Stainless steel worktops

[Fragola76]

Hello, first post but i have been spending A LOT (some would say too much) of time on mumsnet since buying last summer so thanks for all the information.

We are looking at doing up our kitchen and i think I'm nearly there on the planning apart from choosing the worktop.

I have come to the conclusion that stainless steel is what i want, it's hard wearing and no hassle but my husband isn't crazy about the look of it.

There aren't that many pictures or forum posts about stainless steel worktops so i'm guessing they are not people's favourite? Could you give me your thoughts on them, whether you have one or not? And also what do you think of mixing two types of worktops? (for example stainless steel around the sink but wood in the rest of the kitchen).

Oh well that was a bit long winded for quite a straight forward question. Thanks in advance.
F

[EmGee]

I'm in the final stages of planning a new kitchen. Saw a stainless steel worktop in the showroom and it looked rather scratched. And felt a bit cold to touch. That said, they are used in restaurants aren't they? I think they are supposed to be very hygienic.

We had the option of mixing worktops (wood and granite) but it was going to be quite costly, and DH and I couldn't agree on which colour granite to go for, so we have gone for (engineered) wood in the end. I think the combination of worktops would've looked good (we were going to have granite around the sink and the hob area).

Have you seen anything you like on the Houzz website? Lots of pictures and gorgeous looking kitchens on there!

[AgnesGrey]

I have them in my kitchen and had one in the kitchen before . Absolutely love them.
Previously I had the highly polished one - looks great but it does scratch. This is meant to be "patina" according to the kitchen man, but if that's going to annoy you don't do it. I had that on the island and corian on the stretch by the sink. This time I have gone for brushed SS but not brushed in straight lines , more in circles. It isn't as shiny and appears a bit darker but it doesn't seem to scratch in the same way. Kitchen is smaller so I have all SS and the sink is moulded seamless in to it iyswim.
I love it . You can put hot pans etc straight on it - easy to clean - I think mine looks really smart.
Can you tell I like stainless steel ?

[Apatite1]

I'm putting granite on the island and thinking of putting stainless steel on the work top behind with the double sinks. Glad to hear people like it!

[Fragola76]

Yes the fact that they are used in professional kitchens was something i quite liked the idea of, I nearly feel like it's purely utilitarian and there to be scratched :) . Off to have a look on Houzz...

Agnes-Can i ask where you bought your SS? Love the idea of the all in one worktop and sink. And the hot pans straight on the work tops. I'm sold!

I do like the idea of mixing work tops but i have to say i hadn't considered the fact that it might end up more expensive...

[MothershipG]

I have a cheap ss hob inset from Ikea the rest of my worktop is wood.

Love the SS, hate the wood!

About to redo the kitchen and if I could afford it I'd have SS for all surfaces but it is soooo expensive.

[Fragola76]

Hooo interesting, it is the exact combination i have in mind (exactly the same doors in the same colour). Nice!

Anything at all you don't like about SS? Do you think the doors would look good with a whole SS worktop? (I did get the impression that the wood would bring the kitchen alive. Wondering if the doors with the whole SS worktop might work out a bit dull)

Thanks for the pic!

[Devora]

Mothership, that looks lovely. Disappointing news that it's expensive - I hadn't thought it would be.

Wood looks lovely but I've seen so many going mouldy round the taps - I know that no-one in my family (except me) would ever wipe up spills...

[MrsJamin]

I've been thinking about the same combination. Planning a kitchen for a kitchen diner so it needs to look nice from the point of view of the dining room as well. I love Iroko wood but I am concerned I need somewhere else to dish out takeaway curry (with it's highly coloured oil!) and somewhere to place a very hot pan from the oven without worrying about making a mark. Trouble is it is very expensive, I've had a few quotes and they are around £1k including sink. If you can find somewhere cheaper I'd be very interested! Also it would be the middle section of a U kitchen so i don't know how it would look next to the wooden worktop? One alternative is a sink that is the full worktop depth so at least you don't have that annoying strip of worktop behind and in front of the worktop - I found Astracast Bistro.
I think with wood it seems to depend on getting the right wood (some are more resilient, harder, and water-resistant) and preparing it properly. Iroko is the hard dark wood that has been used for Science benches in schools for years - I think that's a good recommendation that it's a good idea for a kitchen! I don't think it's been used in kitchens that much until recently because now you can source FSC-approved wood sources.

[Lelivre]

Mrsjasmin I'm thinking about that sink I think it is very practical, my husband doesn't like stainless steel as a worktop but I do. In case it helps you I also found the rangemaster mezzo sink, which is much less.

Thanks mothership for the pictures. I will check out ikea. Where are your units and handles from please, they look so much like the ones I am going for.

[AgnesGrey]

Ours were done by the kitchen supplier daulbyandtickle.co.uk but you could give them a ring and ask where they get them from.

[MothershipG]

Agnes do you know how much your SS worktops cost? That website looks seriously expensive!

Frag I actually think it would look good all SS, but it is definitely most useful near the hob, oven and sink. Remember joins tend to be dirt traps. But if the SS has to be templated to fit around corners and sinks it gets even more expensive!

[melomal]

I worked in a professional kitchen for some time and in that arena of pace and function SS is ideal for its ease to clean and ability to place anything bar lava directly on to it.

In the home however worktops like wood and man-made stones (quartz, corian etc) are non-porous and act in the same way as SS in terms of anti-bacterial ability. But wood/stone come with the ability to choose varied colours and so on.

SS is great but it does end up costing a fair amount as the pieces add up, the machining process is time consuming. Personally I think the only reason you should consider SS first and foremost is for the aesthetics of it, the anti-bacterial side is great but I'm going to hazard a guess and say you won't be prepping and cooking for 12 hours of your day.

[AgnesGrey]

Mothership - have PMed you the cost

Fragola , found the quote - the tops are by ABK Innovent

[MothershipG]

Thanks Agnes

ABK website for drooling purposes

[MillyMollyMama]

Could not live with the scratches personally! What's wrong with granite and a bit of SS for a prep area?

[Fragola76]

Hi all

melomal - I wasn't really worried about the anti bacterial side of things and will not be prepping for 12 hours either! My motives are definitely shallower! I just love the look of stainless steel and i think it would look really cool and New Yorkey with lots of tiles! I do like to bake as well and SS would be good to roll dough for example. And dump hot stuff on it (carelessly).

My other problem is that i don't particularly like stone so that takes away a lot of options. Anyway all materials seem to have their drawbacks, from what i understand marble and granite scratch and need resealing regularly, Silestone isn't heat proof, Corian scratches, isn't heat proof and stains, wood scratches and rot, concrete cracks and is porous. You can't win, I tell you!

Thanks Agnes for the SS porn. Had the builders in today, seeing the quote SS is looking less and less likely by the minute. I wonder if, in case we can't stretch to it right now, we could get cheap worktops and replace them in a couple of years.

Mrs Jamin was having the same set up-kitchen diner and U kitchen with middle section SS. I think it would look good!