03.12.18

Orchard Kitchen Ripe for Refit

Well-known kitchen and bathroom journalist picks Bushboard Evolve worksurfaces.

Well-known kitchen and bathroom journalist picks Bushboard Evolve worksurfaces.

A collapsing floor, a ceiling with a sinister sag and units and worktops about to expire after over 35 years of hard use meant journalist Jan Orchard and her husband Chris had to bite the bullet and face the upheaval of a new kitchen and extensive building work.

“The  orginal kitchen came off an exhibition stand but after years of wear some of the door and drawer fronts were missing, it was looking very much the worse for wear,??? says Jan. “There was a hole in the floor, the ceiling looked terrible and there was just nowhere to put anything so we had clutter everywhere and no room to work.???

After shopping around they chose the cream Glencoe range from Wickes. Wickes planned the kitchen, incorporating as much pull-out storage as possible. “I was very concerned about worktops,??? says Jan. “I wanted an easy to clean surface that could be used for rolling pastry etc. and that would not stain. I also wanted to match it with the walls – the existing handmade Mexican tiles had to go. I saw some information about Bushboard Evolve in one of the kitchen trade magazines so I sent for a sample.???

At £550 for 3000x650x12.5mm, Evolve costs considerably less than stone. It can be cut on site so there is no need for advance templating or a specialist fabricator, saving fitting costs and time.

“Evolve worktops are 12.5mm thick, giving a sleek, slimline profile that works well with any kitchen style.  It is slimline and has a solid core so there is no need for edging -  ideal with a built under sink and impervious to moisture, stains and heat. Matching upstands and splashbacks are available to complete the look – just what we needed. The colour we chose is Caldeira Ultramatt, a slate effect with attractive colour graduations.???

Easy to Fit

Any experienced kitchen installer can cut and fit Evolve,??? says installer Graham Barnett who fitted the kitchen.??? It saves so much time – real stone has to be cut remotely and delivered with the tops ready to fit. This can cause delays. A new kitchen is a major upheaval and most people want the job done as quickly as possible. I had never used Evolve before but found the material a delight to work with.???

Graham also used Evolve to line the window frame. “The window is in the oldest part of the building and the walls around it were made from rubble and straw. Getting a good plaster finish would have been impossible,??? says Graham, “I used Evolve cut to fit and teamed with some matt chrome trim around the edges. It looks really smart and is so easy to clean when compared with the old bumpy Mexican tiles.???

Jan and Chris are delighted with the finished kitchen  “We have had a trail of visitors coming to look at it and Graham had to explain Evolve to an architect when he was cutting it outside.  The surface is so easy to clean and it is ideal for rolling pastry to kneading bread as the mess can be just wiped away.???

DRA Media Management

T. 01425 461600 M. 07767 784295 E. deborah@dramm.co.uk S. @dramm W. dramm.co.uk 

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