Hard-working worktops and stylish splashbacks Sleek kitchen surfaces

Tiles aren’t just for walls and floors! They are a great way to add personality and pattern to a worktop, too. Porcelain ones are the best option as they won’t crack as easily as other types. You may also need to reseal the grout every year or so to keep it looking fresh, or use a non-absorbent, stain-resistant resinbased grout

Bespoke kitchen, from £25,000 including VAT, The Main Company Make a splashback a focal point of the room with a tiled feature wall in a striking hue. These inky-blue hexagonal tiles with a modern matt surface make a statement without overpowering the space

Moss hand-crafted metro tiles, £36.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors

For longevity and durability, stainless steel is hard to beat; this strong splashback material can last a lifetime, is easy to clean and will give your kitchen an up-to-date industrial feel

GoodHome Garcinia matt stone integrated-handle

shaker kitchen, from £1,848;

GoodHome Kasei brushed

stainless-steel splashback, from £40, both B&Q

FIND THE WORKTOP THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

Pick the best worktop for your budget and lifestyle with this advice on the different types from Douglas Sutherland, director at Koivu

LAMINATE

You’ll find that the bulk of kitchens have laminate worktops, that is Formica bent around chipboard with a sink cut into the top. It lasts a reasonable amount of time and can cope with up to 160°C, although you wouldn’t want to put a cast iron pan on it straight from the oven. Laminate worktops occupy the lower end of the budget and it’s definitely true that you get what you pay for. Look for brands like Formica and Duropal – these may be slightly more expensive than others, but the price will be worth it for the quality.

GRANITE, SLATE AND MARBLE

These worktops all look beautiful, depending on your kitchen style. Marble will need looking after, however, as it may mark and stain relatively easily, so factor this in when making your decision.

WOOD

Wood worktops are a classic choice, but they’re very delicate and need oiling and careful looking after to ensure they’ll last. We’ve also seen people end up with problems where the wood goes soggy around sink areas over time.

QUARTZ

This is a man-made product mixed with natural resin to give a cold feel, a hard finish and a consistent colour. You should be aware that quartz can burn if you put a hot pan down on it – and if you burn it, the worktop can’t be repaired. Instead, you’ll have to change the whole thing.

CORIAN

This is in a similar price bracket to quartz. Developed for laboratories originally, this product has now found its way to the mass market and is becoming very popular. Corian has lots of benefits – it can be produced in long lengths meaning no unattractive joins and if you burn the worktop, a piece can be cut out and replaced with a new section. Depending on your design requirements, Corian can also be moulded to create a seamless sink.