Granite, solid wood or another, Kitchen Worktop

MarcusP12

Hi all,

Looking for a bit of advice and guidence. We're doing an extension which is going to include a new kitchen which we hope will be impressive. We're getting a lot of work done overall so we're looking to try and save here and there on the build. The kitchen work tops are the big thing that we dont want to compromise on but never the less would like to get the best value. Standard ones wont cut it so we're thinking granite which we accept will be expensive, especially when you include a centre piece island.

We haven't looked into prices or suppliers so i guess the 1st question is, what should we expect to pay and where, within striking distance of dublin, would we get the best prices and range?

The second question would be is there a reasonable alternative, e.g. quartz, which looks and feels as good and what would be the price compared to granite? Again, suppliers?

We're also toying with the idea maybe of going solid oak for all work tops or maybe to go solid wood for the counter top along the walls and then splash out on granite for the island. Any opinions on this? Again, cost of solid oak and where best to get it?

Thanks in advance!

wait4me

I'm interested in replies to this question as well; in particular in relation to granite worktops and the cost of them.

AlisonB

We are just after getting our kitchen. We paid 2500
For Quartz .. Look into polished concrete and butcher block laminate can be very nice

Calahonda52

Granite will mark and any dark/black stone work-tops will look crap if you have hard water.
Oiled walnut looks well, wears well and can be got in good lengths, the last one I sourced was 4.2m and 1.2m wide.
It was in strips of walnut glued together. Not cheap, c 4k

KFiddles

I've had every type of counter you can imagine... Granite, marble, glass, tile, corian, quartz and metal.

Granite is actually going out of style. I'm going for quartz this time. I'm tired of upkeep and I like my kitchen to look pristine. I don't want to worry about staining, etching, sealing, etc....

Sonnett

We did our kitchen 3 years ago and initially sourced a solid oak worktop from Ikea. Can't remember exact price but v. reasonable. Anyway it needed to be quite long so builder suggested that he source it himself in one long piece which he did for the same price. We're extending now and putting in an island and we're going for quartz in the island. I'd love to stick with the oak but I think it'll look like too much oak in the kitchen. May end up mixing the two. Dermot bannon was asked on ray d'arcy a while ago what was best for kitchen worktop and he said first choice quartz and then solid wood.

MizMix

We're probably going for quartz too. There's corian- I'm not mad on it. Also ceramic (done really thin) is lovely in a very modern kitchen. More expensive though

MarcusP12

Thanks for all the replies to date folks. Any experience of pvc doors in a kitchen?were thinking we might have to cut costs here and there on our house works and although we'd prefer solid painted, we have to consider pvc but with good work tops.....weve seen them in the show room and they do look the part but how long before they start looking like the kids toy house in the back garden??!

KFiddles

My experience is that doors are not a place to cut costs, particularly in a high traffic area like a kitchen. A solid door not only looks better but provides sound-proofing as well.

MarcusP12

KFiddles wrote: »

My experience is that doors are not a place to cut costs, particularly in a high traffic area like a kitchen. A solid door not only looks better but provides sound-proofing as well.

Are you talking about internal doors? I was refering to the kitchen cabinet doors.....

KFiddles

Yes, I was talking internal. I do think you can cut costs with a cheaper cabinet door, particularly with good counters and nice hardware. I've done that very successfully.

Oscar15

When you say pvc do you mean the wrapped doors?

If so then I would say steer clear - I know someone who had them around the same time I did my kitchen and they haven't worn well at all, lots of lifting and bits of the pvc wrap breaking off.

I have a painted kitchen with oak tops and mdf doors. I got the kitchen place to supply the mdf doors primed and then painted them myself. Looks good and has lasted very well. And easy to repaint a different colour if you get bored!

Couchkitten

I think shiny black granite is starting to look dated now. It's not featuring in any of the new kitchen brochures ect... I think using great expanses of black in the kitchen is a bad idea anyway.

We got wood. It has the wow factor but damages easily and involves oiling it every now and again..
We were considering this http://www.silestone.co.uk/showroom/kitchens/ but didn't have the budget in the end. It is a man-made substance made of quartz - it comes in so many finishes that it should work for every style and seemed to be basically indestructible. It is the most expensive option though

heldel00

We have PVC Ivory kitchen doors. I have had both in the past and PVC is so maintainable compared to solid. Sticky fingers, grease stains etc, just wipe down.
Cheap and cheerful. Feel like a change in years to come, replace doors. Won't cost an arm and a leg.
I have black granite and love it. Needs a streak-free spray but apart from that I just love the look of it. Kitchen ties in with the look of the rest of our new-build so modern, gloss, shiny just wouldn't have worked.