Wooden worktops and ceramic sinks - help!

[batfuttocks]

We are about to move into a new house and will need to install a new kitchen almost immediately.

It's an old cottage and we are looking at a cream painted kitchen, shaker style units, with a solid timber worktop.

The worktop is oak and beautiful, but expensive. Is it madness to install this in a house with three young children and a feckless husband?! I've read that lots of maintenance is required (this doesn't faze me, if it works) but is it inevitable that we will get black marks if we have a butler or Belfast sink fitted?

If you oil it regularly, does it still mark if the kids place a glass with condensation on it on the top and I don't get there quick enough?

I lOVE the worktop, it's a 60mm deep one and so much nicer than the granite and stone alternatives, but don't want to be weeping in twelve months over the money I have wasted if we go for it.

[CinnamonAddict]

I would strongly recommend oiling them BEFORE installation. At least twice. Then after it's in once more. Both sides and round all the edges. I think that's worktopexpress' recommendation as well.
After oiling you see which side is "nicer", otherwise you might end up with imperfections in the wood which could have been hidden on the underside.

I have a glass worktop saver where I dump my cooking spoons on, the kettle area is fine without any savers.

[batfuttocks]

Thank you,all great advice. I'm just double checking quotes from various places, then I need to stick my many where my mouth is! Any views on wickes vs schreiber vs howdens for units (solid oak). Love the Tiverton bone from wickes but planning on comparing before ordering.

[Pannacotta]

Benchmarx (trade arm of Wickes) is cheaper than WIckes.
Howdens and Benchmarx are similar price wise (around here anyway, but it seems to vary).

[fossil971]

I would recommend Osmo/ hardwax oil as here. It's completely waterproof, no worries regarding cups, water etc. I have used it on a lot of wood surfaces in our house over the years.

We have used the thinned version on our teak worktops with no problems, although they are reclaimed and one length stubbornly soaks up the oil and won't hold the satin finish, I think the teak has too much oil of its own.

I have no idea why so many suppliers of oak worktops persist with Danish/tung oil - perhaps because they aren't the ones who have to keep wiping and re-oiling for ever.

[fossil971]

Oh btw the DOMSJO is a lovely sink but a bit of a pig to fit into non-ikea units which are a couple of cm different in size. We had to pack our units 2cm out from the wall and there's a gap between the bottom of the sink and the door under it still waiting after 18 months to have a strip of wood to cover it

[noddyholder]

You do need to maintain if you want them to look good.

[valiumredhead]

I use cold wax on my oak work tops which is better than oil.

[kitsmummy]

I agree that it's possible to keep them looking nice. Definitely oil beforehand but be careful which oil ou choose - Danish oil will give a shiny finish, whilst tung oil will give a much more satin finish which is what I wanted - much nicer than Danish/shiny IMO

[valiumredhead]

I've had mine for 6 years and have no problems. I would never have anything else.

[batfuttocks]

Just retreading the replies and the comment about the dromsjo sink.

Cinnamon, where is your sink from?

[CinnamonAddict]

Sink

That's the one but I didn't buy from this website, I can't remember. It was £200. Our carpenter made the kitchen, I bought everything else (worktops, sink. tap, oven, hob, extractor) online. The carpenter was same price as Ikea btw, but I painted the cupboards myself.
Just to give you even more ideas to confuse you

[fossil971]

Those big ceramic sinks are like a French design, I thought of getting one too after staying in a villa which had one. The campsite we were at last week had 6 of them in a row for washing up! They are great if you have the space.

[Beamur]

My Mum inherited wood worktops when she bought her house. She has done virtually no maintenance and they look fine, but the people who installed it put in a butler sink without a proper drainer which is a total PITA.

[batfuttocks]

Probably a bit short on space but beautiful sink.

Carpenter? At ikea prices?

[batfuttocks]

[CinnamonAddict]

Sorry
We were planning an Ikea kitchen all along but after we went there (several times) got fed up with their "filler spaces" meaning space we couldn't fill with cupboards because our measurements were not standard. I had certain things in mind - big cutlery drawer, small drawers for cooking spoons etc, open shelves, higher worktops, etc ...
Carpenter gave me a quote for the cupboards and doors, assembly, etc. and came to roughly same amount. I did paint it all (4 times, inside and out) along their assembly, which took me about 3 weeks. So to be fair, if you're not crazy enough you stay clear of this option. Not sure I would ever do it again.
Our kitchen is the standard 1930s kitchen - with the wall knocked out to the dining room, kitchen roughly goes 80cm into dining room. Not huge, but very functional and beautiful, I love it. Had the plans up while we were gutting the place and everyone (plumber, electrician, roofers ...) made alterations and suggestions on it - quite amusing. Like a giant brainstorming kitchen plan (while we had actually no kitchen at all for 3 months) And tbh some things I would never have thought of. After almost one year I would not change a thing in the design and layout. Certainly not my sink

[batfuttocks]

Ah, we'll we have a baby due in four weeks, so perhaps the painting (as well as the oiling!) would push me over the edge

Your kitchen sounds beautiful. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the options! However need to crack on with some decision making as I'm not sure it will be much fun having a protracted period with no kitchen whilst busy with a newborn and two bigger children on summer holiday!

[CinnamonAddict]

Aaah, no, stay clear of my version

I would still go for what you love, pay someone to oil it twice before installation and then forget about it. We are a messy family and the wood can take it.
Good luck with your move, kitchen, birth...