How a custom worktop can make your kitchen feel one of a kind
Last Updated on February 2, 2023
With a custom worktop, your kitchen can be an extension of your personality, with all the decisions down to you and your requirements. There are a myriad of possibilities for your kitchen worktop, from the main material used, down to the size, shape, edges and cut-outs to make it uniquely yours.
There is no need to go mainstream either, with our fantastic selection of live edge worktops making your kitchen stand out for all the right reasons. Our online custom worktop builder gives you the freedom to make all the choices in an easy-to-use format, which we will then create to your exact specifications.
If you have an awkwardly-shaped kitchen or requirements that are a bit unusual, then creating a custom worktop may well be the answer to your problems, as we work with you to make your kitchen surfaces work for you, regardless of material, design and the space available.
Worktop materials
The first thing to decide is what material you want your worktop to be made from. We have a variety of surfaces ranging from laminate (both standard and compact) to a selection of different woods.
For something really different, our live edge worktops offer a natural look that adds something a bit special to your kitchen. The grain pattern and whorls present in each slab provide a unique surface to each and every worktop for a kitchen that is truly one of a kind and will be the envy of all your friends. They can almost be described as art.
Wooden worktops – in whatever tree source or guise – are certainly the easiest to further customise as they lend themselves very nicely to being sawn and modified, with several options available to you to make it look however you want it to look.
Corners and cut-outs
Creating a custom worktop really does mean it will be customised to you. If you want a cut-out incorporated for a hob or a sink, then do. Sinks can be fitted using under-mounting, over-mounting or even factoring in a Belfast sink. You might even fancy tap holes or some draining grooves built into your worktop, for added ease. Go for it!
If your worktop is likely to have lots of countertop appliances, or you are also going to be using it for home working, then holes for trailing cables to be neatly tucked away are a must. All these can be factored into your customised worktop at the building stage, meaning they are ready-made for fitting. You just need to ascertain exactly where in the worktop you would like them cut.
You might be surprised to know that you can also choose whether to have sharp corners or rounded radius corners – which can also be designed to be different angles for each corner – ideal for fitting into tricky spaces, whilst also adding extra interest to the overall design.
Finishing touches
If you are opting for a wooden worktop, you may wish to have it pre-oiled before it is fitted, to provide an initial protective seal. Having it oiled three times means it is ready to go with no further oiling required, and that we will do a water test to ensure it isn’t porous, with a money back guarantee if there are any issues. Oiling the wood is vital to keep it in tip-top condition.
As with the corners, you can select an edge profile for your custom worktop too, with six different options available – rounded (top and/or bottom), single pencil (top and/or bottom), chamfered or a particularly fancy ogee style.
Last, but not least, the joints for your worktop can be butt joints where two pieces of wood are combined at a right angle to create a stable point, or a cookie dowel which is drilled into the wood. The choice is yours!
Note that all these options come at an extra cost, but ultimately it will create a coherent style and mean that nothing is left to chance. By getting all these options sorted when the worktop is being built, it makes fitting them a breeze and nothing is lefty to chance. And you can be assured that your entire worktop will be finished to the highest standard, one that is commensurate with everything we do.
Tips for measuring
The old adage is never truer – measure twice, cut once. In order to provide accurate measurements for your custom kitchen worktop you need to start by drawing a rough diagram of your layout, so you can assign the right measurements to the correct area. Highlight where you intend to have your sink and hob and any other built in appliances.
Break the countertops down into sections and, starting from the left, measure the lengths of each one. Remember to include any overhang you want – don’t just rely on the dimensions of the floor cupboards. Next, measure the width of the surface space you require. Multiplying the two together will give you a square inch/centimetre measurement which can be used to determine the overall worktop space.
If you are using our custom worktop builder, or have opted for a live edge worktop, choose pieces of wood that are larger than that which you need, to allow them to be cut down to size. Allow around 1-2cm for the front overhang and 3cm for each side.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of customising your worktop to suit you and your needs is that it will be a completely unique set-up and one which is deliberately created to make the most of your kitchen and the space within it. You are not alone though, as our craftspeople and customer support team are on hand to advise you in whatever aspects you need, making sure that everything is done accurately and to the standard you would expect from all of us here at House of Worktops.
Contact us today to discuss your options and put yourself on the path to a one-of-a-kind kitchen.