Transforming your kitchen worktops: Alice May’s Gemini journey begins

An exciting collaboration

We’re so excited to share that we are working with Alice Riley, a social media influencer who shares her love of all things interior and useful cleaning hacks on her viral Instagram account, @athomewithalicemay. Growing her page by hundreds of thousands of followers over the last few months is testament to her useful home hacks and useful hints and tips for making your house a home.

Alice came to Gemini wanting to refresh her kitchen with minimal disruption to her and her family's daily life. Unlike full renovations that may involve tearing down walls or reconfiguring layouts, changing the worktops is a quick and straightforward process that still completely transforms the space.

Alice believed the best way to upgrade her kitchen on a budget would be to do just that. She wanted to replace her existing matt grey laminate worktops with beautifully polished marble style quartz.

This would help to bring a luxurious new look to her space as well as brightening the whole kitchen whilst still matching her existing kitchen interior, without the stress, cost, and time of a whole renovation.

After living in this newly built home for five years Alice wanted to upgrade her kitchen to reflect her love of interior design. It was important to Alice to be as sustainable as possible, trying to not remove anything that wasn’t already fit for purpose, by keeping all existing cabinets and appliances Alice transformed the space using only quartz.

Quartz countertops are renowned for their luxurious and sophisticated appearance. Whether your kitchen boasts a modern or classic design, quartz seamlessly integrates into various styles, adding a touch of elegance to the space. Alice decided to upgrade her kitchen worktops from laminate to quartz as it would give her the sleek, modern and premium finish she was looking for.

After receiving a variety of free samples, including Capri White, Calacatta Eternal and Aspen Ice, Minerox Quartz, Statuario Ice from the Quartz marble collection was the winning choice.

Despite loving all the choices and finding it difficult to choose, Alice decided that the subtle marble vein would tie in with the existing kitchen cabinets, tiles and flooring.

"The polished finish of the material will also tie in well with our porcelain floor, our current kitchen worktop is a Matt finish so doesn’t match the aesthetic that I want."

Alice was keen to transform the space and make a real statement in her kitchen so decided to add both quartz upstands and a full wall splashback to match her new kitchen worktops. The wall splashback will run across the full back wall replacing the existing kitchen tiles.

This will provide a seamless, cohesive look that Alice was keen to achieve and create a real WOW factor as you walk into the kitchen.

Beyond aesthetics, the durability of quartz makes it a practical and long-lasting choice for the kitchen, and with a busy family life, Alice was keen to have a surface that stands the test of time without the worry of wear and tear. Resistant to scratches, stains, and heat, quartz makes the ideal surface for a busy kitchen.

The addition of the splashback within her design would replace her tiles and would create a feature as well as open the space. A splashback is a great addition to any kitchen design, this is because of its easy maintenance, the non-porous nature makes it highly resistant to bacteria, ensuring a hygienic cooking environment.

Quartz requires minimal maintenance, providing you with a hassle-free solution that stands the test of time. This durability not only enhances the functionality of your kitchen but also saves you the time and effort typically associated with upkeep.

One of the significant advantages of quartz worktops in a kitchen upgrade is their ability to seamlessly integrate into the existing space. Unlike more extensive renovations, replacing your existing worktops with quartz doesn't require a complete overhaul of cabinetry or layout.

This makes it a cost-effective and time-efficient solution for those looking to refresh their kitchen without the disruption of a full remodel. Whether you have a small or large kitchen, the adaptability of quartz worktops makes them an ideal choice for an effective and stylish upgrade.

"Having an open-plan kitchen diner where we could spend family time, entertain guests and relax was so important to us."

Opting to upgrade your kitchen worktops emerges as a strategic and rewarding choice for those seeking a revitalized space without the complexities of a full-scale renovation.

By embracing the transformation of upgraded kitchen worktops, you not only breathe new life into your kitchen but with a variety of colours and patterns to choose from this ensures that you can find the perfect match for your existing kitchen.

Creating a space that reflects your style, meets your practical needs, and resonates with lasting value. So, whether you're on a budget or pressed for time, this simple yet impactful upgrade proves that sometimes, all it takes is a change in perspective—quite literally, from the top down—to experience a truly refreshed new look in your kitchen.

We can't wait to see Alice's new kitchen transformation and the difference a change in kitchen worktops can make to the space. Keep you eyes peeled for part 2 and regular updated on our Instagram and Facebook.