Guide - How to select the right worktop
You could say that the worktop is the jewel of the kitchen. It sets the tone and adds personality. Of course, this means that the choice of worktop can be the most difficult choice in the entire kitchen renovation.
Below we give some ideas on how you can think when you are facing this important and at the same time very fun choice, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each worktop. You can buy all worktops via us at Nordiska Kök while ordering a kitchen.
Get the latest Nordiska Kök kitchen inspiration here.
Beautiful terrazzo worktop in this wooden kitchen.
A timeless and bright limestone for a shaker kitchen in a villa in Enskede outside Stockholm.
Have you already decided what expression your doors and drawers should have? Then you have at least come a long way and have an idea of what style you are aiming for. To further limit the selection, you can look at interior design in the rest of the home as well as the architecture of the home.
Maybe there is a lot of marble, maybe a lot of wood? If you capture already existing style elements, the result will be a sustainable design that you maybe don’t see yourself in the first place. The last step involves researching yourself, how are you as a person and how do you use the kitchen? Are you like Jacob Holst and Ellen Dixdotter (whose kitchen with a wooden top you can find here). Jacob and Ellen think that scratches and stains give the home personality and history, "every party must leave at least one scratch on the countertop!". Or are you perhaps an elegant fashionista as fashion designer Elin Alemdar (whose Scandinavian cool villa kitchen with a silestone worktop can be found here)? Then maybe a stone composite is for you. For each personality there is a countertop.
Below we briefly summarize some different types, how to take care of them and their advantages and disadvantages.
One of our Swedish, incredibly beautiful limestones from Kinnekulle.
Stainless steel worktop
A timeless, durable, hygienic and easy-care material. On a stainless steel surface, you can set basically anything without having to worry. A plate directly from the oven, wet dishes or why not a pile of soil when replanting the potted plants. You take care of it with a damp cloth but can access extra sticky stains with a scotch bright or dish brush. If you follow with a microfiber cloth, you make sure to get a shiny result. Prices vary quite a lot depending on whether you have a standard bench or a more designed bench. The advantage is that it is virtually maintenance-free and the disadvantage is that there can be ugly traces of the cloth sometimes if you do not wipe with a dry wash towel after and that the expression of the stainless steel surface may not match all types of kitchen design. In addition, you often get them in standard sizes and you can not splice them together. Suitable for the hobby chef who wants to be able to use the kitchen without having to worry about maintenance.
A handmade stainless steel worktop from Decosteel.
A beautiful and maintenance-free stainless steel worktop.
wood
A wooden countertop is perfect for a shaker kitchen or a kitchen with wooden doors. It is a beautiful natural material that gives a warm impression. Wood is also a sustainable material from an environmental point of view and if you take care of it, you will be able to enjoy it for a long time.
You wipe your wooden board with a slightly damp cloth and preferably oil it with linseed oil once a year (can be done several times). The oil penetrates deep and refreshes the wood and makes it stronger. When you are going to oil the board, you can take the opportunity to sand down any scratches or burns that cannot be washed off with sandpaper. Hard wax oil is also a good treatment for wooden worktops.
Price depends on which type of wood you choose, but in general a wooden worktop is an affordable investment. The disadvantage of wood is that you can not put hot pots and plates on it, instead you should always use coasters. Also make sure to wipe the surface as soon as it gets wet as the wood swells with moisture. Wooden countertops are ideal for you who are looking for a classic, warm and cozy kitchen.
A solid oak countertop, stained to match the house's original details.
Solid oak worktop for Alvhem's showroom in Gothenburg.
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is a mixture of stone pieces of varying sizes and cement. The result is a durable material that is reminiscent of natural stone but which is available in more dimensions and in basically any color combination. By combining different types of stone (sometimes also glass and mirror pieces) in different sizes, color pigments and cement, you can achieve many different expressions.
Terrazzon is durable and easy to maintain. Its main advantage is its strong expression, the wide variety of designs and its durability. Because it contains natural stone, you can take care of it in the same way as for example limestone or marble. Wipe everyday with a cloth dampened with water or if necessary with uncoloured soap. The price can vary but is usually below a natural stone. Terrazzo is suitable for you who want a personal and creative expression in the kitchen or those who want a natural stone-like worktop.
A warm worktop in Terrazzo, a beautiful environmentally friendly natural material with a long life.
Lovely multi colored Terrazzo in earthy colors.
Quartz composite
Quartz composite is a stone material that consists of quartz, one of nature's hardest minerals, color pigments and binders. The mix is pressed and cast into a disc that has an elegant appearance that in many cases resembles natural stone but with a slightly calmer and smoother expression. The quartz composite is very resistant to stains and scratches. Its surface makes it easier to keep clean and more hygienic than natural stone.
You take care of it by wiping it with a cloth and using a cleaning agent if necessary. Even though the composite can withstand heat, it can get a so-called thermal shock in the event of a sharp temperature difference, so do not place hot pots on the surface.
Price of quartz composite is often in the slightly higher price range. The boards are available in larger sizes than natural stone, so it suits you who do not want a joint and have a medium-sized kitchen. It is also a good choice for those who want a maintenance-free kitchen.
A thin Silestone at Cooee Design's founder Cathrine. Maintenance-free and elegant.
At Food Pharmacy In Stockholm, an elegant Dekton worktop was installed, a very stylish and functional choice.
Natural stone
Natural stone is available in an incredible number of different colors and with very different patterns. Some people worry about stains on marble and limestone, but by immediately wiping the bench with uncoloured soap, you impregnate the stone and give it a natural protection and a beautiful surface.
Read more about how to avoid stains and take care of your natural stone here. Daily maintenance is done with a damp cloth and as with most other materials, you should always use a cutting board. The price is often in the upper price range, but it is a natural material that has been created over thousands of years. Suitable for those who want a natural, elegant and timeless kitchen.
A beautiful limestone with a backsplash in the same stone, for an apartment on Östermalm in Stockholm.
A classic matt polished white Carrara marble, timeless and beautiful.
A thin Portuguese limestone was chosen for this shaker kitchen.
Jura limestone, warm and stylish worktop for the wooden kitchen in Stockholm.
Marble is available in many different expressions and price ranges, here a slightly more exclusive stone for the villa in Örgryte outside Gothenburg.
Limestone from Kinnekulle, directly from nature, to an apartment in central Gothenburg.
On Pinterest, we have collected the most beautiful worktops, here you will also find the best inspiration for your kitchen, interior design, appliances and the most beautiful kitchen choices!
On our Instagram @nordiskakok you will find our latest kitchen inspiration. Link here
