How much should worktops overlap base units in a contemporary kitchen?

[whiskyowl]

I'm noticing on Pinterest that large worktop overhangs seem to be reserved for more traditional kitchen, with contemporary ones having an overhang of just a few mm?

How many mm should I allow for a contemporary kitchen?

If you have no overhang it is harder to wipe up crumbs, etc as you can't get your hand under the edge of the worktop. You end up with bits all over the floor or down the unit fronts. A square edge or shallower depth of worktop can look more modern than alternatives.

wowfudge - thanks for the advice, you are so well-informed!

I'm definitely getting a square edge.

The Ikea worktops can overhang as much as 15mm over the units. I'm thinking that's quite a lot, and wondering if I can get away with an overhang of about 4-5mm instead?

The reason this is such an issue is that the room has been designed so that the units butt right up to a tall window frame. I am now in the process of deciding where the floor of the kitchen should go, down to the mm. So I need to make a decision about how deep my worktops will be - will they slightly overlap the window frame, or sit right on the edge of it with a sliver of plaster showing before the units start? If I have only a small overhang, I think the whole thing may look a bit sleeker.

I have no wisdom to offer except that to note that whatever the overhang, the top drawer is always full of crumby shite.

I blame Brexit.

echt -

My new kitchen, being hypothetical, is wonderfully crumb free and designed so that there is a convenient and clear place for absolutely everything. I will also lose a stone the moment I enter it and become a svelte Scandinavian blonde.

Ahhh, we can but dream

My worktop overhang is in-line with the handles, which are from Ikea. So probably about 10mm, and I prepare food near the pull out bin, so sweep all crumbs off the worktop into the bin, most of the time!

I know the modern way is to have a small overhang, but I love a nice big 1.5cm overhang so you can easily wipe stuff off the counter, scrape veg peelings into the compost tub etc

I don't really have an overhang, I can't remember off the top of my head whether we went with 3mm but it was definitely as close as we could get with a quartz worktop (seem to recall there was a tolerance of 5mm on the measurements, so perhaps 2.5mm on each edge). I agree that it looks much more contemporary, even with my inframe painted kitchen. If you're going for a modern looking kitchen, don't have an overhang.

As for crumbs, really??? How messy are you all ?

Disappointingly little in my new kitchen, it makes crumb wiping unsatisfying. It wasn't intentional, the builder needed to pull the cabinets as far forward as possible to accommodate the plumbing for sink/ dishwasher/washing machine all close together.

Is that really 10mm meandyou - it looks smaller! Having it in line with the handles looks really smart.

I have a big overhang at the moment and I STILL manage to get crumbs everywhere!!

meandyou, what is your worktop made of? Is that an Ikea kitchen with ikea doors or custom doors?

Think I may have the size wrong, I’d have to measure and I’m at work now. It’s these handles from Ikea, that’s the only thing from there. Work tops are Formica and plywood, handmade in Scotland. Cupboards are basic matt white ones from a trade supplier. It’s supposed to look 1950s as that’s the age of the house.

It looks lovely meandyou! So neat!

Thanks whiskeyowl, it’s supposed to not look like a kitchen as far as that’s possible. Nothing on the worktops apart from the kettle and book rack. Easy to keep clean as well!

Yeah it looks really good, clean lines. I like it.

Thanks, it was designed by my DH, so I can’t take any of the credit.

I love your kitchen Meandyou. The ply edging on the wall unit and worktops is genious.

OP, I think you're right about not wanting the worktop to encroach into the window frame. It would bug me if it were mine, and then I wouldn't be able to see anything but that one, tiny detail IYSWIM.

I'm the same rubbish. My eye goes straight to those things, however small, and they bug me!

meandyou would be able to let me know who supplied the Formica on ply please?
How does it work with sink-is it ok to get edges wet? Also can you put hot pans on it?
Sorry for hi-jack of thread!

Hi cloughie, worktops are from a company called Birkwood cabinet makers, www.birkwoodscotland.com. The edges are sealed so water is fine around the sink area. I don’t put hot pans on it, I had some extra bits of ply and Formica made into smaller boards as worktop savers so put pans on them, which haven’t been damaged, so you can put hot pans on them, I just don’t risk it on my worktops.

Thanks for info!

"It was designed by my DH"

I would have loved this. Mine was unhelpful at best but then at the last minute vetoed the high gloss units I wanted....