at home with Sarah Beeny - August 2012 - (Page 117)

| ON THE SURFACE| worktop ADRIFT IN A SEA OF WOOD, LAMINATE, QUARTZ AND GRANITE? OUR GUIDE TO KITCHEN COUNTERS WILL HELP YOU MAKE THE RIGHT PICK How to choose your L 1 WORDS: Olivia Holcombe | PHOTOGRAPH: Shutterstock ooks may score highly when choosing a kitchen worktop, but think about the type of use it’s going to get, and whether the material is up to the job. Ideally, it needs to be stain and heat-resistant, easy to clean, extremely durable and reasonably priced. You just won’t ﬁnd a worktop that ticks all these boxes, so consider what your priorities are, and what aspects you’re prepared to compromise on. Our round-up of the most common materials will help you to make up your mind. 2 While laminate tries to emulate the look of a solid wooden worktop, nothing can beat the real thing. Genuine oak, walnut, maple, cherry and beech are all popular choices, and durable, too. Wood has a natural, warm feel that brings just as much character to a traditional, rustic kitchen as it does to a more modern space. Durability’s a deﬁnite plus point. Visit www.hardwoodkitchen-worktops.co.uk WOOD A man-made alternative to granite, quartz usually consists of 95% raw material that’s ground down and mixed with resin and colour pigments (and often mirrored particles for sparkle) to produce a sheet of material. Quartz rates seven out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale – a way to judge how scratchresistant minerals are. Day-to-day cleaning is as simple as wiping with a damp cloth and warm soapy water. You know exactly what colour and pattern you’re going to get, as there’s no variation. Quartz can be costly. Visit www.stonemasters.co.uk 3 QUARTZ { { The ﬁnish on granite is polished with diamonds, and its melting temperature is 1215-1260°C, so no chance of hot pot damage! 4 Usually consisting of a core of plywood, chipboard or MDF with a laminated veneer on top, laminate is a favourite with DIY kitchen-ﬁtters. There’s a huge range of colours and looks to choose from. Laminate can be a cheaper alternative to wood or granite, and is easy to cut to size and lighter to install. One thing to consider is that modern laminate can still warp under a hot pan. Visit www.wickes.co.uk LAMINATE Able to transform any kitchen and give your home a designer look, glass worktops can be made in any shape, colour design or texture. They provide a hygienic, waterproof, heat-resistant work surface that’s easy to clean. And, although thick glass does have high tensile strength, it is still glass and can crack. Visit www. shepwayglass.co.uk ■ 5 This material is a natural stone that’s formed when lava cools and solidiﬁes. Quarried around the world, it comes in a vast array of colours and patterns. It doesn’t come much tougher than granite – it can withstand super-high temperatures, is resistant to water and most stains, and holds its colour for years. And, as every slab created is unique, you’re guaranteed to have a one-off worktop. However, it’s heavy to handle. Visit www.granitetransformations.co.uk GRANITE DID YOU KNOW? Sarah says... ‘A new countertop is always a good idea – choose something that matches your kitchen doors, and combine with new taps and maybe a new oven or dishwasher.’ GLASS www.athomemagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2012 | 117 http://www.stonemasters.co.uk http://www.hardwood-kitchen-worktops.co.uk http://www.hardwood-kitchen-worktops.co.uk http://www.granitetransformations.co.uk http://www.shepwayglass.co.uk http://www.wickes.co.uk http://www.shepwayglass.co.uk http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of at home with Sarah Beeny - August 2012

EDITOR’S LETTER
WELCOME FROM SARAH
NEWS
AWESOME AUGUST
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
TABLE TALK
THE THRIFTY FIFTY
TRENDS ON TRIAL
BEENY UNCUT
ESSENTIAL HOME-BUYING GUIDE
SURVEY SAVVY
WHAT’S THE SCORE?
THE NEW FACE OF PROPERTY?
SELLER SECRETS
LOCATION LOCK-UP
SOAP AND GLORY
OPEN UP
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
TOP SHOP
THE BRIGHT STUFF
GET THE JUNGLE LOOK
WARDROBE WARS
A ONE OFF
MOSAIC MAGIC
GLASS ACT
TAKE TO THE FLOOR
FRAME GAME
IT’S A BLINDER
SNUG AS A BUG
BURNING QUESTION
THE A-TEAM
QUICK FIX
BEAT THE BUILDING BLUES
LET THERE BE LIGHT
GOING DOWN
GARDEN GREATS
DIRTY DEALINGS
ALIEN INVASION
JUMP RIGHT IN
LITTLE WONDER
OUT OF SIGHT
PROFESSOR GREEN
ECO EXCLUSIVE
TALKING TRASH
PRO PLANET PROJECTS
HELLO, SUNSHINE
CARBON-NEUTRAL COVER
STAR GLAZER
EARTH HOUR
HOT TOPIC
MASS REDUCTION
WASTE NOT
SWITCHED ON
ETHICAL INTERIORS
YOU LIVE WHERE?
COMING SOON
WINNING SPOT
LUXE LINEN
CATCH-UP
STOCKISTS

at home with Sarah Beeny - August 2012