So what does one recommend these days for worktops/upstands/splashbacks. If tiles are Not Your Thing

[Piffle]

hate cleaning tiles
New kitchen gloss white nice wood floor with dark and light grain (karndean tigerwood) large kitchen. New house so modern kitchen suits best
We like Maia but not the cost as have seen top laminate for fraction of price. Budget is flexible but not to granite
Was thinking of grey deep speckled laminate worktop plus upstands and maybe splashbacks (all laminate) behind sink and hob and that's all? Then decent colour on walls in washable kitchen paint!
Also tempted by the glass coloured splashbacks. But I famously have style bypass gene for interior design
I've vetoed wood as am slattern
Help!

[bristols]

Piffle, you must have read my mind as I just came here to post exactly the same thing. Was thinking of just having a splash back behind the sink. The cooker will have the stainless steel splashback which matches the hood and cooker.

Some body help us. Please!!

[brimfull]

We have 4" granite upstand and stainless steel behind the cooker-that's it,so I don't see what's wrong with your idea-sounds good

I do like the coloured glass look ,would like to change the stainelss steel to glass

[TracyK]

We got coloured glass -well cream - not a bright colour - was too chicken!
Really nice - easy to clean etc etc.
I was tempted by maia - but everyone I talked to about it said - NIGHTMARE to install!
Ended up getting a marble effect laminate - creamy/coffee coloured. Can get from B&Q and also someone else (can't remeber offhand). V. nice and cannot see any dirt/dust/fingerprints. I think it's clean until I run my hand over it and feel the crumbs!

[brimfull]

what is maia?

[MatNanPlus]

We have granite composite that you fit yourself, moderate DIY skills needed and it is great.

There are some lovely steel/chrome ones around.

[bristols]

Do you mind if I ask for a bit of advice on the flooring too? We're thinking of having Karndean too but can't decide what colour. Having a cream gloss kitchen with a dark wooden worktop. Should I have a dark floor too? Is a big room (about 40 m2) with a 3.2m patio door at one end. Sorry for hijack, Piffle.

[Pannacotta]

How about Corian which can be moulded into an upstand as well as a worktop?
Quartzstone is smart too as a worktop but not sure about it used as an upstand.
Bristols if the room is light enough a dark floor to match the worktop would look good IMO, as long as it wont be too stark a contrast with the units which is hard to tell without seeing a pic.

[TracyK]

I like dark flooring - but you can see all the dust when the light comes in! I have dark floor in my lounge and I had to brush twice a day. How high is your ceiling?

[Kewcumber]

just paint it with kitchen paint or give it a layer of matt varnish don;t need tiles if you don;t like them. Just don;t splash too much

[Piffle]

oh toughy
I'd go light tbh perhaps one of the fancy tiles. Although if you can match the wood shade you would get away with wood as room is big.
Bonus the wood is housework shirkers dream!!!!!
Am so tempted by the glass nice to know I'm not off my trolley
John lewis are doing our kitchen but not installing our joiner is.
Feeling like a yellow or aqua splashback
Oh bigger too much fecking choice!

[Kewcumber]

glass will be permanently covered in watermarks, and splashes...

[Piffle]

Corian is pricey no?
I've already smashed our budget
I saw Fab tiles mosaic type in fired earth thought issue solved.
£300psqm ffs
Dp is not impressed

[cazzybabs]

we have a glass splashback over the hob - it is fab....looks fine, been in a couple of months and haven't cleaned it (slattern). WE asls have granite upstands everywhere else.

[Piffle]

no worse than gloss tiles though kew
I wipe them 2-3x day already and behind the huge gas range cooker they are evil.
Glass would be ok with a swish of my e cloth I reckon

[Piffle]

where to source the glass then?
John lewis do it but imagine it's silly price

[Pannacotta]

Piffle have you looked for other glass mosaics, there are much cheaper suppliers than F Earth if you like that look.
WOuldnt get glass from Jonnie Loulou, look elsewhere, check out the back of Livingetc magazine or here
www.thehousedirectory.com/

[Piffle]

wasn't glass from fired earth as it happens

[TracyK]

You could go for clear glass and paint your wall beind it. Then you could change colour every couple of years.
No water marks here - e cloth swipe is fine - every couple of days!
Make sure you get the more expensive glass - the cheaper option has a greeny tinge to it.

[Pannacotta]

Would suggest something you will be able to live with for a while, so nothing too way out.
But of course thats my advice, you might love looking at very bright glass every day, but I do think it might date your kitchen sooner than you would want, if that makes sense.

[jojosmaman]

I have light khaki coloured matt tiles and stainless steel splashback against solid oak worktop (bit of a PITA as you have to oil to keep looking new but having said that it makes a great chopping board!).

Saw in a magazine which looked fab, clear perspex splashback but underneath was a strip of wallpaper- great for simple kitchens to jazz it up and then when you get bored of the paper you just remove the plastic change the paper and then stick it back on.

[Piffle]

Tis figuring out goddamn worktop colour versus glass versus upstands
Aaarghhh

[MrsBadger]

ooh how coincidental

we have new kitchen too - cream gloss, oaky floor, 60s boxy modern house

we have the matt black Maia (got a good deal) and are still dithering re splashbacks

[Kewcumber]

talk to local glaziers, they are much cheper and will predrill appropriate holes for you. Don't sandblast the back as it sucks water like capillary action if you do.

[Piffle]

oh kew you are font of all knowledge a la cucina!

good tips too

Mrsbadger oooh spookily same is the black ok? I thought it might be too strak maybe? what colour you picking for walls?

[TracyK]

We got ours from glaziers - 1m x 1m behind the cooker and 2 lots of 40 cm high x 2m long behind the sink and over the windowledge for about £450.