Quick kitchen questions, if I may?

[Equimum]

We're getting towards the final stages if designing our new kitchen. We've chosen painted wood, shaker style units and (after much deliberation), European walnut surfaces with up stands. We are still undecided on a couple of things, however:-

1. we ain't make up our minds about the sink. We were initially keen on a butler sink, but now feel it will be too heavy for our kitchen. I would also like a double sink. We are now torn between stainless steel and ceramic. Although the ceramic is very nice, the bright white feels a but 'bold' against the off white units. I am also worries that our heavy, cast iron pans might chip it. Does anyone have ceramic sinks and are there any benefits/ disadvantages over stainless steel that we should consider?
   
   
2. are wall tiles essential in a kitchen? I did have my heart set on underground tiles, but DH think we should just paint the area between the up stands and the top cupboards. If we use good quality kitchen paint, is it really possible to keep it clean?
   
   
3. we really want a tiled floor, but I think ceramic tiles will be too slippery. We have young children and the bathroom equivalent are a nightmare. So, does anyone have quarry-type tiles, and if so, are there any particular things we need to be aware of?
   
   TIA for any replies.

[TheReturnoftheSmartArse]

Your kitchen sounds gorgeous.

I've got a ceramic sink in the utility room and because it's bigger than the kitchen sink I often use it for soaking/washing the biggest of my cast iron casserole dishes, and I've never worried that it might chip. It seems able to take quite a beating.

I know what you mean about the bright white against cream units, though - that would bother me too, though I don't really know why!

I have a ceramic tiled floor, 3 kids, a dog ... No one has ever slipped on it and I can't imagine they would unless it was swimming in water, to be honest. I used to have quarry tiles and they were a pain in the neck to keep clean - the dirt seemed to collect in all the little grooves and drove me insane.

I don't have wall tiles. We just have F&B paint, normal stuff, between the upstand and the cupboards, and everything seems to wipe off really easily, even week-old cake mix!

[nikki1978]

We are getting a stainless steel butler sink like this. Could be an option for you? I'm pretty sure you can get a 1.5 bowl butler sink.

[Sleepybeanbump]

I think it depends what kind of look you are going for. I love cream shaker units plus white ceramic sink- I think it looks light and fresh and pretty but my 'look' is English cottage. If you're going walnut I'm thinking you veer towards a tad more sleek and contemporary? In which case maybe stainless steel.

IME the massive disadvantage of steel is the water marks and grime from daily usage. You have to wipe down excess water after every use and scrub every day to look really nice. Especially in hard water.

The massive disadvantage of ceramic is that you drop a mug in it and it is more likely to chip/break. If you use a washing up bowl, this is much less of an issue tho, and even if you don't you can get plastic mats that sit on the bottom of the sink.

[Belleview]

I have a ceramic butler sink and it is tough! Never ever chipped, despite years of hard service. I love it because it never looks streaky. I use flash spray bleach to clean it.

[Sleepybeanbump]

Forgot to add re tiles:

I find wall tiles an essential. The amount of much I find on mine has always made me certain that I wouldn't want to have just paint. That said, I have kitchen paint this time and you can really scrub it clean.

A lot of ceramic floor tiles have special non-slip surfaces don't they? If not karndean and similar do tile effect finishes. I saw a limestone effect one the other day that was gorgeous.

[CityDweller]

The issue I have had with ceramic sinks is breaking things in it (rather than chipping the sink). We had one years ago, and either DH or I broke a bowl/ plate/ glass/ etc at least once a week by it slipping out of our hands when we were washing up (and that was even using a washing up bowl!). Really annoying. It's for that reason that I got an inset 1.5 stainless steel sink in the last kitchen I did up. Really like not being able to see any of the sink - I think inset looks nice and sleek.

We also had no splash backs at all in one kitchen. The only bit of wall that got really grubby was around the hob, and the paint did get a bit wrecked. If you don't want tiles, you could go for a clear splash back around the hob/ sink/ food prep areas?

[Sleepybeanbump]

Forgot to add re tiles:

I find wall tiles an essential. The amount of much I find on mine has always made me certain that I wouldn't want to have just paint. That said, I have kitchen paint this time and you can really scrub it clean.

A lot of ceramic floor tiles have special non-slip surfaces don't they? If not karndean and similar do tile effect finishes. I saw a limestone effect one the other day that was gorgeous.