So, you are wanting to recreate the look of Marble for your worktop but is it worth it? We will talk through some of the advantages of why purchasing Marble Effect worktops is the way to go and how it can bring elegance into your home, for a fraction of the price.

Here are 9 advantages of why Marble Effect worktops are the way to go!

#1 Your Budget is Vital

At the end of the day, your budget is where you draw the line. If you cannot afford Marble, then you need to look at ways you can recreate the look for cheaper. But you can also do this instead of purchasing Marble, even if you can afford it.

While Marble is unique and cannot ever be recreated perfectly, Marble effect worktops can achieve a very similar appearance that is incredibly high quality.

#2 Choose the Pattern

If you purchased the real deal, you would not be able to choose the pattern of your Marble worktop, instead you will literally get what you get. However, with Marble effect stone you are able to have much more freedom of the style of your home by choosing exactly what pattern you want.

Do you prefer larger veining? Or maybe smaller veining? Perhaps you would like the veining to be a colour you do not often see? Then this is completely your choice, go for it! Design the Marble of your dreams!

#3 Healthy

Marble is not naturally a non-porous stone, which means that it is not particularly healthy. However, Marble effect stone is the exact opposite. It is non-porous and therefore you can guarantee that absolutely no bacteria will harbour beneath the surface and any spillages will remain on top.

#4 Maintenance

The level of maintenance and cost required for Marble is very high. With Marble you will need to pay out for sealing every year to keep it working at its best, otherwise it will no longer be waterproof and will be open to getting damaged very easily.

With Marble effect worktops, you will never have to pay out for any form of treatment which saves you money and time. All you need to do with your Marble effect worktop is to keep it clean with a mild soap, water and cloth.

#5 Tough and Hard Wearing

Marble effect worktops are incredibly hard wearing and durable. Your worktop will last a lifetime, so you will never have to worry about replacing. Marble effect will last for many years as long as you take proper car of it and it can withstand high volumes of traffic, which makes it perfect for kitchen areas and family homes.

#6 Choose Your Finish

You can completely customize your Marble effect worktop to be exactly what you want it to be and this even means the finish. You can install your Marble effect worktop with the perfect finish for you to suit your style.

#7 Consistency

While consistency is not a huge plus for some people, others will find it very helpful. Not only would you be able to use Marble effect for your kitchen worktop, but if you decide to install it for a splashback and even flooring too, then you have the ability to choose the exact same slab to compliment it.

#8 Worry Free

With Marble effect worktops, you can be completely worry free with your purchase for its entire lifetime. However, with Marble, you will never stop worrying and thinking about maintenance because it does require a lot. You cannot use certain chemicals on Marble, however Marble effect is completely hassle free.

#9 Spend on Other Things

Instead of spending your entire budget on a Marble worktop, you could potentially add far more into your kitchen or home for the same price. You could perhaps purchase a Marble effect worktop and still have enough in your budget left for some accessories or other items that could help create your dream home.

When it comes to adding white into a home, especially if you have a young family, it can often be a scary thing to consider. However, it does not always have to be that way. White is one of the most popular colours out there and will always be so on trend.

This article will give you a balanced view on both the pros and cons of white sparkle worktops, to help with the decision making.

Pros of White Sparkle

White sparkle worktops give the initial look and feeling of being fresh and clean, and it will never stop giving off this style. White is such a hygienic colour and it may sound odd to say that about a colour, but it is true. White has the power of immediately looking brand new with just a simple clean!

Not only will it add freshness to your home, but it will also create the illusion to make your kitchen look much bigger than it actually is. This works by the light reflecting off of the surface and bouncing around the room.

Lastly, white sparkle will also offer you a stunning elegance that will be perfect for a lifetime. White offers so much flexibility when it comes to switching up the style of the kitchen, as absolutely every colour under the sun will go great with white.

Cons of White Sparkle

As we discussed above, white sparkle does look incredibly clean however this is only if you put in the work to make it look this way, which is not always possible. You need to put great effort into maintaining a fresh look when it comes to white. With just a drop spillages or crumbs, your white worktop is suddenly not as clean anymore.

White sparkle can also work at making your kitchen look far too big, which is the opposite to what you want. If you have white within your large kitchen then it will still continue creating the illusion that the room is bigger, making your room look far too big. One way to combat this would be to use different shades, patterns and textures to break up all the white within the kitchen.

Hopefully this overview has helped you on your way to deciding whether white sparkle worktops are for you, your lifestyle and style. White can often take a bit extra work when compared to other colours on the market but if you have the time, then it can look completely stunning.

 

Marble is one of the most popular stones to use around the home and commercial properties. It can be used for a range of applications from bathroom countertops, kitchen worktops, flooring and more. However, how do you know whether Marble is right for your home? Marble comes with its list of advantages, but it is not without its faults either.

This overview will hopefully give you a balanced view so aid in your decision making.

Pros of Marble Wet Rooms

The main factor that people choose Marble for is that it is unique. Absolutely no one else on Earth will have the exact same Marble slabs as you do, so your home immediately becomes one of a kind. This is because it is a natural stone, so no man is able to create the look of it again.

Marble is also such a beauty to look at and it simply cannot be beaten with any other stone out there. It offers such a timeless elegance to any room, that will last a lifetime and beyond!

While Marble may come with a big price tag, you are paying for quality. Marble will also increase the value of your home as soon as it has been installed, which is perfect if you are looking for an investment too. If you will ever sell your home, then it can be a huge selling point because buyers find it so desirable.

Marble will also add a natural translucence which means that the light will beam into your bathroom and penetrate the Marble slightly to give off a stunning glow all around the room.

Lastly, as you will want warmth in your bathroom, Marble offers a huge plus you are able to install heating beneath the flooring as it is such a good heat conductor.

Cons of Marble Floor Wet Rooms

While Marble comes with a very long list of benefits, often its downfalls can be what makes the potential buyer go elsewhere.

The main deciding factor can often be the cost. Not only will you have a higher price tag for the intimal purchase and installation, but you will need to have it regularly sealed. This is vital for a wet room as without the sealing being done each year, your Marble wet room will no longer be waterproof which is an absolute disaster! If you fail to re-seal your Marble on time, then you are at risk of damaging your wet room.

Marble is also very absorbent, which is not a great thing for wet rooms when it comes to moisture let alone stains! Not only that but Marble can also crack under a certain weight, so you will have to be careful not to drop heavy items which is a nightmare after paying out such a big price tag.

Lastly, as your wet room will always be covered in water, this opens up your Marble for rusting. Marble contains minerals that is susceptible to rust, especially when there is moisture in the air.

Porcelain is growing in popularity, especially when it comes to kitchen worktops. Porcelain comes with a huge list of advantages which is why everyone seems to be installing it into their home and commercial property.

Here is our list of 8 advantages and reasons why you should too use it for your kitchen worktop.

Advantages to Porcelain

#1 Range of Colours and Patterns

Porcelain is available is such a big range of colours and patterns, that the only negative of this could be that you will spend probably too much time browsing through! The choice is so varied and you will never be stuck for options.

#2 Marble Like
Thanks to its varied pigmentation within the raw materials, this is what can work to give it the appearance of Marble. While it is no competition with the real deal, Porcelain is a certain contender for those who cannot afford Marble but love the appearance.

#3 UV Resistant
Often you will find that your kitchen worktop is placed in such a direction where it will regularly get hit by the sun beams. However, with Porcelain you never have to worry about fading as Porcelain is completely UV resistant. This means that your slabs will never fade or get damaged in the direct sunlight, so you can go ahead and place it wherever you like.

#4 Large Sizes
Unlike many other stones out there, Porcelain is available in large slab sizes as well as smaller. This then gives you the freedom and flexibility to purchase one single slab for your kitchen worktop, so it has a seamless look. The need for cut outs and fusing slabs together is completely removed.

#5 Stain Resistant
Porcelain is also completely stain resistant too, so you never have to worry about food items such as red wine and coffee that are well known for causing problems around the home.

#6 Not Chemical Sensitive
Unlike a lot of stones on the market, Porcelain is not sensitive to any chemicals out there. So regardless of the harsh chemicals you may find around the home, your Porcelain worktop can withstand it so you never have to worry about spillage.

#7 Scratch Resistant
Being a vital component within the kitchen, Porcelain is scratch resistant. As you will no doubt be using many sharp objects around the kitchen, you will never have to worry if you forget to use a chopping board or other protective items.

#8 Well Handled
Lastly, you will benefit hugely from Porcelain being perfect when being handled. Porcelain is great when it comes to cutting, fitting and installing as the process is incredibly quick and easy.

 

Worktops and splashbacks are often the best way to compliment the design of your room, bringing all of the elements together. You can either use the exact same colour for both or use a similar but yet different colour; depending on your design.

With our huge range of Quartz colours available, you are not short on ideas to browse through. Whether you want the same pattern but different colour or altogether different, we have a Quartz colour that is perfect for you.
Here are our top 10 Quartz colours for worktops and splashbacks.

Serengeti is one of our medium grey Quartz colours. Its darker grey veining works well and gives it a Marble appearance to appeal to those who want a hint of luxury within their home.

Sepia is perfect for those who are wanting to go light, but not white. With a cream base colour, it is a great choice for anyone wanting to bright light into their home. With large stones throughout the surface, it works brilliantly at adding texture.

Platino Gris Noir is one of our very popular colours with a black base. Over the top there is a mixture of whites, greys and darker black chunks that have the appearance of glitter.

Honey Onyx is one of our caramel and honey colours that is once again perfect for anyone wanting a lighter colour, but still wanting some sort of colour within their home. The honey base colour is complimented well with darker markings of the same colour over the top, which adds stunning contrast.

Brillo Cocoa is one of our darker brown colours with even darker browns and light brown speckles throughout. There are even a few white speckles which add multiple layers of texture.

Empire is another one of our black colours but this time it is not as dark. Empire is not incredibly dark, instead it leans more towards the brown end of the scale. With a honey coloured pattern over the top, Empire brings the appearance of bubbles across the surface.

Marbre Noir is one of our popular colours as it consists of such a stunning colour and pattern. The black base works beautifully with silver markings which work together to give the appearance of Marble; perfect for anyone looking for something that gives a look of luxury.

Classic Noir Just as the name suggests, Classic Noir is one of our classic solid black colours which works in almost every home.

Brillo Rouge is the perfect colour for anyone wanting something a little bit different that you do not always see. It has a red base with black speckles and the occasional white dots throughout to give it a few layers.

Brillo Ivory is another one of our pale colours. Its ivory base is the perfect canvas for the stones of beiges, whites and browns to create such a wonderful contrast of shades.