Choosing the right worktop for a vintage style kitchen
Whether you live in a country cottage, a period townhouse or even a modern semi-detached, a vintage style kitchen can really help to create a warm and welcoming ambience in your home.
Whilst your choice of cabinets and units can be fairly straightforward, there are so many varieties of worktop to choose from, you might not know where to begin. Luckily, we’ve done all the thinking for you, so you can make an informed choice.
Selecting the right materials
One of the first things to consider is how you plan to use your traditional kitchen. If you are single or rarely use your kitchen, other than to make the odd meal, you can probably afford to choose something that looks great but doesn’t need a lot of care and attention. Whereas, if you are buying for a family home, or looking to create a kitchen for entertaining, you may want something much more hardwearing and easy to maintain.
Solid wood or stone worktops
To stay true to an authentic period design, you will probably consider more traditional materials such as wood or stone. Indeed, wooden worktops look simply exquisite in a vintage setting and recreate the genuine appearance of a Victorian kitchen, however they do need plenty of maintenance in the form of regular oiling to keep them looking spick and span. If your kitchen worktops are very busy, you will also find that solid wood worktops can scratch or stain more easily than more durable, man-made materials like laminate (of which we’ll speak more of later).
Stone worktops are also an excellent choice for a traditional kitchen, with a natural form that looks as solid as it feels. There are plenty of stone finishes you can choose from including slate and granite, but again, they require careful handling. Chips and scratches can soon make your worktop look worn and unloved.
Laminate or acrylic worktops
If you’re working to a budget or simply have a kitchen which will see plenty of use, man made worktops such as laminate are perfect. Costing significantly less than the more natural finishes, laminate comprises a plastic surface that is high pressure bonded to a board made from engineered wood. The plastic can be printed using modern techniques to mimic a massive range of designs, from wood effect finishes to designs that appear at first glance to be made of stone.
Just as durable are composite kitchen worktops such as quartz or Corian. Combining natural minerals and resin, they form a hard wearing layer that is watertight and simple to maintain using household cleaners and a cloth. Both laminate and composite worktops can be used to complement a traditional style kitchen, despite not being an authentically period feature.
Popular worktop choices for traditional kitchens
Granite worktops
Granite is a popular choice for period style kitchens thanks to its strength, durability and resistence to hear. It comes in a wide range of stunning colours, from white through to black, with a gorgeous marbled appearance. Do make sure you take extra care when using a granite surface, as it can scratch more easily than man made materials, and spills need to be dealt with straight away, or you may suffer with stains. Apollo is a trusted name in granite worktops and you’ll find a massive selection at HCSupplies.
Oak worktops
Perfect for rustic kitchens, there’s a reason why oak is such a popular material when it comes to kitchen worktops. With a timeless appeal, oak provides a warming ambience for any kitchen and it’s highly practical too. Like all wooden worktops, it can stain or scratch easily, so make sure you use chopping boards when preparing food and oil it a couple of times per year. This will help to protect it and keep it looking great.
Corian worktops
Wonderfully workable, Corian can be cut and shaped into just about any shape or layout you desire, making it perfect for traditional kitchens with a slightly awkward layout. With its combination of natural minerals and acrylic, this composite worktop will provide a highly durable and hygienic surface that’s easy to clean.
Shop worktops for a vintage style kitchen
If you’ve decided which type of worktop you want for your vintage style kitchen, why not browse the wide selection available at HCSupplies today?