Thank you so much, all of you, for your very helpful advice. It's official - I'm going for wood! As well as all your comments, after I got home tonight I (sunflower) oiled all my wooden table and it looked fantastic, so warm & rich in colour. It was the first thing the hubby noticed when he walked through the door so that tells you something! And I thought that if I can just remember to do this every 6 monthly with the worktops then it really will look fabulous. And that's very interesting about what's happened to your laminate edges Chalkandbell, oh and the tip about wiping the edges dry after use. This advice is exactly what I was after - the kitchen companies will always say it's minimal upkeep but I really needed to hear from those who actually work with it every day. Thank you all. Love Jo x

I put a wooden worktop in my first house kitchen and it looked and felt amazing, I have to say it really made my kitchen. It cost quite a bit more but the end result was perfect. However, I have to say the looking after it part was really hard. It needed three coats of a wood stain before use and then a top up every six months. I had a very active lifestyle at the time so it just kept getting left and eventually you could see it wearing out. It wouldn't put me off doing it again but I now rent that house out and I've had to spend a small fortune maintaining the worktop as tenants don't look after it. Needless to say if you are DIY conscious and you know you can look after it, go for it!!!

I love wood counter top's even though they are more work than laminate. There are a number of things you can do to help make life easier in the long run though: The blackening around the sink is a common issue but can be resolved by getting a deep under-mounted sink which means water won't sit and pool for long periods of time. http://homefixated.flashpointstudio.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/3043998820-L.jpg http://www.iichekanpur.org/charming-butcher-block-countertops-for-kitchen-furniture-inspiration/wood-butcher-block-countertops-with-white-sink-and-cabinet-for-kitchen-decor-ideas-2/ Use mineral oil every day for 2-3 days when the worktops are new until the wood stops absorbing it. The use a natural mix of organic beeswax and mineral oil - reapplying every couple of months. This will form a food save protective layer that will keep them looking good. You'll see if you put a drop of water on the top it'll simply bead rather than soaking in. If its starts soaking in you'll know its time to reapply the wax (this also gives it a lovely soft sheen and honey smell). http://www.woodworkersguide.com/2010/01/30/a-beautiful-beeswax-finish-for-cheap/ Also keeping a couple of glass or marble surface savers out (mine are either side of the stove) so you have a natural landing pad for hot pans etc all help to keep the surface looking great. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Completely-Clear-Float-Glass-Worktop/dp/B007UI3110/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1445726256&sr=8-3&keywords=glass+surface+saver http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Large-Heavy-White-Kitchen-Marble-Worktop-Saver-Dicing-Cutting-Chopping-Board-/261839901221

Thank you all for the feedback. Jonathandb1972 you correct in that the flooring stops at the sofas, however we have all agreed that the chairs are not practical to retain so we will look to redo the flooring in that area. Thank you for pointing that out though, it was something that we only recently realised ourselves during a boat survey. Suki Shocker the vinyl is a great option, we have looked into that but are worried about the glue substance that is needed, as we fear it may be harder to remove than paint. We are looking at water based paints that may be easier to sand down and revarnish the underlying wood if eventually needed. But the painting is really something that we now will consider more carefully, especially as everyone on here has advised not to paint at all! Our only fear is that accessories will not be enough to brighten the interior. The photos were taken on a very sunny day with the maximum amount of light coming in through the portholes. Installing roof lights is also an option that we are considering. Thank you to all!