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Original poster

I need your help, worktops, tiles & splash backs?

32 replies

TheSleepFairy · 03/03/2011 20:38

I need to order this week but still can't find anything near to my budget that I like.

I want high shine black worktops but can't afford granite Sad

I like the thought of a "skirting board" tiles with a splash back & then paint the rest of the kitchen York white.

I'm keeping my light beechwood units & dark quary stone floor & all the appliances are black.

Do I go for a black sink or stainless steel?

I need help & lot's of cheap links please.

OP posts:
wfrances · 04/03/2011 19:11

ive just had duropol black brazil gloss worktops installed,nearest look to granite i could find,im still looking for tiles.

Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 19:56

Thank you wfrances are you tiling to a certain height or looking for a high back?

I want a high back & I'm still looking for a nice splashback.

OP posts:
wfrances · 04/03/2011 20:00

just up to the sockets but higher across range cooker,we have a long galley kitchen so no wall units.

maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 20:35

We're having to make the same choices at the moment. I'm having a black glass splashback behind the hob - going up to the wall units. I think stainless steel sinks look better than the black ones unless the black sink matches the black worktop exactly. SS is cheaper too and won't date. Granite is too expensive for us too, so still looking for an alternative. Apparently black corian is a no-no.

Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 20:57

Why is the black corian a no-no mary?
I've been told that the high gloss dates quicker but, well, I still want it!!

We are going for a ss sink as the black ones are all in a mat finish.

Our oven, hop & fan are all black so the sink will break it up I hope.

Really liked the duropal black brazil worktops & very reasonably priced.

It all adds up to loads of money so quickly!!

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maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 21:21

Black corian marks easily, you have to sign a disclaimer before you have it fitted. I looked on the corian website and even there it was discouraged for a kitchen worktop. I wanted black corian on my worktops to 'sweep' seamlessly up the wall. But the joins aren't that seamless, it's included in the disclaimer. That's why I opted for black glass - cheaper and looks rather fabulous, better even, than whatever worktop we chose. Thinking about it, we might be able to afford granite after all!

maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 21:24

Also, you can have corian sanded/repaired but it costs. Didn't ask how much, was put off already

Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 21:30

Ohh do you have a link for your black glass, we were looking at maldon glass last night & I loved it.

Thanks for the info on corian.

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maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 21:36

Sorry no. We're using a local company who happen to offer the option, it's in a couple of their show kitchens. But I'm sure if you went to a glaziers they could supply/point you in the right direction.

Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 21:38

Just googled duropal black brazil worktops & clicked images & found a pic with the exact plan of our kitchen with our units & floor.
Appliances in all the same places but we don't have those small units & shelves, we have 2 floor ceiling units next to the hob instead.

black brazil worktops

So i'm thinking black worktop, black splashback & black highboard?

OP posts:
Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 21:40

we don't have the small shelves above the oven we have units.

OP posts:
maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 21:41

What's a highboard Fairy? And there I was thinking I am an expert!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 21:47

I knew I was trying to be to clever.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.countrycarpentryhereford.co.uk/images/kitchen4-1-544.jpg&imgrefurl=www.countrycarpentryhereford.co.uk/kitchen4.html&usg=__Lb89K9t8Xi8yzgSbCKZo2Kb0deA=&h=364&w=544&sz=59&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=khw8xNHXkNDu3M:&tbnh=120&tbnw=162&ei=XF1xTaC1MoO3hQepm8ky&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkitchens%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-GB:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADRA_en%26biw%3D1419%26bih%3D700%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=458&vpy=405&dur=125&hovh=184&hovw=275&tx=102&ty=160&oei=XF1xTaC1MoO3hQepm8ky&page=1&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:23,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.countrycarpentryhereford.co.uk/images/kitchen4-1-544.jpg&imgrefurl=www.countrycarpentryhereford.co.uk/kitchen4.html&usg=__Lb89K9t8Xi8yzgSbCKZo2Kb0deA=&h=364&w=544&sz=59&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=khw8xNHXkNDu3M:&tbnh=120&tbnw=162&ei=XF1xTaC1MoO3hQepm8ky&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkitchens%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-GB:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADRA_en%26biw%3D1419%26bih%3D700%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=458&vpy=405&dur=125&hovh=184&hovw=275&tx=102&ty=160&oei=XF1xTaC1MoO3hQepm8ky&page=1&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:23,s:0

OP posts:
maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 21:54

Right. In that case I'm having the black splashback above the hob, and to the 2 'towers' that are going to be up to the oven and micorwave to the right and up to the fridge/freezer to the left. Sorry for the poor grammar. On the other side of the room yes highboards around a bit of worktop and over the sink. Think they are going to do over the window ledge aswell. I'm not having tiles because I hate cleaning grout. Your new kitchen is going to be lovely Smile

Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 22:01

Good point about the grout.

The high backs come in a long strip so that should stop to many joins.

It will llook lovely (yours also sounds lovely) once I get my bum in gear & start actually ordering the materials for them to use!!!

Just googling splash backs now.

OP posts:
maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 22:08

DH asked earlier if I'm sure about a glass splashback, will I be able to keep it shiny? Of course I said, I have my fab vileda blue window cloth - 2 in fact - one for upstairs and one for down. I said I was more concerned about his habit of flinging his teabags into the special pot for teabags. The current grout is tea coloured. And as I'm having a new kitchen they can stay that way!

Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 22:14

But if you get highboards (maybe they are called highsides) there will be no grout because they are stuck straight onto plaster with kitchen paint above that.

I have a vileda blue as well Grin so no probs with keeping everything shiney.

I gave into netmum pressure & bought a steam mop which has given my stone floor a new lease of life!!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 22:17

Something like this?

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.kitchen-surplus.co.uk/media/gbu0/prodxl/GLASS_BLACK2.jpg&imgrefurl=www.kitchen-surplus.co.uk/glass_splashbacks/black_glass_splashback_750_600.html&usg=__k4hoMU-PjkvhcaWZdfDhu1xBtpg=&h=500&w=850&sz=51&hl=en&start=21&zoom=0&tbnid=iy0Q7rZHj7ejMM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=145&ei=pending&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dblack%2Bglass%2Bspashback%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-GB:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADRA_en%26biw%3D1419%26bih%3D700%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C876&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=892&vpy=276&dur=280&hovh=85&hovw=145&tx=91&ty=34&oei=X2RxTbzwBIqIhQfJpc1B&page=2&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:29,s:21&biw=1419&bih=700" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.kitchen-surplus.co.uk/media/gbu0/prodxl/GLASS_BLACK2.jpg&imgrefurl=www.kitchen-surplus.co.uk/glass_splashbacks/black_glass_splashback_750_600.html&usg=__k4hoMU-PjkvhcaWZdfDhu1xBtpg=&h=500&w=850&sz=51&hl=en&start=21&zoom=0&tbnid=iy0Q7rZHj7ejMM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=145&ei=pending&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dblack%2Bglass%2Bspashback%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-GB:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADRA_en%26biw%3D1419%26bih%3D700%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C876&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=892&vpy=276&dur=280&hovh=85&hovw=145&tx=91&ty=34&oei=X2RxTbzwBIqIhQfJpc1B&page=2&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:29,s:21&biw=1419&bih=700

OP posts:
maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 22:19

Exactly! I'm having all tiles and grout removed. And paint that can be wiped down. I'm tempted to buy a steam mop, we have a Lakeland just up the road. I have 2 vileda ones and they are rubbish. Are steam mops really that good?

maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 22:22

Yes but black all over where our tiles are now. Cream gloss drawers and cupboard doors. Love gloss!

Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 22:27

It's brilliant. I have stone in the kitchen, lime stone in the cloakroom, tiled floor in the bathroom & laminate in the hall & dining room & it's so easy to whizz it over all the floors in 30 minutes - first few pads were really disgusting embarrassing Blush

You can use it on carpets aswell.

I want to get a hand held one for the bathroom tiles, glass doors, windows & mirrors.

I have the light weight one & bought extra pads.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheSleepFairy · 04/03/2011 22:27

Sounds lovely, our budget doesn't stretch to new units Sad

OP posts:
maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 22:33

Then I will buy one tomorrow, if only to use in our wetroom. We went for very small pale grey tiles for the floor and I currently have to get down on my hands and knees with a bottle of flash and a toothbrush! The laminate in the hall is a bugger to keep clean aswell. Thanks for the recommendation

maryjane71 · 04/03/2011 22:36

Re: new everything. We bought the cheapest B&Q kitchen when we moved in. There was no kitchen, just an old gas oven and a formica topped table. So think I have earned it, have been saving up for 2 years!