Countertops6 min read
Quartz vs granite: which countertop suits your kitchen?
Both are hard-wearing and beautiful, but they behave differently day to day. Here is how quartz and granite compare on look, upkeep, heat and consistency.
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Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Guides
Practical, plain English guides on cabinets, countertops and how to choose them together, written to help you decide with confidence.
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8 more guides, each linked to the next step in planning your kitchen.
Care & maintenance5 min read
How to care for quartz countertops
Quartz is one of the easiest surfaces to live with, as long as you avoid a few habits. A simple routine, what to keep away from it, and how to handle stains.
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Cabinets5 min read
Kitchen cabinet door styles explained
Shaker, flat-panel, raised-panel, glass-front: what each style looks like, where it works, and how to choose one that will still feel right in ten years.
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Design6 min read
Pairing cabinets and countertops: colour and pattern rules
A practical way to choose cabinet and countertop colours together, using undertones, pattern balance and light, so the two look like one idea.
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Planning5 min read
How to prepare for your countertop templating day
Countertops are made to fit, not off the shelf. What templating is, when it happens in a renovation, and a checklist that avoids delays.
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Planning6 min read
Kitchen renovation: what happens in what order
The usual order of work for a kitchen renovation, from planning and demolition to cabinets, countertops and finishing touches, and the decisions to make early.
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Countertops5 min read
Edge profiles, waterfall islands and overhangs explained
Edges change how a countertop looks and feels. What waterfall edges are, how much overhang seating needs, and when stone needs hidden support.
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Cabinets6 min read
Kitchen layout basics: work triangle, aisles and storage
How the NKBA planning guidelines on the work triangle, aisle widths and storage zones help you plan cabinets that work as well as they look.
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Planning5 min read
What affects the cost of a quartz countertop?
Why two countertop quotes can look so different: the slab, the amount of stone, the edges, cut-outs and installation all shape the price.
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