Samantha's Self-Built Kitchen Achieves Pure Quartz Perfection

A Foundation of Skill

For many, renovating a kitchen is a daunting process, fraught with budget compromises and DIY challenges. But for Samantha Green and her partner, whose day job is renovating properties (he's a plumber, kitchen fitter, and joiner), this project was a labour of love and expertise!

The couple made a brave decision: design and build every single cupboard and the large central island themselves, allowing them to allocate a significant portion of their budget to the show-stopping quartz worktops.

“The property hadn’t been lived in since 2000, so we were truly starting from scratch,” Samantha explains. “My partner’s skills meant we could design exactly what we wanted and put our money into stunning quartz worktops and the island. That is where Gemini Worktops helped.”

The kitchen took five weeks to complete - a speedy turnaround considering the age and condition of the Georgian building.

The Brilliant Stacking Strategy

Samantha knew early on that a standard worktop thickness wouldn't deliver the grandeur she was seeking for the imposing island and main surfaces. She envisioned a chunky, architectural presence - a solid-looking structure that commanded attention.

The secret to this spectacular visual weight lies in an ingenious technique: layering.

Instead of opting for a single, thick, and often prohibitively expensive slab, Samantha worked with Gemini Worktops to achieve the desired height and visual impact by stacking two separate 30mm quartz worktops together.

This immediately transformed the worktop from a surface into a substantial piece of architectural furniture.

Stonelore Verde Nuvola: Harmony of Colour and Age

The material selection was key to bridging the kitchen’s modern, hand-built elements with the home's centuries-old Georgian character. Samantha chose Verde Nuvola from the Stonelore collection - a quartz with gentle green undertones woven into a luminous white base, Verde Nuvola offers a sophisticated twist on classic Carrara marble. Evoking the calm of nature and the serenity of drifting clouds, this surface brings quiet luxury and timeless appeal to interiors adding movement that echoes natural stone.

The colour choice was a masterstroke in achieving balance. The cool, sophisticated tones of the Verde Nuvola quartz complement the richly saturated teal of the hand-built cabinetry. This pairing instantly gives the space a high-end, bespoke feel, ensuring that the balance of old and new are truly at one - the modern cabinetry and contemporary quartz sit perfectly within the historic shell of the 300-year-old property.

The 'Ogee' Edge: A Stroke of Genius

While the stacked thickness (now a dramatic 60mm) provided the necessary scale, it was the final detail that elevated the piece from substantial to stunning: the ogee edge profile.

The Ogee is a classic, S-shaped curve - a delicate double arc - that lends a timeless, architectural sophistication. Crucially, the profile was applied to both the main worktops and the stacked island edges.

“We knew we wanted something more with the double ogee worktops and Island,” Samantha recalls. “Once the worktops were added, it transformed the whole look of the kitchen.”

The combination of the two-piece stack and the intricate, dual-curved edge turns the surface into a dimensional sculpture. The light catches the multiple curves, emphasising the luxurious depth and making the quartz look truly custom-designed. It's a testament to how clever fabrication can achieve a jaw-dropping result.

The Investment That Paid Off

The choice of quartz was deliberate. While cost was a factor against marble and porcelain, the durability and consistent finish of quartz were essential. Samantha found that sourcing the worktops separately was "very easy" and allowed her to specifically shop around for a company willing to execute the complex ogee stacking.

To afford this central ‘wow factor’, Samantha made minor compromises elsewhere, opting for a less expensive hot tap and foregoing a built-in coffee machine and microwave. For her, the priority was clear: "I really wanted the island to be the wow factor," she states.

And by focusing the budget on this stunning piece of layered quartz artistry, she certainly achieved it. Samantha’s kitchen is a powerful example of how focusing your investment on one or two truly spectacular, cleverly designed elements can elevate an entire space into a work of art.

Samantha’s Pro Tip for Worktops

• Don't Settle for Standard: If you want a truly impactful, high-end look without the prohibitive cost of an ultra-thick natural slab, talk to your fabricator about stacking multiple standard-thickness quartz pieces.
• Edge Profile is Everything: The thickness gives the weight, but the ogee edge gives the elegance. It's the detail that makes the stacked worktop look like a bespoke masterpiece, not just three pieces glued together.