A Kitchen For the Stone Age

In the ’70’s, Formica was all the rage – formica worktops, tables, you name it, it was probably covered in it. I can vividly remember an advert on the tv where a couple walk in and quiz a kitchen table salesman on his tables. The husband pulls out a home made lie detector and places it on the salesman’s head. You get the idea – the final question being did the table have a real formica top. The message – beware of imitations.

Wind forward to the ‘noughties’ and as far as kitchen worktops are concerned, Granite is making a bit of a comeback.

It’s very practical – easily wiped clean and if looked after will give years of service. No wonder it’s popular. Here we look at just some of the reasons why:

Durability.

Whilst any installer will always recommend using a chopping board to prepare food on, wiping up spills as soon as they occur, etc, with Granite worksurfaces, they are probably more resistant to scratches then any other worktop. Granite is the hardest of all building stone, its very close grain making it virtually impervious to stains.

If it’s polished, the liquid like gloss finish will never loose its shine. This makes it the perfect choice for fitted kitchens.

Manufacturers claim that if the granite hasn’t broken during transit and processing, then there are no flaws present and you shouldn’t experience any cracking or chipping in the kitchen – unless you used a hammer of course, but we’ve a feeling that might take some effort in itself.

Generally very low maintenance, installers recommend not using oily cloths etc as the granite will absorb the oil, producing a dark stain. This stain should disappear over time as the oil is drawn into the granite further. If an accident does occur, there are recommended ‘drawing’ poultices you can use to draw out the stain.

Look.

Granite is one of the hardest materials on earth. Composed of quartz, feldspar and mica, its unique colours and patterns are created by other minerals present in the stone. It’s a surface that is resistant to scratches, stains and heat.

You’ll probably come across terms like Honed and Polished. These terms refer to the finish of the granite worktop. Honed refers to anything from a flat to a low sheen finish which gives the granite a softer look whereas polished refers to the glossy, highly reflective finish most associated with a sleek look.

As more and more homeowners turn to improving their property rather than move, there has been a re-surgance in fitted kitchens and kitchen makeovers. Granite has played a large part in many of these makeovers and new designs and most fitted kitchen companies will now have several granite worktop options you can choose from.

DIY Beware. If you’re thinking of fitting them yourself, beware! Granite is extremely hard to both cut and handle. Cutting out holes for appliances or sinks may require more than a diy jigsaw, not to mention making a neat job of the joins and edges. It’s these sorts of details that will increase the value of your property rather than detract from it.

There are now specialist lifting gear gadgets that installers can use to install heavy granite worktops and mid height appliances like ovens and extractor fans and hoods. Going out and attempting to hire the right equipment yourself could end up costing more than paying a company to install it for you. Installers will also use specialist sealants on joints and plan for the fewest joints in general.

You can get a free instant online quote for a fitted kitchen, and get in touch with great local kitchen fitters, through KitchenQuoter.co.uk

A Kitchen is For Life - Not Just For Christmas

Every time a celebrity chef clicks their fingers, a poor defenceless kitchen is cruelly left deserted and alone by its owner. Some go for months without cooking a proper meal. As a society, we should make it our responsibility to end this cruelty, and Christmas is the perfect time to raise awareness.

Get Cooking For Christmas

It may seem like talking about Christmas starts earlier every year, but November really is the best time to consider whether you want to have to roast your Christmas turkey in a kitchen that’s just not up to the task.

For many people, Christmas is all about the food – roasted (free-range, corn fed) turkey, mince pies, mulled wine, rum-soaked Christmas pudding en flambe. If cooking all of that is a prospect that fills you with dread, perhaps the problem is that your kitchen isn’t up to scratch. There’s nothing more off-putting than cooking in a cramped, badly organised and underachieving kitchen.

With KitchenQuoter.co.uk you can have an instant quote for a brand new fitted kitchen, for free.

Get cooking for life

This year’s trend has been about slowing down. Nobody wants fast food any more, we want properly cooked meals: a trend that’s been hugely encouraged by high profile celebrity chefs helping people back in to their kitchens. A pre-packaged microwaveable Christmas Dinner for Four just won’t cut the mustard this year. Not even an M&S pre-packaged microwaveable Christmas Dinner for Four.

More than ever, a kitchen is for living, not just for Christmas. Once you’ve felt the joy of cooking in a well-made kitchen, you’ll want to make a roast dinner every Sunday, a meal every evening, and cakes and pastries all through the week. Get a quote on a new fitted kitchen today and make this year a Christmas to remember – your sprouts will never have tasted so good!

Don’t let anything get in your way

When designing your perfect kitchen, try to think about what will compliment the shape of the room, where extra space can be found with corner cupboards and retractable storage. You probably want to be able to have more than one person in the kitchen at any one moment, so it's worth figuring out how to get as much floor space as you can, too. Top it all off with some top class utilities, and you'll be set up for years to come.

We have also helped many disabled people find quotes for kitchens designed specifically with accessibility in mind: thoughtfully designed features such as rise-and-fall surfaces and utilities can make a world of difference to wheelchair-bound homeowners. So, if you have a disability, don’t let it come between you and the pleasures of cooking your own food.

If your kitchen fills you with fear, when it should be filling you with food; if it gives you fresh problems when what you want is fresh produce; vote for change today with KitchenQuoter.co.uk, and get a free instant quote on a brand new kitchen.

Revamp your kitchen

Feature - Revamp your Kitchen

Today’s kitchens focus on sleek designs and stylish materials. ‘Slaving over a hot stove’ is a thing of the past with contemporary kitchens and in many homes they are now seen as the perfect place to entertain guests – especially with nifty features like wine coolers, flip down TVs and seating areas.

For an instant online fitted kitchen quote, visit: kitchenquoter.co.uk



Bursts of colour add a bold, contemporary statement without being overpowering or garish. Try bright splashbacks or work surface alongside neutral cupboards and flooring, to add a splash of your own personality.

Modern kitchens now focus on comfort and lifestyle as well as good old fashioned cooking. Using an island as a seating area means you won’t miss out on any of the conversation while you’re preparing dinner for family or friends and parents can also use it to spend more time with their children over breakfast or homework.

Not everything about a chic kitchen has to be black, white, silver and shiny! Don’t be afraid to incorporate a modern kitchen into your style of home – they can be perfectly mixed with natural wood floors and wicker furniture.

Bespoke kitchens not only make use of every little nook-and-cranny, but also keep the overall design as sleek as possible. Walls and ceilings flow into one another when kept the same colour and appliances, such as microwaves, add to the smooth finish if integrated into cupboard space.

Just because the credit crunch continues to dominate the headlines don’t let it stop you investing money into your home. A freshly revamped kitchen can make all the difference to the appeal of a property.

For an instant online fitted kitchen quote, visit: kitchenquoter.co.uk