Integrating Technology into a Handmade Kitchen Without It Dating in Five Years
Our handmade kitchens are built to last. Every cabinet, piece of timber, the joinery and the finishes are all designed…
The worktop is what your kitchen feels like in daily use. We specify quartz, marble-effect quartz, natural granite, marble, porcelain, solid timber and composite work surfaces, with hundreds of options on display in our Bridgers Barn showroom and many more available to order.
Worktop Materials: What to Choose and Why
Worktop choice is part aesthetic, part practical. Quartz (engineered stone) is the most popular choice for hard-working family kitchens: virtually maintenance-free, non-porous, heat- and stain-resistant, and available in a vast palette of colours and patterns including realistic marble-effects. Natural stone (granite, marble, quartzite) has unique veining and depth that no engineered material can quite replicate, with a slightly higher maintenance commitment (sealing, careful use around acids).
Marble-effect porcelain gives the look of marble with the durability of porcelain: hard, heat-resistant, easy to live with. Solid timber (oak, walnut, iroko) is the right choice for traditional country kitchens, for casual seating sections, and for warming up an otherwise stone-heavy palette. Composite materials like Corian allow seamless joints and integrated sinks, useful for sleek contemporary schemes.
Materials and finishes we specify
- Engineered quartz and marble-style: Silestone, Caesarstone, Compac, Carrara-look and Calacatta ranges
- Natural stone: granite, Carrara, Calacatta, Arabescato and Statuario marbles, quartzite
- Porcelain: Dekton, Neolith and similar large-format slabs
- Solid timber: oak, walnut, iroko, with food-safe oil finish
- Edge profiles: standard double bevel, pencil edge, ogee, mitred 40-100mm waterfall
- Splashbacks: matching slab, antiqued mirror brass, tiled or painted
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between quartz and granite worktops?
Quartz is an engineered material (around 90 to 95 percent natural quartz crystal bound with resin) that gives a consistent pattern and almost no maintenance. Granite is fully natural stone with unique veining, more depth, and a small amount of upkeep (periodic sealing). For most family kitchens we recommend quartz; for clients who love the variation of natural stone, granite.
Is marble suitable for a kitchen worktop?
Yes, but with awareness. Marble is softer and more porous than granite or quartz, so it can stain and etch from acids (lemon juice, red wine). It develops a lived-in patina that many clients love, but if you want a worktop that stays pristine, we usually recommend marble-effect porcelain instead.
Can I have a timber worktop in part of the kitchen and stone in another?
Yes, and this is one of the most popular bespoke combinations. A solid timber section is often the casual breakfast bar or prep area, with quartz, porcelain or stone elsewhere. Timber softens the room and gives a natural break in the visual line.
What edge profile should I choose?
Our standard double bevel is a clean, slightly softened edge that suits classic and traditional Shaker kitchens. Pencil edge and mitred 40-100mm waterfall edges are more contemporary; ogee is a deeper traditional moulding. We will show you all the options against your sample slabs.
How thick should the worktop be?
20mm is standard, 30mm gives a substantial look without becoming heavy, and 40-100mm mitred (waterfall) edges give a contemporary, deep-set worktop that feels like a single solid block. The right thickness depends on your door style and the overall feel of the room.
Suppliers
Please note, Handmade Kitchen’s use of manufacturer trademarks and trademark devices on this website is only to directly describe
the appliances we are able to source for our customers and we do not intend to imply any connection, affiliation or trading relationship
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