The worktop is one of the greatest joys when designing new furnishings. As a base in your kitchen, it can be used to prepare and cook meals. On cooking islands in open-plan kitchens, it is also a place to meet and relax. As such, it needs to look good and work well with the interior design. In this article, we showcase various materials and their unique character.
By far the most popular material is wood: In a light shade, wood looks amazing in cosy, appealing Scandi-style kitchens. A darker, nutty colour produces an elegant and traditional effect. Some of the most popular varieties of wood include beech, oak, bamboo, walnut, teak and birch.
The material is an all-rounder that blends in with almost every interior design style. In addition, wood is renewable, so you would be choosing a sustainable option here. It can be processed in many ways, and you decide which wood variety and which grain you like best. The surface finish can also be treated in different ways, e.g. by varnishing, staining or oiling.
The thickness of the worktop also plays a role: Thick, solid slabs of wood attract attention and emphasise the main features of cooking islands. Narrow slabs are more low-key and blend in with the room's overall effect.
The natural-stone worktop is almost indestructible and exudes timeless charm. This material embodies the passing of time, as it has been created over millions of years. This strengthens the very powerful and earthy character of natural stone in living rooms. Give yourself plenty of time when choosing the right stone, as each slab features a different texture and colour gradient.
Choose the one-of-a-kind piece that best suits you and your style. And then you’ll have a worktop for life, as it is cut- and scratch-resistant and extremely durable with the right care.
Some of the most popular natural stones include:
Glass is a very versatile material. This may surprise you at first, as ‘breakable’ is the property most often associated with it. However, tempered safety glass is used for these models, making them extremely shock- and scratch-resistant. Worktops made of glass are available in colourful, matt or shiny designs. Silk screening can also be used to print patterns on the glass. Its pore-free surface finish is easy to clean and gives the worktop a modern and elegant look.
One of the latest trends is ceramic models, which impress users with the one-of-a-kind feel of their surface finish. The firing process makes this material extremely resistant to heat, so you can transfer hot saucepans straight from the hob to the worktop. The other benefits of ceramics include their many designs, from traditional matt right through to shiny metallic.