UNDER THE SURFACE
One of the most crucial elements in the kitchen, countertops must not only look good but work hard, too. Choose from natural, contemporary and innovative materials, used alone or mixed and matched for extra style and performance
Worktops need to look good and play hard. From elegant stone and wood to contemporary quartz and composites, we’ve got your counters covered
PORCELAIN
Large format porcelain slabs are durable, lightweight, nonporous, scratch-proof, stain-proof, antibacterial and even hot pans can be placed directly on the surface without scorching. Any material from concrete to metal to stone can be replicated, and colours remain stable over time. ‘Advances in digital printing can even produce “natural” variations from tile to tile, meaning it’s indistinguishable from the real thing,’ says Jo Oliver, director at Stone & Ceramic Warehouse. ‘This makes it possible to achieve the look you want at a lower cost and without the challenges and maintenance issues that come with materials such as marble and limestone.’
HOW TO USE
Ultra-large slabs up to 160 x 320cm mean fewer or no grout lines, which in turn gives a sleek, seamless look, while sheets are available from as little as 3mm thick, which taps into the trend for super-thin surfaces. Porcelain can also be used to clad the front of cabinetry, and due to its excellent durability, it works well as flooring, too.
BRANDS TO KNOW
Stone & Ceramic Warehouse stocks matt and silk slabs in a wide range of finishes (from £240 per m sq; stoneandceramicwarehouse.co.uk). Italian firm Florim has more than 50 years’ experience and offers natural stone, wood, cement and metal effects as well as plain colours (price on application; florim.com). Developed with the University of Milan, SapienStone’s ‘Active Surfaces’ are antibacterial and antiviral, and pollutants including VOCs are neutralised (from £354 per linear m; sapienstone.com).