Kitchen Benchtops

Laminate
Everybody is familiar with laminate kitchen benchtops. Laminates are the most popular benchtop material, mostly through price considerations. Some people refer to high pressure laminate as Formica, which was the original brand back in the 1950’s. Laminate has come a long way since then with a huge choice of. brands colours and qualities. It is much thinner nowadays of course and can be formed into curves for soft edges.

Stainless Steel
A great kiwi favourite for many years, the stainless steel benchtop will be the stuff of childhood memories for many. Tough, resilient and reliable the stainless steel benchtop tends to see out the rest of the kitchen.

Granite
Traditionally an expensive choice for only the most opulent of kitchens, competition and finishing machinery have brought the cost down to the point where the granite benchtop is seen in mid-range and even cheap kitchens.

Marble
The best known of the marbles is probably Carrera, named after the town in Italy where it has been quarried for thousands of years. White with dark grey veining, it is a beautiful stone and suits both traditional and modern kitchen styles.  However, it’s a soft stone and doesn’t resist knocks and scrapes as well as most other stones.  It’s also vulnerable to acidic fluids such as wine, which can cause staining.

Engineered stone
Engineered or manmade stone is usually a quartz and resin compound. Manmade stones are the latest entry into the benchtop market. Made to purpose and formed under huge pressure they are very strong and provide a hard, attractive and durable work surface. Brands such as Caesarstone, Silestone and Stonex will be familiar to many.

Timber
Of all the more popular benchtop materials timber is probably the least utilitarian. It can look particularly good in a period or country kitchen yet there are designers who create great effects in contemporary kitchens.

Stainless steel

Granite with undermount sink

Quarz Stone, undermount sink

Timber with Butler sinks

Laminate
Everybody is familiar with the laminate kitchen benchtop. It is the most common benchtop material. Some people refer to high pressure laminate as Formica, which was the original brand back in the 1950’s. Laminate has come a long way since then with a huge choice of. brands colours and qualities. It is much thinner nowadays of course and can be formed into curves.

Stainless Steel
A great kiwi favourite for many years, the stainless steel bench top will be the stuff of childhood memories for many. Tough, resilient and reliable the stainless steel benchtop tends to see out the rest of the kitchen.

Granite
Traditionally an expensive choice for only the most opulent of kitchens, competition and finishing machinery have brought the cost down to the point where it is seen in mid-range and even cheap kitchens.

Marble
The best known of the marbles is probably Carrera, named after the town in Italy where it has been quarried for thousands of years. White with dark grey veining, it is a beautiful stone and suits both traditional and modern kitchen styles.

Engineered stone
Engineered or manmade stone is usually a quartz and resin compound. Manmade stones are the latest entry into the benchtop market. Formed under huge pressure they are very strong and provide a hard, attractive and durable work surface. Brands such as Caesarstone, Silestone and Stonex will be familiar to many.

Timber
Of all the more popular benchtop materials timber is probably the least utilitarian. It can look particularly good in a period or country kitchen yet there are designers who create great effects in contemporary kitchens.

Glass
Glass benchtops are being developed into attractive and cost-effective alternatives to the more traditional benchtop materials. A few specialist companies are not starting to offer these products.

Other Materials
There are other less niche market materials such as plastics e.g. Corian and similar products; concrete, glass and paint finishes.

Feng Shui and Stone
Natural stone such as marble or granite provides a sense of durability and longevity, whilst at the same time representing strength and resistance to outside forces.

In the kitchen, Stone may be used to counterbalance the presence of fire and validate the strength and importance of the work done there. Using granite or marble in the kitchen for benchtops therefore, is a good choice for the harmony of the room.

Stainless Steel

Granite

Laminate

Timber

Manmade Stone

Feng Shui and the kitchen >>>