Add character to the kitchen with textures and finishings

LIKE A well-tailored suit, no matter how well a kitchen is made or designed, the materials can make or break the overall look. You should choose the right materials for your kitchen finishes in order to ensure the right look.

Trendsetters

Colour is always a great way to create the right mood in any room. For the kitchen, the trend is still towards more neutral colours such as whites, stones, charcoals and neutral tones.

Greys have been stronger this year, with most being mixed with either a wood that has a grey undertone, or the same grey in a matt or gloss finish. There is also a mix of neutral solid colours, for example, a full white gloss kitchen, with a feature area of functionality in grey or black.

Repro wood finishes are gaining traction in South Africa, sporting a good pedigree in terms of eco-manufacturing, as well as being extremely durable. With their perfectly realised three-dimensional grained surfaces and exact wood effect, they are now barely distinguishable from real wood veneers.

Along with this wood trend, we see a move towards organic materials being used in the home - be it stone, natural timbers, exposed brick or concrete worktops.

Other textures we are seeing in the kitchen include flamed and brushed granite, which offer a textured matt surface. With veneers, rough sawn timber is becoming popular as the veneer has a rougher surface offering some interest to the scheme. Matt glass is also a wonderful material offering various textures.

Finally, porcelain stone for counters and doors is gaining popularity as you gain a natural finish with a matt texture, and it offers a very dramatic look.

Thin is the new big thing with counter tops; some European companies are using ultra-thin tiles (3mm) for the tops.

Quartz is also a great counter top material as it is non-porous, shock, scratch and stain-resistant, and if you choose a specifically engineered quartz, it contains active anti-bacteriostatic properties that suppress the growth and development of harmful bacteria and micro-organisms throughout the life of the material.

Creating your look

Don't be afraid to mix colours, textures and finishes, such as wood veneers with high-gloss laminates; but keep cabinets neutral (whites, creams and wood grains) then bring in colour on walls and with décor. You can also mix wood, stone, stainless steel and porcelain.

To add warmth and character to the space try combining high-gloss lacquers with a textured veneer, as this will enhance the space. You could also use glass cladding with stone porcelain, which has contrasting finishes and textures. The combinations are endless, but the key is in the adage: less is always more.

It is advisable to focus on a few core textures, rather than trying to incorporate every single texture that is released into your kitchen's design. This will ensure that the space has character and interest without it feeling cluttered from a texture point of view.

When in doubt, remember to keep the simple, uncluttered, modern lines of the design, with the various textures enhancing and not overpowering the overall design.

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