5 Worktops that Look Beautiful with a White Kitchen
Thought white kitchens were all the same? Think again – the worksurface you choose can make a big difference to its look
Lucy Searle
7 September 2018
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist, web and copywriter. I was Editor of the hugely successful www.channel4.com/4homes, taking it from a small site to a leading brand. I was also founding Editor of Channel 4’s 4Homes magazine, was Associate Editor at Ideal Home and have written for MSN, Huffington Post, Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors, Beautiful Kitchens, House Beautiful, Good Homes, and many women’s titles. I founded www.tailoredcontent.co.uk with a fellow journalist and together we blog, write web content and run social media accounts for (mostly) interiors companies. As a general rule, I write about everything from buying and selling property, self build, DIY, design and consumer issues to gardening but have tackled travel and family...
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist,... More
What’s not to love about white kitchens? They make a small space feel bigger; you can redecorate around them easily; and they’re popular with house buyers. But which worktop to match with yours? Choose carefully – with plain, pale cabinetry, your worksurface choice really does set the tone for the whole room.
More in this series: 5 Worktops That Look Beautiful with a Dark Blue Kitchen
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
More in this series: 5 Worktops That Look Beautiful with a Dark Blue Kitchen
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Bring in warmth with wood
Wood is a people-pleaser: it doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of contemporary or period style, it’ll fit into both settings. For a laid-back, modern, space-enhancing finish, choose a pale wood; darker tones suit more formal kitchens. Go for lots of grain, too, to add texture and interest to cabinetry with little detailing.
Choosing a worktop? Find out what you need to know
Wood is a people-pleaser: it doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of contemporary or period style, it’ll fit into both settings. For a laid-back, modern, space-enhancing finish, choose a pale wood; darker tones suit more formal kitchens. Go for lots of grain, too, to add texture and interest to cabinetry with little detailing.
Choosing a worktop? Find out what you need to know
Use concrete for an industrial vibe
If you’re a lover of retro style, concrete worktops are an easy win: pale, tough looking and chunky, they’ll make even the most inexpensive kitchen look upmarket. Concrete too pricey for your budget? You can buy convincing, less expensive composite lookalikes that require none of the maintenance of the real thing.
If you’re a lover of retro style, concrete worktops are an easy win: pale, tough looking and chunky, they’ll make even the most inexpensive kitchen look upmarket. Concrete too pricey for your budget? You can buy convincing, less expensive composite lookalikes that require none of the maintenance of the real thing.
Be bold and contemporary
Whether your cabinetry is all flush-front, handleless simplicity or your kitchen is a dark, north-facing space, installing a worktop in a bold, bright colour will add instant interest and personality. Less is more, though: keep the colour to just one element of the kitchen – the island is the perfect spot – and match it with neutral coloured surfaces everywhere else.
Find kitchen designers and fitters in your area.
Whether your cabinetry is all flush-front, handleless simplicity or your kitchen is a dark, north-facing space, installing a worktop in a bold, bright colour will add instant interest and personality. Less is more, though: keep the colour to just one element of the kitchen – the island is the perfect spot – and match it with neutral coloured surfaces everywhere else.
Find kitchen designers and fitters in your area.
Add marble for a period feel
A marble worktop is a great choice for bringing a hint of restrained texture to an elegant, traditional kitchen. Don’t like the long list of care tips that come with marble? Then choose a lookalike composite that can take all sorts of wear and tear, and pass itself off as the real thing.
A marble worktop is a great choice for bringing a hint of restrained texture to an elegant, traditional kitchen. Don’t like the long list of care tips that come with marble? Then choose a lookalike composite that can take all sorts of wear and tear, and pass itself off as the real thing.
Get a cooks’ kitchen with steel
Stainless steel is ideal for a small kitchen – just like the glossy cabinetry this worktop is matched with, it bounces light around, which in turn makes a narrow galley feel bigger and brighter. Be prepared though – steel will get covered in tons of little scratches in no time. If you love the professional kitchen vibe, you’ll never notice the marks. Like things spick and span? Then give steel a miss.
Tell us…
What type of worktop did you choose for your all-white kitchen? Let us know in the Comments section.
Stainless steel is ideal for a small kitchen – just like the glossy cabinetry this worktop is matched with, it bounces light around, which in turn makes a narrow galley feel bigger and brighter. Be prepared though – steel will get covered in tons of little scratches in no time. If you love the professional kitchen vibe, you’ll never notice the marks. Like things spick and span? Then give steel a miss.
Tell us…
What type of worktop did you choose for your all-white kitchen? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Helpppp!!
Has anyone used Minerva... would like some help on the best place to buy and the cost
I am considering blue pearl or valle nevado granite for my white kitchen with neutral wood floors. I would consider laminate if I could find a grey toned one with some real sparkle in it. Why doesn't anyone make anything like that? I haven't been able to find one anyway...
Love our caesarstone London fog quartz countertops with white cabinets.