Kitchen material
The service life of kitchen furniture, its appearance and functionality directly depend on the material from which it is made. You can buy the cheapest possible product, but it will not withstand operation with constant fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Therefore, you should select the optimal solution that will be affordable, but at the same time have suitable technical characteristics.
Kitchen building
Modern kitchens are made from four main materials. The most luxurious is solid wood. These are expensive options made from natural wood without adhesives. For use in conditions of high humidity, wood is treated with hydrophobic compounds. Most often, solid wood kitchens are made exclusively to order; the style is selected based on the overall design of the room. Their high cost is compensated by their very long service life.
In addition to natural wood, the following materials are used to make kitchen furniture:
Multiplex is an alternative to natural wood. Multiplex panels are a laminated material made from wood lamellas. Thanks to the perpendicular arrangement of fibers in the layers, kitchen elements do not deform under the influence of high humidity and temperature. For gluing, environmentally friendly resins are used, which have a minimal level of formaldehyde emissions. They are safe for human health.
MFD is a relatively cheap glued material consisting of a finely dispersed fraction of wood glued together using polymer resins under high pressure. Thanks to the use of resins, MDF has increased hydrophobic properties and a long service life. The appearance depends on the type of laminating film used. It can imitate the color and texture of natural wood.
Chipboard is an older material that is now sometimes used in kitchens. Chipboards are made from wood chips and do not withstand moisture well. Especially in places where there are cuts at the ends, where there is no protective film. Kitchens made from chipboard are the cheapest, but have the shortest service life.
Facade
The facade refers to the front part of the kitchen, on which its appearance and functionality depend. For the manufacture of facades, the same material can be used as for the rest of the structure, that is, MDF or solid wood. However, to reduce the cost of structures and improve the appearance, other options are used:
Frame facade - made of MDF in the form of a frame, into which glass, plastic, and rattan panels are then inserted. The frame design gives wide scope for the imagination of designers, and kitchens based on them are inexpensive.
Veneered facade - in this case, the base of the front panel is also made of MDF, after which the outer surface is covered with natural wood veneer. This reduces the cost of the design, but gives it a beautiful appearance. Veneered facades last a long time and can be restored if necessary.
Postforming is a special technology for manufacturing facades. A polymer material or continuous pressing laminate is used, which is glued to an MDF base on all sides. This allows you to implement complex design solutions and reliably protect the glued panel from adverse external influences.
Tabletop
The working part of the kitchen unit experiences increased mechanical stress during operation. Therefore, when choosing, you should be guided not only by the design, but also by the strength of the material. The following options are used:
Artificial stone - countertops of this type are made from stone chips and polymer resins. Unlike products made from natural stone, such countertops can be given any, even the most complex, shape. They do not deteriorate from contact with aggressive substances, are not stained by food products, can withstand impact, but are afraid of high temperatures.
Moisture-resistant chipboard is a laminated material based on wood chips and polymer resins. Hydrophobic substances are added to the adhesive composition, which repel moisture and protect the tabletop during operation. A decorative and protective coating of increased strength is glued to the surface of the chipboard, which can withstand the effects of sharp objects and aggressive substances.
Natural stone - marble or granite is used. It has an unlimited service life and beautiful appearance, but does not withstand impact. Instead of expensive natural stone, artificial stone is often used. It is made from stone chips and polymer resins. Devoid of the disadvantages of natural materials, the tabletop can have a complex geometric shape.
Accessories
Kitchen furniture will not be as comfortable to use without high-quality fittings. This includes various types of hinges, door closers, gas lifts, retractable mechanisms and roof rails.
Modern fittings are, first of all, a universal assistant that allows you to conveniently, efficiently and, most importantly, silently use sashes and doors and additional filling systems.
Choosing high-quality fittings is the key to long-term use of the kitchen!
MDF painted
Painted facades are MDF boards coated with several layers of furniture enamel and finally varnish. Painted MDF allows you to get rich and bright colors. Spectacular gloss will add a special chic to your kitchen. Enamel allows you to create glossy, matte, pearlescent and metallic effect surfaces. The technology for painting MDF occurs in stages: the surface of the MDF is covered with an insulator, after which primer is applied, then painted and varnished. To achieve a deep glossy surface, the layers are sanded and polished.
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What color of kitchen set should I choose?
When choosing a color scheme, it is necessary to take into account the design of the entire room. However, interior design experts also advise taking the following tips into account:
Dark glossy - this option looks beautiful in any room, but requires increased care. Dried drops of water, dust, and fingerprints will be clearly visible on the facades.
Glossy white is a universal color and surface texture for rooms of any size. Unlike dark gloss, drops, dirt, and fingerprints are practically invisible on light gloss. It is very easy to care for such a kitchen.
Dark shades visually reduce the area of the room, so they are not recommended for use in small rooms in city apartments.
Yellow tones “brighten” the room in case of lack of natural light.
Blue and beige pastel colors are appropriate in rooms with large windows through which a lot of light from the street enters.
When choosing a color, it is not recommended to use “poisonous” shades, which will irritate the eyes and quickly go out of fashion. It is better to use colors of natural origin. When choosing a kitchen painted in two colors, you must use light for the upper part of the set and dark for the lower part. Otherwise, the cabinets will “press” on you, which will make staying in the room uncomfortable.
Plastic
Modern plastic production technologies make it possible to reproduce surfaces that are as close in appearance as possible to natural materials, such as wood or stone. The base of the facade is MDF or chipboard, and plastic is applied to the surface of the boards and determines the visual perception that makes plastic facades so popular.
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Kitchen styles
The design of furniture for the kitchen, like the color, directly depends on the chosen design style. Most often, designers use the following options:
Classic - furniture in this style is most often made from natural materials or their imitation, painted in natural tones. Wood, stone, bronze, brass are used.
Minimalism - the main features of this option are simplicity and high functionality. No complex design elements or fancy accessories are used.
Modern is a style characterized by simplicity of lines and severity of additional elements. To paint Art Nouveau furniture, two contrasting colors are usually used.
Provence is a Mediterranean style, which is characterized by pastel blue and beige tones, artificially aged surfaces, and the use of wood as the main material.
High-tech - kitchens with simple shapes and without a large number of additional accessories. Steel, plastic, glass are used. The color is neutral, without bright colors or patterns.
Country is an American rustic style characterized by the use of wood. Ceramic dishes and textile elements are used as accessories and additional elements.
Loft is a separate direction in design, which is characterized by the use of rough surfaces, artificially aged metal, and ceramic bricks.
MDF covered with plastic
The ends of the facade can be processed in three ways: 1. Cladding with aluminum profiles. 2. Cladding four sides of the facade with acrylic or PVC. 3. Postforming - plastic is bent at two ends of the facade, the remaining two ends are lined with PVC or acrylic edges.
MDF is used as the basis of the facade, which is lined with plastic. Modern plastic has an attractive appearance and visually allows it to imitate natural materials, for example, wood, stone, metal. The advantage of MDF facades lined with plastic is their high strength and resistance to high temperatures, moisture and ultraviolet radiation. The surface can be cleaned by almost any means, and to scratch the plastic, you need to make an effort. Plastic facades can be either glossy or matte.
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Kitchen furniture shapes
Another important factor when choosing is the shape and arrangement of furniture elements. When choosing, you need to take into account the shape and size of the room. The following options are common:
In the shape of the letter L - a classic option for city apartments and small spaces;
In the shape of the letter P , the kitchen is placed along three walls of the kitchen, providing maximum space for placing household appliances and products. However, in this case there is no space left for the dining table;
Direct - furniture is installed along one wall of the kitchen. An excellent option for very small spaces.
Double-row – a kitchen that is placed along opposite walls of the room. It has the same advantages as the U-shaped one. But this leaves room for the front door and window, located on two opposite walls.
Island - a kitchen with a separate module - an island - which can be placed anywhere in the room. Plus - the convenience of cooking. The downside is the need for a large area.
Metal
Metal facades are usually made of stainless steel or aluminum. Wooden facades are inferior in strength to metal facades. When designing a high-tech kitchen interior, designers often give preference to metal facades, although in the chalet style you can also find combinations of sparkling steel surfaces and aged wood. Aluminum facades are lighter than stainless steel facades. Aluminum withstands temperature fluctuations, is durable and resistant to high humidity.
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Deciding on a style
Most manufacturers do not divide their kitchens into styles and distinguish only two directions: modern and classic.
| Set in a modern style | Classic style set |
| Laconic, with a monochromatic coating | Decorated as wood, decorated with carvings and stucco moldings |
| Instead of handles, there is often a push mechanism | Handles play an important decorative role |
| Styles: techno, loft, brutalism, functionalism | Styles: classical - English, rococo; Romanesque |
Some manufacturers offer an interesting solution for fans of minimalism: completely hidden kitchens. There are two options: sliding panels and a kitchen disguised as a cabinet. They can be found from Italian manufacturers Arclinea and Luigi Rosselli Architects, as well as from Australian studio Minosa Design.
How to measure a kitchen
During measurements, it is better to carry out the results several times and record them in millimeters for greater accuracy.
Before taking measurements, let's draw a plan of our kitchen on a piece of paper. It should be marked:
- drain;
- ventilation duct;
- gas pipes;
- heating batteries;
- niches;
- window;
- doors;
- position of sockets and switches.
Now let's start taking measurements. We go from large to small: first we measure the distance between the walls. Then we measure the length of the walls themselves. Just in case, we take three measurements: near the floor, in the middle of the wall and under the ceiling.
Next, we measure smaller objects: protrusions, windows, radiators and doors.
We measure the distance from the corners to the sink and stove drain.
At the very end, we measure small details such as the location of sockets and switches.
