A breakfront is a kitchen feature where the units and granite worktop are stepped forward to create a slightly deeper area.
Breakfronts are often used to make a feature around a hob or range cooker. Sometimes they are used purely for aesthetics to break up what would otherwise be a very long straight line of units. On other occasions the choice of a breakfront is more practical: they may be particularly helpful – or even essential – where a freestanding cooker or Aga is extra deep but where there isn’t room in the kitchen to have extra deep worktop for the full length of the run.
Tight square corners on a classic kitchen breakfront – an induction hob on dark granite
Very traditional galley kitchen with little room for features – the breakfront in marble-look quartz lifts the whole installation
Breakfronts are most commonly used where the range cooker or hob is being built into an existing chimney breast or where the customer has chosen to have a faux mantle. To create this feature, the kitchen designer may well just set a couple of small units either side of the hob or range a little bit further forward. For a deeper effect, large curved-corner bases can be used, but more commonly the step out is only 50 – 75mm, and a small curve is created by a pilaster or the granite worktop corner alone.
Breakfronts can be a fine feature but there are some things to consider:
Although the quartz or granite worktop is only stepping out a small amount, the cost can be bumped up more than you might imagine. If the front to back depth increases enough to make slab use very wasteful, this has to be reflected in the price. For instance, in a quartz slab 1400mm across, increasing worktop depth to over 700mm obviously means that two strips at that depth can no longer be cut from the slab. Or getting the upstands out of the slab can become very problematic. All of this can be most critical where we are buying in material especially for your worktops – a bespoke job.
A breakfront is possible on laminate or wood with a top-mounted sink, but it is very unusual. This feature is generally the preserve of granite and quartz worktops
Detail of beveled and polished edge on a one-piece quartz worktop in Radianz Mirama Bronze.
Stepping the worktop out can also entail some increase in labour cost. Where there are joins to form the breakfront then there is no particular problem, but a one piece section with an in-out edge cannot be run through the linear edge polisher – your worktop will need to be finished on the CNC and finally polished by hand. The effect is lovely, but it isn’t free.
Our staff have the skills to discuss all of the issues and advise whether your kitchen plan with a breakfront design in its quartz or granite worktops is going to make a punitive difference to the overall price. That way you can make an informed choice before settling on a breakfront design.
Most breakfronts are at hobs, but sinks can also stand out with the breakfront treatment.
Although many people associate breakfronts with very traditional kitchens, they are perfectly feasible on modern units, and can look as good with quartz as much as a granite worktop.
