supplied RAL number and they fitted it. Sourced my own sink and taps.

Get the type of kitchen you want decided, unit colours, shape etc and shop around. .I cut out lots of magazine clippings and showed my kitchen guy so he knew exactly what I was looking for.

Sarah3

Lobsterlady wrote: »

I used a local kitchen/furniture fitter (Limerick), I did check out local homebases and kitchen stores also but found I got a much better 'bespoke' kitchen by using someone local. Price range was no different from using a larger company. It's basic vanilla gloss units, with nice modern pull out drawers, larder etc. He also fitted work tops as seen, and the island unit also. I sourced splashback myself, local glass company. Just supplied RAL number and they fitted it. Sourced my own sink and taps.

Get the type of kitchen you want decided, unit colours, shape etc and shop around. .I cut out lots of magazine clippings and showed my kitchen guy so he knew exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks LobsterLady. Can you pm me the name of the company as I am also based in Limerick.

Lobsterlady

Hi Sarah,

I've sent you on the details.