Although used daily, countertops are design elements that are barely talked about. At our Design Studio, we emphasise the importance of considering each and every detail. Whether you’re designing a scheme for a bar or looking to source a new kitchen for your home, we’d like to share some examples to help you choose the right countertops…

WOOD

In the lobby of Covent Garden Hotel we have used a traditional dark mahogany countertop for our reception desk. This embraces a traditional English aesthetic with a warm, natural look that mirrors the rest of the hotel.

In a different environment,   a lightly toned oak countertop in this countryside home offers a more natural and relaxed look. The lighter wood finish adds warmth to the space and is the perfect material for a countryside house. When sourcing a wooden countertop for your kitchen, it’s important to use a hard wearing wood. We recommend incorporating a marble surface alongside wood – marble provides a cool surface for preparing foods such as meat and pastry, but also complements the natural colours of wood.

STONE

Stone countertops are prized for their elegant and luxurious appearance. They come in various colours and patterns and each slab is unique. The benefit of using them in kitchens is that they are easy to clean.

For bathrooms with a more traditional look, we like to use granite as it’s less susceptible to stains and scratches.

For a contemporary look, we like to use Arabescato marble throughout the bathroom. It has two natural tones which evoke a feeling of luxury.

LEATHER

The reception desk at Ham Yard Hotel’s Croc Bowling Alley boasts a leather top. Although leather is an unexpected element for a surface, it’s a great material to use as it gives a sophisticated, unexpected touch as well as being a great option for durability. Leather also brings a range of different colour possibilities – a winning choice for us!

PEWTER

This metal has been used in Britain since Roman times. Pewter is an alloy consisting mostly of tin which is mixed with small amounts of other metals such as copper, lead and antimony which hardens the material making it durable. We love to use pewter for the bar tops in our restaurants as seen here at The Crosby Bar.

We hope these examples will help you choose the best countertop for your design project. See also our tips for lighting a bar area here.