High Quality Material Options For Kitchen Benchtops Sydney

Countertops and benchtops are a fundamental component of our kitchens. Thankfully there are different types of benchtops and countertops, and their specific traits and characteristics will determine, to a significant degree, the style direction of this essential room.

Today we will detail the most important characteristics of the most popular materials for countertops and kitchen benchtops in Sidney.

Porcelain countertops

Porcelain countertops offer homeowners multiple advantages and versatility in style. Porcelain is a highly resistant material which means your kitchen tops will remain scratch and stain free for many years. If you want a material that is high-quality, high-durability, and easy to clean, porcelain should be at the top of your list.

Quartz countertops

Quartz is a highly versatile material for kitchen benchtops in Sidney. Few materials offer a more extensive range of colours and design options than Quartz. Additionally, Quartz is one of the most durable natural stones on the market. One significant advantage that Quartz offers over other natural stones is that it is significantly less porous and thus much more resistant to stains and water damage

Granite countertops

Granite is perhaps the most popular material used for kitchen countertops and benchtops. Granite can add a splash of elegance to any kitchen, and its natural beauty can fit both modern and rustic styles. Granite is without a doubt one of the most durable natural stones on the market and will last for years and years thanks to its extremely high heat and shock resistance. Granite requires some extra care to maintain, but the effort is well worth the trouble.

Stainless steel countertops

Stainless steel is the perfect countertop and benchtop material for futuristic design. It is exceptionally resistant to heat damage and perhaps the easiest to clean material on the market. Additionally, stainless steel remains one of the most hygienic surfaces for kitchens which is the reason you see it so prevalently in professional kitchens around the world.

What to look for when buying natural stone

Natural Stone has been used as a construction material since time immemorial. The use of natural stone in construction and design offers a plethora of benefits that makes it worthy of consideration even in this age of engineered super materials.

But with so many options, choosing which natural stone to use for your next project can be a tedious process; which is why we have decided to make the decision a little less fretful.

What characteristics should be considered?

Appearance: Basalt is different to Limestone, and Marble is different from Granite. Each stone has a particular appearance that makes them suitable for various projects. Try to visualise your completed project and picture what it will look like with different stones before committing.

Structure: The best natural stone should have a uniform internal composition, free of fissures and pockets of soft material. If you can spot stratifications with the naked eye, chances are the stone is not structurally sound.

Weight: A stone’s weight is indicative of many things, not the least of which is its suitability to a given project. Remember, denser material will be heavier but much more resistant to wear over time.

Hardness: This characteristic is fundamental, and especially so if you are going to use the stone on floors, pavements, and driveways. It is determined by the Mohs scale and the higher on the scale you find a particular stone, the harder and stronger it will be.

Porosity: Porosity is important for various reasons. A stone’s porosity will depend on its mineral content and inner structure. Overlooking this characteristic can run you into trouble, for example, because a highly porous stone can easily crack under a sudden freeze because of all the water it has absorbed over time.

What to look for in a bench top – Why Silestone is a good option

The world of kitchen design is highly susceptible to changing tendencies and style trends; modern day kitchens run the gamut from country farm house styles to old-world traditional to contemporary modernism to Mediterranean cottage charm. However, one element that manages to remain consistent throughout is the stone benchtop.

Going with a stone countertop for the kitchen affords homeowners a variety of benefits and virtually zero downsides. Nevertheless, the market is crowded with options and, as such, choosing what type of stone to use can be difficult; which is why today we will briefly discuss the most important qualities to look for in a brand new kitchen countertop, and why Silestone is most definitely a solid contender.

Stain resistance

Kitchens are rife with substances that can permanently stain the benchtops. Drinks like red wine or coffee can do a number on stone, so the first quality you want your new stone benchtop to have is stain resistance. Silestone benchtops have nonporous surfaces which means whatever you spill will have a tough time penetrating it. Unless you go with a stain resistant benchtop, you will never be able to relax in your own kitchen.

Durable

You want to make sure that whatever material you choose, it is durable. There are plenty of brittle stones out there and they will chip or crack the first time you drop a massive meat tenderiser mallet on them. Silestone is an excellent option because it is made with hard quartz. Remember that installing a kitchen benchtop should be a one-time investment.

Easy to clean and maintain

Most of us spend an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen. In fact, if you are anything like me, you probably spend more time in your kitchen than any other room in the house. Look for a countertop material that is easy to clean. With Silestone quartz countertops you get a surface that can be wiped clean in the blink of an eye, so you can spend more time cooking and less time fuzzing about the clean up.

Add style to your kitchen with Smartstone

The modern kitchen is perhaps the most important meeting point of the home. While there are other rooms in the house in which we meet to share in familial activities or conversation, the truth of the matter is that nothing brings us closer to each other than sharing food. Whether it’s a simple afternoon snack or a Sunday night meal, the time we spent in the kitchen is usually filled with joy and moments worthy of memory.

Therefore, the design of any modern day kitchen is important, and it must be approached with great care and detail. Thankfully, creating a space for your family that is elegant, modern, beautiful, and functional is not as hard as you are probably thinking.

Here are a few tips to help you with designing and forming ideas for your future kitchen:

• Include a kitchen island: The kitchen island is a staple of modern kitchen design. A stylish addition to any kitchen, the island can help you play with interesting flows in the room. Adding some benches or high-chairs will help you make your island into a convenient breakfast bar. Topping your kitchen island with high-quality quartz such as Smartstone is another way with which to increase your kitchen’s style and functionality.
• Embrace open shelving: Modern design trends have begun adopting open shelving. Open shelving adds elegance and provides a subtle method to create space, so if your home’s kitchen is on the smaller side, you should seriously consider installing open shelves. Another advantage of installing open shelves is that decorating becomes extremely easy, merely including small potted plants into the nooks and crannies of your kitchen will go a long way in establishing a style.
• Add colour: The wrong colour, or too much of it, can completely ruin your modern design, so if you are looking to add a splash of stylish colour we recommend installing engineered stone countertops. These types of high-quality products, such as Smartstone, can provide your kitchen with a fantastic array of palette options such as clean whites, creamy beiges, khaki greens, earthy browns and many other colours.