Over the years, the kitchen has become a place that blends social interactions, aesthetics and functionality into one space. Far from being the place traditionally used only to cook food, the kitchen has evolved into a space that is akin to the heart of a home. This importance continues to make homeowners aware that a well-designed kitchen can elevate and upgrade an entire home.
To create a well-designed kitchen, every aspect has to be considered and the following factors should be kept in mind. The front materials, the front style, the finishes (or colors) as well as the handle choice. These components have not only the most important impact on the overall look & feel of the kitchen, they also significantly impact the budget of the kitchen.
In this article, we explore some of the most popular front materials used for residential kitchens by leading suppliers and vendors around the world.
1. Melamine (direct coating)
Melamine is the most popular front material system in the kitchen industry. It is extremely resistant, and whilst the surface can contain textures that enhances the overall look & feel, it is easy to clean, and the most economical choice as front material system.
2. Laminate
Laminate is also a very popular front material system used in the kitchen industry. It is extremely resilient. The surface is muti-layered and therefore, thicker than the melamine front. It is considered to be sturdier than the melamine front with the same easy to clean characteristics.
3. Lacquered Laminate
Lacquered Laminate is basically a lacquered PET film applied on the core material that can come in glossy or in mat finish. The front can be smooth or the front ban be framed, with all sides usually rounded and without seams. It is a great alternative for genuine lacquered fronts and considered a great value for money solution.
4. Lacquered Laminate (anti-fingerprint coating)
This technology comes in ultra matt finish with PP edging on all sides. It is extremely resistant and very easy to clean thanks to innovative anti-fingerprint coating. Furthermore, it is wear-resistant and considered a highly cross-linked functional layer.
5. Foil
Foil coated fronts are seamless, usually rounded on all sides. They are extremely resilient and ideal when working with framed door front due to seamlessness front face. It is also an attractive alternative to genuine wood fronts or genuine lacquer fronts offering outstanding value for money.
6. Lacquer
Lacquer is one of the purest material forms when it comes to door and front materials systems. It is hard-wearing and easy to clean. The front faces are seamless and come in mat or glossy finish. When you have ultra-high gloss fronts, they are usually coming with PP edging on all sides. Hones lacquered fronts come with slight texture which guarantees better scratch resistance. It is also a premium material and on the higher price side.
7. Wood
Genuine wood framed doors have a veneer infill panel and are lacquered. The panels are made of solid wood and usually have a thickness of min. 20mm. Due to the lacquered coating, the surface is very hard wearing and easy to clean. Just like lacquer and (safety) glass fronts, it is also a premium material and on the higher price side.
As you can see from the most popular front materials systems, kitchens are very versatile and kitchens offer many different options when it comes to just the doors fronts alone.
In combination with the hundreds of finish (color) options for the doors fronts as well as the thousands of different combination possibilities for carcass, worktops and appliances, it requires well trained kitchen specialists that genuinely guide you through the product, design and process.
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