Maintaining a Worktop
Once you get a new kitchen, it becomes a pleasure to cook and work in your new space, and often, we forget that our worktops need maintenance, much like anything else in the home. There are certain cooking implements and ingredients which can actually harm the quality of your worktop, and to help prevent disaster, we have a handy list!
The first, and possibly most secretly dangerous, is vinegar. Vinegar based cleaners, contrary to popular belief, can cause irreparable damage to certain worktops, such as marbles, natural stones or quartz. Warm soapy water is a much better alternative! Whilst these vinegar-cleaners are good for stainless steel utensils, aluminium and cast iron products actually react to it, so those too are off limits. Vinegar can be very useful - in the right circumstances!
Wooden worktops are another difficulty in certain kitchens - maintenance is important to ensure prolonged quality. Oil-finished wood requires upkeep, in order to prevent stains or ageing. Matte or silk lacquer repels most stains, however, but the important thing to note is that most wooden worktops require, at the least, some care. It would certainly be a shame to lose quality in wood, especially as it is such an attractive worktop, so always be aware of the upkeep that comes with wood.
Quartz and granite are very durable, and require much less in the way of direct maintenance, unlike the wooden alternatives. However, it is important to note that clearing liquids as soon as possible upon quartz or granite worktops is vital - it is unlikely, but can result in staining should the liquid be particularly abrasive. It is also important to remember to keep good care of where one places hot pots or pans - and this is true for every type of worktop! Whilst the durability of these worktops is very high, it is best not to tempt fate. A simple metal pot holder, or rubber plate can save one endless troubles, should the hot utensils cause any damage. However, Herringbone Kitchens offer a Silestone Quartz and Sensa Granite, both of which offer a 25 Year Guarantee, which ensures staining will not occur.
We hope this short list has helped with some amount of care in your kitchen! The best thing one can do is treat their kitchen with care, and you are sure to be fine!
When it Shines...
The barbecues come out in force!
In England, it is very easy to focus on the rain, the clouds, and the general bad weather. With spring in full force, however, and summertime looming closer, it is important to remember to appreciate the good weather and fun times, no matter how fleeting. Already, the barbecue smoke from neighbours can be seen on the lucky days where the sun shines through, and nothing is more enjoyable than an event hosted in a new kitchen. This week, we're going to look at the positive effects a new kitchen can have when planning or hosting events for the summer.
The biggest effect one may feel is a new sense of enjoyment in their space. Previously thought of as simply a preparation space, the kitchen can now become the centerpiece of entertainment, and whether you have built through for more space, or simply renovated, it is far lovelier to spend the day with friends in a space you can be proud of. A new kitchen is certain to leave a lasting impression in your memories of summer and beyond.
The obvious answer, is, of course, a new space in which to cook and prepare for barbecues, parties or any other event. An oven built into a unit can save space and make preparing food easier, whilst new counter tops give more space for cutting, chopping and everything in between. Should you have an island, a breakfast bar or seating area can make the kitchen feel more personable and bring the room together, which makes preparing more social - the cook is no longer banished from the rest of the party!
We here at Herringbone look forward to the summer, and with it, the kitchens we can help to create. We hope that we can help work with you to create your dream kitchen, and that it can help make your summer the most enjoyable one it can be. Please check in any time, in the showroom or by contacting us, and check our Summer Brochure for more details about us.
Where to Begin?
Over the last few months, a noticeable trend among customers visiting the showroom is that they all have different starting points. Some simply want to have a look at the kitchens in the shop, whilst others definitely know they're getting work done. Worktops, units, colours and styles all come into their preliminary view, but one thing is always the same: after having a quick look and a chat, they all have a better idea of what they want.
No matter how far along you are in the process of kitchen hunting, it is clear that having a peek in the shop and a chat can help you with your plans. A bit of friendly advice on the types of worktops is invaluable for knowing the difference between granite and quartz, for example, and for others, a suggestion of a design type, like a larder unit for a corner, can be the little something their design was missing.
We are open 7 days a week, 9.30 - 17:00 every day (10:00 - 16:00 Sundays), and would love to have a chat! Come into the store for a chat, a browse, and see if we can help your dream kitchen come to life! With our showroom, site, and the 2016 Brochure, there are tons of ways to keep up and discover what Herringbone Kitchens can offer - and we can even come and give a free measurement and quote, to make your design truly come to life! We hope to see you soon! Stay tuned for our deals in the coming month!
SPRING/SUMMER 2016 BROCHURE
We have developed a new brochure highlighting recent projects, client testimonials and options within the kitchen to help our clients better understand our company and what sets us a part from others. Whether you are looking to build your dream kitchen extension, or want a bit of an uplift, we hope the Herringbone team can help.
Click Below to View our New Brochure
Spring/Summer 2016 Brochure
Kitchen Trends for 2016
We've got the list of the biggest trend for kitchens in 2016, and you'll be glad to hear that the number one trend in kitchen design is no gadget, but utilises design in the best way possible to create a social room for the whole family.
1. Kitchens: the New Family Room
Most of our clients for 2016 are knocking down walls, adding extensions and putting in islands in order to make the kitchen the central space in the home. No longer is the kitchen solely an area devoted to cooking, it is now where we socialise with friends, hang out as a family and where children do homework. We have been helping families open up spaces so that the kitchen better fits in with their lifestyle and becomes a social space. Building a social kitchen is helping families connect and spend time together at the end of the day. This is a trend we hope is here to stay.
2. Adding Seating
Penninsula's, islands and breakfast bars are becoming the norm. Again this trend is connected with desiging a social space. To accommodate this growing trend we have started to build and supply bar stools and chairs that perfectly match your kitchen.
3. Bold Colour
Going outside the norm and being bold with colour is very scary, but the results are beautiful. You an choose any colour you want with our kitchens, from mallard green to cobalt blue, there is something for everyone.
4. BrAss
We have been seeing brass taps, handles and backspashes and this is a trend we very much welcome. A touch of brass often softens a kitchen, depending on the style this can make the ktichen look more glamerous or traditional. It can also creatively make a feature of your handles or add a touch of colour to dark cabinets.
5. Islands Wrapped in worktop
We have been planning many islands covered in quartz, granite and silestone this January and are always blown away with how impressive they look. An island wrapped in a worktop creates a real feature in your kitchen
Recent kitchen plan