Worktop Express Blog

November is historically one of the busiest months here at Worktop Express, and this year has not disappointed. In fact, we have seen more than 600 fantastic fabricated wooden surfaces pass through the hands of our bespoke worktop team – an amazing effort by all involved.

Though it was difficult to keep up with so many worktops passing through, we have picked out three fine examples to feature here on the blog:

Oak

It’s difficult to believe how many custom oak worktops we see in the fabrication department, but their timeless beauty never ceases to impress. This particular oak worktop is unusual in that it features an oven hob cut-out alongside smooth routed grooves to accommodate a set of diamond-shaped worktop hotrod set.

After our fabrication team cut the worktop to size and made the necessary customisations, it was given a further sanding to ensure it was incredibly smooth before passing through our oiling facility to receive a coating of oil to protect it during transit and installation.

Iroko

Iroko is another timeless classic that is a popular choice with our customers. After allowing time to mature, the deep bronze tones and iridescent glow make iroko worktops an elegant choice for both classic and contemporary kitchen settings.

This piece will feature as the surface on one of our customer’s kitchen islands, and has an impressive circular cut-out to accommodate a sink, with corresponding drainage grooves and a tap hole, too. Finally, a large chamfered edge was applied on each of the four sides to give it a luxurious profile.

As with all the custom worktops that pass through our facility, the worktop was then sanded to an incredibly smooth finish and oiled to provide sufficient protection during transit and installation.

Full Stave Ash

If you are looking for a lighter alternative to oak or a more characterful substitute for maple, our full stave ash worktops might be your perfect pick. The light, linear grain pattern makes this bright wooden surface a firm favourite for classic kitchens that are lacking in natural light.

After being cut to size, this full stave ash surface had an aperture cut for an undermounted stainless steel sink and complementary drainage groove were applied alongside. The worktop was then passed over to our sanding team to ensure the finish was perfectly smooth, after which our oiling team passed it through our specialist coating machine and then finished the worktop by hand to ensure it would be well sealed during delivery and installation.

If you are feeling inspired by our custom-made wooden worktops, why not try our Online Bespoke Worktop Tool? This innovative online app allows you to design, price up and pay for bespoke worktops online. What’s more, we are currently offering a discount on all worktop customisations ordered via the tool; it’s now easier and cheaper than ever to create the worktop of your dreams!

Filed under: Fabrication Diary by Worktop Express Admin
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Since their introduction, our range of laminate worktops have been positively flying out of our warehouse; and with such a wide selection of colours, finishes and edge profiles on offer, it’s certainly difficult to pick a favourite. This month – for the first time ever – we have chosen one of these laminates as our ‘Worktop of the Month’: black gloss laminate worktops.

These attractive laminate worktops have a subtle, mottled appearance known as ‘Constellation’, which is covered in a glossy laminate overlay: a finish that is incredibly easy to clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth.

Like the other laminate kitchen countertops in our collection, Constellation worktops have received the FIRA Gold Award for product excellence. This recognised mark of quality shows that these black gloss worktops have been independently tested and evaluated by furniture industry experts.

Our laminate worktops are made in the UK from sustainable composite fibreboard, which is wrapped in a decorative sheet before being covered in a clear laminate overlay. These layers are bonded together under high heat and pressure to create an incredibly robust and hard-wearing surface that is highly resistant to water and stains.

If you think these affordable laminate worktops might be the right choice for your new kitchen, why not order our laminate worktop sample pack? This pack includes a sample of each laminate surface in our collection and costs just £5 with next-day courier delivery. Furthermore, if you go on to order one of our laminate worktops, we will happily refund the cost – an unmissable bargain!

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Credit: Deyan Kossev (Solent News)

This intriguing, naturally-grown tree was discovered by a man trekking through the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria. Eye-catching and unique, we couldn’t help but compare this timber structure to our characterful wooden worktops. Wood is wonderful in all its forms, so we wanted to share a little more about this leggy lumber.

Though a little out of the ordinary, this 65ft-tall timber giant is actually a beech tree. Whilst the reason it has grown in such a manner is unknown, the tree looks like something straight out of The Lord of the Rings, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Tolkien’s Treebeard.

The striking structure is formed with two legs, pronged arms, a body and a head, and was documented by amateur photographer Deyan Kossev earlier this year.

A true example of wacky wood (or should that be bizarre beech?)! However, if you are looking for something a little less eccentric for your kitchen, you might prefer our solid beech worktops. Available in a variety of sizes and stave configurations, our beautiful beech surfaces showcase a distinctive grain structure and warm, inviting colouration.

Filed under: Wacky Wood Uses by Worktop Express Admin
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Unless otherwise requested, any substantial offcuts that are created during the fabrication process are delivered alongside the corresponding bespoke solid wood worktops. If you’ve received your solid wood worktop offcuts and are wondering how best to use them, never fear: simply read on to discover five great ways to upcycle them!

Image courtesy of Alibaba

Wooden Date Blocks

If you have received worktop offcuts from our walnut worktops, you are likely to have sections of pale sapwood and dark heartwood in your possession. These are ideal if you would like to make wooden date blocks with contrasting colour tones. Cut 40mm thick worktop offcuts into blocks measuring 40mm3, with an 80 x 20 x 40mm block to sit underneath. If you like, you can cut thinner pieces to create a convenient stand, too.

Image courtesy of Amara

Solid Wood Soap Dish

Creating a solid wood soap dish is easy, and a particularly good choice for offcuts from our iroko worktops, which have a high oil content that makes them especially hygienic and more resistant to water ingress. Use a 120 x 80 x 20mm section of timber and add smooth edge profiling for an elegant finishing touch.

Image courtesy of Andra Home

Hardwood Hearts

These decorative hardwood hearts are simple to make if you have offcuts from bespoke solid oak worktops. They are fairly easy to cut with a small band saw and should be sanded to ensure any sharp edges are removed. Use a wood drill with a small bit piece to add a hole, and accessorize with brightly-coloured ribbon or string.

Image courtesy of Afloral

Wooden Vase

Solid wood vases look especially elegant when made from a pale timber like maple or a dark and luxurious wood such as wenge. Simply cut a narrow section from your offcuts, cut into squares of equal sizes, and join using glue or small nails. You can also use this vessel to accommodate small house plants or store pens.

Solid Wood Phone Stand

A solid wood phone stand can make a handy accessory for kitchens, especially if you are using it to follow a recipe online. They also look excellent in a timber that coordinates with your wooden worktops. Using your timber worktop offcuts, cut a piece of wood to 150 x 60 x 40mm. Add a groove 50mm from the front.

Whenever cutting solid wood worktop offcuts, please be sure to wear eye protection and follow the guidelines laid out by the manufacturer if using any technical equipment. Finally, sand away any rough edges and add a coat of Danish oil to nourish the timber.

If you have created a handy kitchen gadget from your own worktop offcuts, we would love to hear from you. Please share your pictures with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Filed under: General by Worktop Express Admin
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Our excellent-value kitchen components are now more affordable than ever! This month, we are offering a fantastic 10% discount across our entire product range, including all of our solid wooden worktops and laminate work surfaces.

Whether you would like to purchase kitchen worktops, complementary worktop accessories, kitchen sinks, taps or floating shelves, all of the products on our website are available with a 10% discount for one month only. To take advantage of this brilliant offer, simply enter the discount code NOV10 at the online checkout. This discount is also available if you order via telephone or email: simply email or call us on 0345 22 22 644 to speak with a member of our sales team, quote the offer, and we will be pleased to apply the discount.

This November we are delighted to announce that we are offering not one, but two money-saving sales. Our second great offers customers an impressive 25% discount on all of our wood worktop cutting services ordered online. To benefit from these savings, order your custom wood worktops through our Online Bespoke Worktop Tool and the cost of each cutting service will be automatically discounted by 25%.

Please place your order by 23:59 on Wednesday 30^th November to take advantage of these fantastic offers.

Filed under: News by Worktop Express Admin
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