Which Types of Materials to Use in Your Modern Kitchen Designs?
More and more, sustainability is being demanded in the choice of kitchen materials in modern kitchen designs.
It is called 'ESD' or Environmentally Sustainable Design.
We are looking at the whole process
of manufacturing, from the raw materials, to harvesting and processing, to the energy that
is expended in these processes.
Kitchen materials and products used in modern kitchen designs show that designers are more inclined to
be inventive and adventurous.
New material mixes are seen in lighting, benchtops and countertops, flooring, splashbacks
and appliances too.
Lighting
Lighting is designed to highlight task areas in the kitchen rather than flood the whole space
constantly.
Different types of lighting are designed for different purposes, but always energy-efficiency
is uppermost. The use of LED lighting is on the increase as a visually beautiful option that is also
eco-friendly.
Countertops
Reconstituted stone benchtops are a wonderful example of kitchen materials adapted to be used in diverse ways that are very eye-catching and equally functional.
These are made of natural stone and artificial materials, cut and polished. They
are very durable and less expensive than granite or marble.The effect is beautiful.
Laminate, although not new, is durable, light and relatively inexpensive. It comes in a vast array of
colors and tones, and texture simulations.
Another innovation in modern kitchen design is the fully integrated benchtop that becomes a cooktop when it's turned on, and
reverts to a workspace when turned off.
Cabinets and cupboard doors
These should be easy to keep clean and durable, so think of wood such as bamboo, stainless steel, laminates and
veneers of different types.
The design will be changed dramatically with some mixing up
of ideas and thnking outside the square.
Splashbacks
Backsplashes must be utilitarian, and, at the same time appealing because they are one of the surfaces that
strike you when you first walk into this area.
Easy to clean without leaving streaks and smudges,
you can choose from many types of toughened glass (heat resistant), stainless steel (more expensive), tiles and mosaics to name
only some materials.
Again, try mixing up colors and tones to achieve an overall effect which has its focal points at the same time.
Floors
New kitchen materials here include floating floors made of thin sheeting to give a timber look, tiles, carpeting
from special fibers, man-made stone, polished granite and concrete aggregate, as well as the more traditional
materials. Rubber is used now to create non-slip tiles...very stylish in a minimalist style!
The emphasis on ECD and eco-friendly living and working spaces is making designers come up with some fantastic new kitchen
materials, which are often sparklingly attractive as well as being functional..
go and look at some of these
innovations to create a truly contemporary and environmentally responsible kitchen!
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