Kitchen Design: The Material World
In no other room do so many materials converge and no where else are they subjected to the same extremes of abuse as in the kitchen. The wide range of materials, both man-made and natural, found in even the most basic kitchen, means that you must make numerous decisions about those materials every step of the way. These decisions effect your budget, your construction schedule, the look of your kitchen and how well it works for years to come.
In this section we’re going to look at the surface materials used in your kitchen from both an aesthetic and practical viewpoint. Construction materials used under these visible surfaces are not covered except as they affect your choice in a given material.
Both design considerations and practical issues must be considered with each material choice. Some materials that look great are not durable enough for kitchen use while other eminently practical materials may not enhance your design. Combine this with your attempts to create a coherent overall design and your knowledge of the material world becomes an important part of the design learning process.
Materials Palette
As part of your research you should begin assembling a materials palette to help you coordinate the color, texture, feel and function of the many surfaces in your kitchen. This palette may consist of wood and stone samples, manufacturer’s samples of laminates, tile and various man-made materials and samples you’ve collected for matching to a color or texture that you find appealing.
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Like the range of choices in cabinetry or appliances, the materials that make up your kitchen have many properties. They not only have color and texture, they are tactile, meaning they’re either resilient or hard, warm or cold. They reflect light differently, react to water and foods differently, require specialized construction or underlayment and may be finished many different ways.
Every day new material choices and options come onto the market. Researching these choices and creating a palette of material that appeal to you is the first step in cutting through this bewildering variety and making choices that work. Consider each material’s maintenance, durability, cost and installation requirements along with its aesthetic appeal before you make your choices.
