Majjie's Blog

There are two reasons for you to read this blog. The first is that you have, or intend to get, solid wood worktops and you want to know how to look after them; the second is that you want to know what would be involved, in looking after solid wood, before you decide on what sort of worktops to have.

If you don't fit into either category ... then I'd probably give this one a miss ... it's not going to be the most scintillating read you'll ever come across.

Well ok the title is a bit alarmist ... but somebody mentioned not wanting radiactive granite to me the other day ... and then I saw Peggy Deras mention it on her Kitchen-Exchange blog.

The problem, apparently, is with radon emmissions from granite. See this New York Times article.

If only there was a simple way to do just that ... find a really good kitchen fitter. Unfortunately, it's not easy.

There are a number of schemes which fitters can join but they all seem to have their drawbacks. Some are just web sites which are free to join and which ask no questions, or which use unregulated recommendations (family and friends?).

When I was talking about solid surface worktops the other day, I was saying that the thin layer, solid surfaces like Maia and Minerelle, were the only candidates for a good quality, mid-priced worktop. That's not true, though ... I was completely forgetting about solid timber worktops. I think that was probably because solid timber is a bit of a specialist material.

I've mentioned solid surfaces before but I've recently answered a few questions on different forums (fora?) about whether there are any worktops that are cheaper than granite but better quality than laminates ... mid-price worktops, if you like. So, I thought I'd have a closer look.

You've got just five days left to see a Baby Belling starring with comedian, and BBC Radio 4 presenter, Chris Neill ... at the Edinburgh fringe.

"Chris Neill’s Got a Bun in the Oven" ... a comedy-cum-cookery show is on every evening until the 25th August.

I wouldn't myself want a Baby Belling ... not my idea of a style statement:

August is usually a great month for barbecues ... but the British weather is putting a bit of a dampener on barbies this year.

Stoves have stepped into the breach by launching a campaign for indoor barbies, helped by celebrity chef Brian Turner. You can find his recipe for the "Best Burger in the World" on the Stoves web site. And if you're turning your nose up at the idea of a burger - I suggest you check out the recipe. This is a luxury burger!

When I first started to design kitchens, patterned tiles were quite popular. Usually a transfer of the pattern was applied to a blank, off-white, cream or beige tile and the tile was then re-fired. The resultant patterned tiles were scattered amongst the plain ones ... to create added interest. There was usually a four- or six-tile pattern too ... to use behind the hob. The tiles were six inches square and the patterns looked like these:

Induction hobs seem to have been discussed a lot recently. I haven't used one but I have seen them demonstrated ... and they look impressive.

I've got a rather ancient ceramic hob to cook on myself (no, of course I haven't done up my own kitchen!) and the thing I like best about it, is how easy it is to keep clean. I'd always had gas hobs before, and I hated cleaning those big oblong pan supports - which won't fit into the sink.

I've been asked this quite a few times ... and I've often replied that they aren't! But it is true that kitchens are often more expensive than people imagine they're going to be.

If I visit a couple who expect to pay £10,000 for their kitchen, then the actual cost is often £15,000. And if my clients expect to pay £30,000 for their kitchen, then the cost, for exactly what they want, is more likely to be £45,000.