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Should I choose quartz, solid wood or laminate for my countertop? And what’s the best choice for my new kitchen cabinets?
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Materials should be selected to meet the requirements for the kitchen, and the choice will depend on the style and design of the room and on the client’s tastes and budget.

WHICH MATERIAL SHOULD YOU USE FOR YOUR KITCHEN OR BATHROOM CABINETS?

17 July 2018 |Kitchen

The kitchen is the most action-packed room in the home. It’s where the whole family comes together several times a day to cook, eat, put away groceries, dishes and accessories, have a drink, clean, etc. The bathroom is another high-use area. Both the kitchen and bathroom should be fitted out with materials chosen for their suitability to handle all this movement.

While many different cabinet materials are available, it is a simple fact that some are more suitable than others for the unique features of a kitchen or bathroom. Materials should be selected to best meet the requirements for the room, and the choice will depend on the room’s style and layout design as well as the client’s tastes and budget. The following products are commonly used in the manufacture of kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

Wood: solid and veneered

When you choose wood cabinets, you are opting for a high-quality product that combines warmth and distinction

Key points:

  • Wood is a noble and natural material that gives an exceptional cachet to any room in which it is used.
  • It is available in several shades to suit the client’s tastes and chosen design.
  • If there are any problems, such as a scratch, wood is easier to repair than other materials.
  • Wood is a particularly durable material.
  • Whether you are leaning towards a contemporary, classic or rustic look, wood goes well with any decor.
  • With today’s sophisticated finishing products and adequate ventilation, there is no reason not to choose wood for your bathroom cabinets.

Wooden cabinet doors

Acrylic

Acrylic is composed of particle board or pine fibers covered with an acrylic film. Whether high gloss or super matte, this high-end material creates a perfect complement to a modern or contemporary style kitchen.

Key points:

  • Among high-gloss products, acrylic stands out for its quality and unparallelled gloss.
  • Thanks to its glossy finish, acrylic brings an incomparable brightness to any decor.
  • The super-matte finish does not show finger marks.
  • A high degree of water/stain resistance is exactly what you want in bathroom cabinets, and acrylic fits the bill perfectly.
  • Whichever shade you choose, acrylic is a very stable material that does not fade over time.

Acrylic cabinet doors

Melamine

The melamine now available in the marketplace has improved greatly. Over the years, the quality and diversity of this material have developed so impressively that it now has its rightful place in the world of kitchen design.

Key points:

  • A wide selection of melamine door models is now available.
  • This material comes in many colours and patterns. Melamine designed to look like wood is convincingly realistic.
  • Generally speaking, melamine remains an affordable material.
  • Lacquered melamine is now available and is highly resistant thanks to the lacquer coating. In addition, lacquered melamine is stable and does not fade over time. This specialized form is more expensive than traditional melamine, but the lacquer covering makes it a one-of-a-kind product.

Melamine cabinet doors

Polyester melamine

In terms of appearance, polyester melamine is half-way between traditional melamine and wood. Consisting of a melamine centre and a polyester-covered frame, this material does an impressive job of replicating the look of natural wood grain. Polyester mealamine is used only in the manufacture of cabinet doors and drawer fronts. This means that cabinet doors and drawer fronts in polyester melamine will be combined with boxes in traditional melamine.

Key points:

  • Polyester melamine represents great value and is very easy to maintain.
  • It is available in a wide range of door models and is notable for its wood-like frames.
  • This material is highly resistant to heat.

Polyester melamine

Thermoplastic

One of the main benefits of thermoplastic is its high moisture-resistance, making it a material of choice for bathroom and kitchen furnishings alike.

Key points:

  • Thermoplastic is moulded and therefore has no joints.
  • This material does not tolerate extreme heat – a fact that should be taken into consideration.
  • Recognized for its good moisture tolerance, thermoplastic is a very suitable material for bathroom cabinets.
  • Thermoplastic is available at various price levels to suit all budgets.  
  • It is available in a wide range of colours and high-gloss and super-matte finishes. Please note that finger marks will show on matte finishes and dark shades.

Thermoplastic cabinet doors

MDF

MDF, or medium-density fiberboard, is a material consisting of wood chips and wood residues bonded by a synthetic resin. Unlike solid wood and wood veneer, MDF must be finished with a coat of opaque lacquer or a coat of paint sealed with varnish.

Key points:

  • MDF has excellent resistance to moisture. This is a stable material that is not prone to warping over time.
  • As in the case of wood, with today’s sophisticated finishing products and adequate ventilation, there is no reason not to choose MDF for your bathroom cabinets.
  • A somewhat fragile material, MDF does not sustain impacts well and can show marks; unfortunately, it is not easily repaired. This would not be the ideal choice for families with young children.

MDF cabinet doors

 

It can sometimes be difficult to navigate all the options available for kitchen or bathroom cabinet materials. Our kitchen designers have an in-depth knowledge of design and the market, and will be able to steer you towards the most suitable products for your tastes, lifestyle and budget. Make an appointment today!

There was a time when most kitchen designs used a single material for all furnishings – but no longer! To learn more about this evolutaion in options, please read our article entitled ONE KITCHEN – SEVERAL CABINET MATERIALS.

22 September 2021

Thank

Sanni david