Another vote for Dekton and Sileston Quartz worktops, use them all the time in our projects as so much more forgiving and low maintenance than granite or marble. Agree that Corian is a good option if you have a large island to prevent visible joins, whilst it has other benefits you do need to be very careful when it comes to heat. Vast range of colours and textures in all types nowadays so the type of material shouldn't limit the effect you want to achieve - be that traditional or contemporary. I am always a big advocate that a worktop is an investment, there is no point spending a large sum on a beautiful quality kitchen and then finishing it off with a worktop that won't stand up to time as well as the rest of the room or cheapen the look - I always recommend to go for the best you can afford.

Hi Bry R! Choosing a kitchen worktop is a very personal choice where a couple of factors come into play. You will need to consider and prioritise: budget, look/feel, durability, usage/sensitivity. Leaving budget out for a second we reviewed your 3 materials Quartz, laminate and concrete for you: Quartz - Beautiful stone that can be used anywhere, even near the hob and sink. On the durability side, it is a very tough stone ( especially in composite form) that is more durable than many other natural stones. Also potential scratches can be sanded out if needed! Very easy to maintain. Concrete - It looks amazing. But in our opinion, a kitchen is more practical than just an aesthetic feature… but this is very personal! Concrete is more sensitive to staining of food and water. So either you need to use a food-grade sealer, get out the chopping board, or order takeaway! Concrete can also be sensitive to scratching. Last but not least given that it is heavy, you might need to rethink about your cabinetry for reinforcement. Laminate - Very flexible and can be used for all surfaces. Can also mimic any natural materials you like ( even concrete!). It is very sensitive to heat and you cannot test your vegetable cutting on it! But apart from that it is pretty resistant to stains and chemicals. Its cost even allows you to change the look of your kitchen with just changing the worktop in couple of years time, without breaking the bank. If your budget stretches it, we would advise the quartz unless you love the look of concrete and you don’t mind giving a bit more care and love to this stunning beauty in your home! If you want more tips and tricks for Home Improvements, check out our blog blog.opun.co.uk Kind regards, Opun

Putting white or light grey on a kitchen floor is asking for martyrdom - fine if you're what Freud called a housewife psychotic; but if mopping your floor three times a day isn't your thing, go for a darker floor and get your reflected light from the vertical surfaces of the island. I would also be wary of white next to cream - call me old-fashioned, but it's one of the few combinations that simply jars. Have you considered having a bold and bright colour for the island as a counterpoint to all that tastefully restrained grey, black and cream?

Well my kitchen designer had done ours in the 20mm with an overhang for seating. We are making it 30mm now but only to take the depth of an induction hob - otherwise 20mm would be fine. However, our island does have the side panels extending out to take some weight so it depends on your design?