When it comes to designing your new kitchen, there is a lot to think about. What style of cupboard will you opt for? Shaker, rustic, traditional, contemporary or country, for example? Then there’s the flooring, the taps, the lighting – and so it goes on. The same can be said of your kitchen worktops. It may seem superfluous to point out that there are a number of different types of wood and for the unwitting among us, you may discover that finding out about the various types before you hit the showroom could be a wise move. Read on to discover more about some of the main ones.
Oak worktop
The oak tree is renowned for its durability and its strength. As a tree, it has a symbolic presence that makes it a sought after material for wooden worktops. It is aesthetically pleasing and, when sourced from near the Black Sea, it grows 15% harder and denser, because the weather can have severe temperature differences in summer and winter. The wood undergoes thermal expansions that work it like a muscle and results in the more enduring wood. Because of this, it has durability that should last a lifetime and a warmth in its appearance that is iconic and easily identifiable. This makes it a perfect option for those looking for a worktop that will stand the test of time in the hub of the home.
Walnut worktop
A walnut worktop has a dark, rich colour with swirly patterns in it. This can add a feeling of uniqueness to any kitchen that draws the eye naturally to its intricate detail. As with other wood, often the appearance of worktops gets better with age. It contains natural antibacterial properties as long as the manufacturer has sealed it with a non-toxic mineral oil. It should complement any style of kitchen as it has a classic look, like other woods, and it can offer an eco-friendly option when reclaimed from a salvage yard.
Beech worktops
Often found in Europe on hillsides, Beech is another hard wearing wood, but it is light in colour with flecks of reddish brown running through it. It is fragrance free, making it ideal for food preparation. Like many woods, it fits in with a lot of kitchen styles and is highly adaptable to shaping and bending into beautiful worktops. Having a wooden worktop also adds a touch of class to your kitchen that is arguably superior to laminate worktops and offers a visually pleasing food preparation surface that you will enjoy working on so much that you won’t want to stop!
So, if you’re interested in checking out wood as a material for your worktops, check out the ones above as some of your top go-to materials. Other woods like cherry and ash are other alternatives with similar benefits, but the overall benefits of wood are the appearance, the quality, the cleanliness of it and the potential for sustainability. Move aside cold granite or marble, wood is coming through to create the golden glow every plush kitchen deserves at the heart of the home.
