132 Benchtops & Cabinets

Guide to Choosing Kitchen Benchtops

Whether you're building or remodelling a kitchen area, the bench is an essential element. The practicality of the kitchen benchtop will be an important factor to consider when choosing which one will fit in your kitchen. You must be aware of whether it is resistant to UV light, heat, stains or impact, if it is liable to abrasions, and how easy it is to maintain and clean. No matter what style you like, there's an appropriate kitchen benchtop to suit your needs.

In evaluating the form, ask yourself:
      • Does it suit my design?

        • Do I want to use this benchtop for the rest of my life? Or do I intend to update it regularly?

        • What happens when natural or artificial light hits the worktop?

        • Am I pleased with the look?

Here are some options for benchtops in the kitchen:

Porcelain Benchtop
Porcelain benchtops are a product made of powdered clay, joined by extreme heat and pressure. This extremely compact surface is durable. Porcelain's density is high and its low porosity makes it ideal to prepare food on. Porcelain is resistant to acidic and liquid substances, and is extremely scratch-resistant.

Engineered Stone Benchtop
Incorporating resin and granite or natural quartz, engineered stone comes in a variety of colours. The composite stone provides an exceptional bench top that is tough and resistant to heat, stains and scratches and doesn't require regular maintenance.

Bamboo Benchtop
Bamboo is often thought of as timber even though it's technically grass. Bamboo is a distinct enough substance that it merits its own classification. It is among the greenest materials due to its quick growth and recyclable nature. It's also a visually appealing material. The natural wood colour blends well with many kitchen colour schemes.

Aluminium Benchtops/Stainless Steel Benchtops
Aluminium benchtops or stainless steel benchtops are becoming more popular in residential spaces. A kitchen benchtop made of stainless steel has an industrial look to it and provides a modern twist on the traditional kitchen design. 

Marble Benchtops
Marble is a natural stone made from dolomite or limestone. These kinds of rocks are known for their mineral deposit veins, making them unique in appearance. Marble is flexible enough that it can scratch easily if it is not maintained regularly, with some food items capable of staining the surface too!

Granite Benchtops
Granite is a natural material that's been in use for many centuries. It has rough mineral grains in a variety of shades, colours and textures. Granite has a timeless appearance and is strong enough to withstand everyday wear and tear.

Laminate Benchtops
Laminate benchtops are produced using high heat to bind paper and plastic layers. It is extremely affordable and comes in a variety of colours and finishes to match any kitchen design. However, it's not as long-lasting as other choices and can be damaged by heat. Its price means that replacing laminate is still a cheaper alternative to buying other benchtop materials.

Guide to Choosing Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers

Kitchen cabinets are usually the main decorative element, showcasing the home's design and creating an ideal setting for family and friend gatherings. The design of kitchen cabinets can affect their price, durability and appearance. 

Here’s a list of kitchen cabinet styles to choose from:

Shaker Cabinets
Shaker cabinets are popular for their square edges or box-shaped appearance. Think of a slab of wood in the shape of a rectangle, and inside that shape is a second square-shaped box, or inset panel. The simple design makes the cabinets easy to keep clean.

Craftsman-Style Cabinets
A simple cabinet style that is characterised by straight lines and minimal ornamentation. Shaker cabinets can be considered a type of craftsman style.

Flat-Front Cabinets
Flat-front door cabinets, also known as slab doors, are made of solid wood with no frames or panels and no ornamentation. They have a minimalist, simple style that can be incorporated into any contemporary or modern kitchen.

Beadboards Cabinets
Beadboard cabinets are distinguished by their vertical slats of wood joined together on their long side. 

Handle-Free Cabinets or Handleless Cabinets
The handleless design, also known as a handle-free cabinet, refers to the absence of a handle affixed to the cabinet's front panel. Grooves on the top surface edge allow you to pull the cabinet open with your finger. Alternatively, push latches can be installed, so when you push the cabinet, you trigger a mechanical or magnetic device that springs the cabinet open. 

Raised Panel Cabinets
Raised panel refers to the centre panel of a cabinet that is a little higher, or raised, than the surrounding wood. 
Below are some considerations when it comes to installing your kitchen drawers: 

Corner Drawers
The corners of kitchen cabinetry are often thought of as dead spaces. The angled nature of corner drawers offers a unique method for maximising storage capacity.

Peg Drawer Organisers
Upright pegs in your drawer work to organise plates, bowls and dishes in neat, secure stacks.

Warming Drawers
A warming drawer does exactly as the name suggests: it keeps your food warm until it is ready to be eaten.

Utensil Trays
The insert in drawers can store utensils in a fashion that creates the most efficient use of the drawer space.

Archify is a architecture and design platform for product sourcing and  specification . We are proud to have a large selection of kitchen benchtops and cabinets from trusted suppliers, brands and manufacturers. Find the kitchen benchtops and cabinets that you need for your project, here at Archify. 

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