So what does one recommend these days for worktops/upstands/splashbacks. If tiles are Not Your Thing

[Piffle]

hate cleaning tiles
New kitchen gloss white nice wood floor with dark and light grain (karndean tigerwood) large kitchen. New house so modern kitchen suits best
We like Maia but not the cost as have seen top laminate for fraction of price. Budget is flexible but not to granite
Was thinking of grey deep speckled laminate worktop plus upstands and maybe splashbacks (all laminate) behind sink and hob and that's all? Then decent colour on walls in washable kitchen paint!
Also tempted by the glass coloured splashbacks. But I famously have style bypass gene for interior design
I've vetoed wood as am slattern
Help!

is yours coloured tracey?

Yes - but just a cream colour.

We didn't tile ours when we had it done last year. Just put a stainless steel splashback behind the hob and painted the walls in a washable paint. Our sink is on a peninsula unit though hence no need to put anything behind it...

no to stainless steel am jettisoning a good chimney hood as it's a true bastard to clean.
Am getting smart john lewis fingerprint resistant stainless steel appliances (be assured of my slattern credentials)
Am settling on good duropal laminate with upstands and poss matching job splashback. Maybe glass but we shall see. Prob dark grainy gray worktop rather than black.
Now sinks....

just give it a wash with soapy water then a quick wipe with babyoil to get rid of finger prints.

exactly too much like hard work
It is you that has the steel plinths is itnot kew?
am in awe of your cleaning!

ah no piffle - mine are fake stainless steel as is my fridge. My stainless steel sucker upper thingie doesnt get cleaned I decided no-one noticed it...

Mine is sort of brushed steel - a cheapie from Ikea - and very easy to clean - only need doing if food has spattered on it. Quick spray and wipe with an ecloth usually does the trick...

also vetoed steel as kitchen will have plethora of it with appliances handles etc plus grey/flint worktops
Will think harder as now deeply desirous of the glass but scared of cost!
Think using laminate worktop upstands and then splashback in some funky glass.
Will ponder further as need to get a proper costing...
Really enjoying this thread btw thanks for all input!

Sorry I disappeared last night. Bed was calling me! I reckon I'm going to go without the tiles and see how I get on. Can always add them at a later date. I do like the idea of the perspex with the wallpaper, though. am definitely going to bear that in mind.

I'm so excited about getting this done, but all the decision making is driving me mad! It's so important to get it right, but I find it difficult to picture things.

Am going off the idea of a dark floor, particularly if it shows all the dust!! (I am a true slattern too!)

reckon I might wait too... No hurry for splashbacks!

You went with the Karndean then Piffle. Are you pleased with it?

We have black/grey speckled laminate worktop with brushed stainless steel upstands. Just a stainless steel splashback behind the hob and paint. Tis fine.

yes really rate the karndean. Minor scratches from the hooligans aka my three children but the minute you give it a quick mop it looks perfect again! Shows sod all dirt
Am v glad went for wood now!
How does the stainless steel join the worktop? Is it a good sealed joint (sceptical emoticon)

You mop?!

Hmm - have been to check out joint. It appears to have a very thin transulent joint; presumably some sort of sealant? No gap for crumbs anyway.

Okies I see.
Still think steel is out kitchen might look like an operating theatre I reckon. I've seen the cad drawings and they look pretty stark.
Worktops samples are being sent out so once I've sorted that I'll move onto splashbacks
Oh the joys

oh shit I am panicking now as desp wanted decent Belfast sink but kitchen folk mentioned might look pretentious in mod kitchen
What says you all on this?

Hmm, I'm not sure a Belfast sink would go in a modern kitchen either. Seems to 'cottage kitchen' to me. Sorry!

ok figure that I guess but what about country style kitchen in 5yr old house
White shaker doors/oak knobs and wood worktops
And the sink?
Surely that's ok our house is comfy lived in not ultra modern homage to trend.
Very ikea
Please say someone else has this

I guess you have to have a look at some housey magazines and see what 'type' of kitchen your gut goes for. or just go browse the mags in WH Smith.

Have a quick look at each type of kitchen and see what instantly appeals to you. Then work out the finer details.

I prefer stainless steel sinks to belfasts. But thats just my personal preference.

MFI do a really nice cream coloured kitchen - which has a great big wide larder unit - which I really wanted - but not in cream.

heart prefers country/classic wood worktop styling with shaker doors wooden knobs etc
But fear will look naff with stainless steel appliances. Which are unchangeable!
I have to compromise this is not our forever house.simple but quality contemporary wins by the head route.
Either will look great and to the job as the layout is the same either way.
Thanks for all input
Keep it coming I am a woman possessed trying to sort this out
I'll get the big pc on later and link to what I'm eying up
Cheers!!

mmm might look better with aga/belfast sink etc. I've not personally had a chance to browse the livingetc.co.uk (com?) website - but the magazine is fab - have a look online and see if they have pictures showing classic kitchens and see what appliances they put in them.
Have you got your s/steel appliances already?

yes cannot afford to change appliances. We are selling our gas range cooker as space dictates plus we rarely use it. Have splashed out on induction hob and built under dbl oven.
I'm going to stick to modern classic of white gloss wood floor grey/stone effect worktop.
And do the country style in my next house!!!!

We've got a fairly modern matt white kitchen with belfast sink, a terracotta tiled floor and oak worktops and (after much boring boring research and debate!) have gone for oak upstands with a frosted glass splashback behind the sink and oven. I wouldn't fork out too much if it's not your 'forvever home', and I'd keep it simple and contemporary - don't got all high-shine aluminium or for some sort of funky coloured glass look. Good luck! For those of us with the missing 'interior design gene' doing this sort of thing is like pulling bloody teeth!

got our duropal worktop samples and have chosen a dark flecked grey. Will use this for upstands too.
We are still tempted by glass as we are here for 3-5yrs at minimum. Can update minor fashion prior to sale.
Will muse over spashback over next few days!

Not had time to read all this, but can deffo recommend glass splashbacks. Ours are orange, we chose & supplied the paint and the glass company sprayed it. Or you can get coloured/sandblasted. Or paint the wall & use plain, though this doesn't look so good if the wall is less than 100% smooth and flat.

Advantages of glass are: not very expensive, v cheap to install, v easy to clean with E-cloth.

Our worktops are man-made quartz composite, cream with speckles/sparkly bits - very practical & easy to clean. About the same price as granite. We also have Corian which is beautiful, & the upstands are moulded in - but is v expensive.

Re wooden worktops - if you have them with an undermounted sink they need to be carefully looked after & oiled regularly, otherwise water gets in and they go horrid.