Is a white/grey marble effect laminate a bad idea?

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Planning a new kitchen and don't have a huge budget. Looking at navy units with a white/grey marble effect laminate worktop. But we are very heavy handed in the kitchen with frequent spillages of stain inducing ingredients. Is a white work top a really bad idea?

I have pure white white Corinth and do find myself wiping mine down a lot (and they’ve taught me how filthy my old black worktops which were wiped infrequently by comparison must have really been!) but I like the look of white and as long as you’ve always a damp cloth on hand it isn’t too problematic.

If you’re really reluctant to wipe, have a look at a flecked effect laminate, conceals marks and crumbs a bit better.

Corina, not Corinth. Also worth considering. Not as pricey as acrylic or granite but more robust than laminate.

Corian!

Thanks @ComtesseDeSpair will look in to that!

Laminate is pretty bomb proof. Just no baking hot dishes. Don’t chop on it. Otherwise I think it sounds great. Marble itself is porous so best avoided.

My DD has a speckle composite work top. Not cheap but pretty robust. For a good run down of the types of work top and their properties, look at John Lewis built in kitchens. Their prices are high but they give good info.

We have white laminate worktops in the kitchen which were fitted three or four years ago. I have been very impressed with their stain resistance as to date nothing has made a lasting mark. There are a couple of scratches but these are only visible in certain lights and are only on the surface.

I've just been looking at these on DIY kitchens so great to know it's not unrealistic! Does anyone have photos of their white / light grey worktops?

As an aside, the pink stuff or barkeepers friend from home bargains gets out any and all stains from worktops without scratching. If I had a tub of this I'd be happy with any colour worktops 🙂

mine are the exact ones your talking about carrera marble effect laminate from DIY kitchen very impressed with mine i use glass protectors for the areas i would put hot stuff on and chopping boards for cutting thing 6 months on and all i do is spray and wipe mine every day and they still look like they did when they went in choose the square edged one the laminate is wrapped all round so no edges to part company with themselves

We have similar laminate. It's gloss so I do dry it after wiping, as I did when we had black gloss laminate previously (but my husband doesn't). It's fine, no issues and I think the grey makes it a bit more forgiving.

Worktops are a bit like cars - black is surprisingly good at showing the dirt and white is not as bad as you've think.

That looks fabulous!

This is part of our recently done navy kitchen with marble effect laminate top. No stains so far, not even anything close to what could be a stain aland we have a family of 5. We went for Matt finish so really hides the muck too. I think it's great!

@Android18 that looks fab and reassuring to hear 're the lack of stains! Can I ask where you got your kitchen and if you would recommend them? Thanks!

I think white/ grey marble is a dated look - 80s

@isseywith4vampirecats I really like that worktop and think it would be lovely with the navy too. How did you find DIY kitchens? I don't even know where to start with doing all the planning ourselves but they get great reviews. We've just had IKEA out to measure up and have a planning appt with them next week plus Howdens have been out so will see what they come up with.

DIY kitchens were great we are lucky enough to live near to the showroom, we got Wickes to do the plan for us got a qoute from them and it was £2000 more than DIY, so we took the plan to DIY and they gave us a qoute, then lockdown happened so order got delayed from our end , when lockdown ended my Other half went on their online planner and went back to the showroom with it, went through what we wanted and the lass in the shop tweeked it for us, went home ordered it online and someone went through our order to check we had everything in place , order came four weeks later and the units are brilliant well made sturdy and all the bits and bobs were there ready for our fitter , i was very happy with them

@theonlywayisup33

I think white/ grey marble is a dated look - 80s

I don't mind things being 80s particularly as I don't remember it. What other light-coloured options do you think are better? I'm always surprised how little colour choice there is for worktops compared to doors.

I think marble with dark blue cupboards is totally 2020. The poster who thought it’s not doesn’t look at kitchen magazines!

Some alternatives. There’s a concrete look and speckle or plain white of course. I think the marble is spot on.

@theonlywayisup33

I think white/ grey marble is a dated look - 80s

We've just bought a house that hasn't been touched since the 80s! Wish the kitchen was white and grey marble 😂

Harvey Jones have this combo. Darker marble.

A different material to consider, we have beach ply with a pattern Formica top. Pretty bomb proof really so far, not the cost of stone but it was more than laminate, it's super heavy. We like it.

I take the point that navy and marble are on trend at the mo and likely to date...but at the same time I like it regardless. My original plan was to go for white units and oak worktop which won't date but then I do like the navy and NOT going for it because it's on trend seems a bit daft.

Ooh I love the Formica top!