A huge fridge freezer and easy clean work tops.
Granite or marble if you can afford them. Don't mind the stains. Do not have wooden work tops, they are fucking awful to look after.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Fri 12 Mar 2010, 11:54, 3 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

They aren't
if you give them one or maybe two coats of oil every 6 months they will practically last forever.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 11:55, Reply)

when I am rich and having my dream kitchen
I intend to have polished concrete worktops. they look the fucking business
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 11:58, Reply)

That would be awesome but out of my budget too.
So is granite.

I was actually thinking of wood. Hey, when am I not?
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 12:00, Reply)

It's having to sand and re-oil them almost constantly as they get damaged by clumsy fuckers (me).
I use cast iron stuff (le creosote and thick frying pans) and often drop them on the benches where they create lovely singe marks. And the number of times I forget to use a cutting board. Not good.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Fri 12 Mar 2010, 12:06, Reply)

this is an issue that I will also have
unfortunately hard stuff might be out of reach when I come to do my kitchen
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 12:12, Reply)

then, sir, you are a fool ;)
I have metal rails in the wood at certain points for putting pans down on, so no probs there. Hot cast iron pans will ruin any worktop, including granite, and the thing with wood is - you can sand it, re-oil it and no-one will know. try that after you've blistered laminate with a griddle pan.

And forgetting to use a chopping board? that'll also ruin any worktop. Unless it's granite, in which case it'll ruin the worktop and the knife.

I re-oil the worktops maybe once every couple of years, but the trick is to use the right type of oil, not whatever shit the shop recommends. Danish oil is excellent.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 13:27, Reply)

And you'll get splinters in your arse when you christen the place

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 11:55, Reply)

No they aren't
unless either a) you don't install them properly or b) you treat them badly.

My current kitchen has oak and and previous one beech worktops, properly oiled they are fine.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Mar 2010, 13:23, Reply)