Which worktop?

[justnodandsmile]

We are putting in a new kitchen into our house and i'm really struggling to decide on a worktop - I'd really appreciate any thoughts!
We live in the country and I'm aiming for the 'country kitchen' style although I really need something practical so I'm ruling out wooden surfaces. I'm considering granite/quartz/corian but really cannot decide on the colour. I love the sharpness of black, but I'm not sure it suits the style I'm aiming for.

To help you visualise I'm getting this kitchen:
neptune.com/Images/CategoryLanding/Kitchen/IMG_1073.jpg
and I think I like this style floor:
neptune.com/Images/CategoryLanding/Kitchen/IMG_1182lo.jpg

Any opinions?

Thanks

Both of those kitchens have got similar colour/style units and they both have black worktops. If you love black I don't see why it wouldn't go?

I personally think granite or quartz would suit better as corian is a bit too uniform in colour.

How about a lighter granite like below?

home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/materials/granite-countertops.htm

I think black granite is beautiful and very neutral. It won't detract from any 'style' of kitchen.

I think you might be right runtybunty - the more I look at corian the more I think it might be a bit too modern looking for me, it looks lovely in a swanky kitchen with shiny units but perhaps not in my kichen out in the sticks. I'm starting to agree with you also rhubarbgarden, the more I look at those pics the more I think the black does look nice. The only reason why I hesitate is because I have a friend with a very similar kitchen with black granite and her kitchen is stunning, but very modern looking. However perhaps its just the way it is 'dressed'. Or perhaps I need a soft black if that is possible, she has the absolute black colour. I'm also wondering about maybe a dark grey or something like the baltic brown colour...

How about a pale quartz or granite instead?
I do think balck cna look quite modern and doesnt sound like it is quite in keeping with the look you have in mind.
I have posted a link to this kitchen before but I do think it looks really good and very timeless.

www.higham.co.uk/sydenhamkitchen.htm

I have black surfaces and although I life them, they ALWAYS look dirty - they show up every tiny speck and I wipe them constantly. So, be warned! Similarly, slate floor is not the best idea!

Mmm pannacotta I think that's lovely!

This one, pannacotta's one or black - anymore opinions? I really need to make a decision!
www.kashmirwhitegranite.com/images/kashmir-white.jpg

neptune.com/Images/CategoryLanding/Kitchen/IMG_1073.jpg

We've just had a new kitchen and have gone with wood worktops, burnt ash to be precise. We had looked at corian in a dark colour, but the salesman said don't do it. Apparently it scratches like crazy, which isn't visible in the lighter colours, but really obvious in the blacks and browns.

Have to be honest, wood is your best bet if you are wanting a country kitchen look.
Am sure it's not that much work if you choose a solid, darker wood such as walnut.
www.plainenglishdesign.co.uk/spitalfields-2

Mine is a really dark worktop fitted on verr modern white gloss units, but looks really good.

It's also surprisingly easy to look after, I just give it a wipe over with danish oil once a fortnight as soon as the kids have gone to bed. By the time they get up it has soaked in and the worktop looks like new.

Oh that kitchen in the link is gorgeous! Just what I want, but I'm a really messy type of person, I'd worry I'd stain it with sweet and sour sauce the first time I had a take away or my DS will spill ribena on it. Pantaloons do you find your work top stains easily?

Argh Grockle just read your message! I though black granite was the ultimate in maintenance free, similarly the light slate floor??!! Someone please tell me what's best for a tired mummy with two mucky dogs who doesn't want to spend her life cleaning but wants a kitchen that looks like its just popped out of a Cath Kidston brochure?!

I have black granite and love it. The more speckly it is, the more it hides the smears!

But it is dead easy to look after - I wipe it down with a dishcloth then dry/buff quickly with a teatowel or eco-cloth to prevent streaks. It is bombproof, so I don't have to worry about scratches and stains.

I have a light slate floor in the utility room, and it is excellent at hiding mud.

I've just got a complete sample set of corian type worktop called HiMac (its the same stuff made by another company) at work and there are so many different colour blacks some uniform others more natural looking
I am completely in love with this material at the moment and wouldn't hesitate to go for it - I love how it feels and how much amazing stuff you can do with it (if you want to... I love their catalogue)
On the other hand I have a very similar kitchen to yours but in natural oak rather than White/cream & we have teamed it with a brown marble top - it doesn't require as much cleaning to look amazing as the black granite but is beautiful and warm.

I was looking at kitchens at the weekend and was rather taken with a matt 'leather' effect black granite.

I was also taken with a product called Earthstone avaliable from Wickes.

I thought I wanted plain black granite but now I'm not so sure.