Why Kitchen Laminates are Giving Stone a Run for Its Money

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Laminates have had a bad rap in the past, often seen as a cost-effective alternative to their authentic counterparts, such as natural stone and marble. What’s more, up until now, dark-coloured laminates have been vulnerable to fingerprints, marks and scratches, resulting in lighter-coloured laminates being the preferred choice for countertops, cupboards and vanities.

Thanks to innovative fingerprint technology, laminates have now been developed with a super-matt, smudge-resistant surface, making them durable, low-maintenance and ideal for both vertical and benchtop applications in high-traffic areas.

Read on and discover why laminate makes a brilliant all-rounder for a luxurious touch, with a fabulous price tag to match.

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1. Versatility in Style

Whatever design aesthetic you’re seeking for your kitchen, there’s a laminate that will fit right in. Whether you opt for the cool appearance of honed stone in beautiful marble or travertine to bring elegance to a modern classic scheme, or you pick the raw, edginess of concrete laminates that offer a smooth, on-trend matt finish for industrial settings, laminate surfaces are extremely versatile and easy to work with.

Take the striking Calcutta Grey laminate, for example, inspired by the stone-encrusted Italian township of Matera, and designed with gentle veining for an authentic look. Unlike real marble, this beautiful laminate can be cut to fit any benchtop and is also resistant to stains.

Styling tip: Try mixing darks with lights through your kitchen scheme for a dramatic effect. For example, a pale laminate with dark timber cabinetry will create depth and interest.

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2. Easy to Maintain

Recent advances in technology have made High Pressure Laminate – or HPL – even more popular for kitchen benchtops, thanks to its supremely tough stain- and scuff-resistant surface, and its capability to mimic real stone and timber at a fraction of the cost.

Created under extreme high pressure and heat to form a thin product, which is then glued to furniture or benchtops, these superior technologies have enabled a higher quality product and finish that’s incredibly easy to maintain. All that’s needed is a simple wipe down with a soft cloth, which has been dampened with plain water or a household detergent, to remove all common household spills. No special treatment required!

Styling tip: Go for darker base units beneath your island to contrast with a lighter benchtop and you’ll create a bold design statement. Open shelves are a great display idea when an island faces an open-plan living space.

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3. Its Flexibility Works With Any Layout

Unlike heavy, natural granite or marble, laminates are more flexible and don’t require complex installation, giving you peace of mind they will work with any kitchen layout. Xenolith laminates, in particular, have been developed as a cost-effective alternative to stone, marble or concrete, thanks to its coloured core that creates an aesthetically pleasing solid benchtop.

This coloured core composite laminate is the ultimate product in long-lasting, high-quality, low-maintenance benchtops, and is available in bigger sheet sizes than stone, which means no unsightly seams or joins.

Styling tip: Keen to have a seamless waterfall benchtop either side of your kitchen island? Then a composite laminate, which allows for exposed ends, is the ideal solution.

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4. It’s Multipurpose, Hardwearing and Durable

Most kitchens are a hive of activity, from cooking and eating to homework chores and craft projects, so choosing surfaces that can withstand all these busy lifestyle challenges and still look good should be at the top of your wish list. Besides, you want your kids to be kids and not have to fret about clearing up their messy masterpiece!

Ultra-matt laminates are the new superhero of the kitchen and are viable for vertical application on drawers and cupboards, as well as benchtops, offering robust, hygienic and fingerprint-resistant protection across your entire space. Just imagine how hardy and easy to clean your busy kitchen space could be! What’s more, with an unsurpassed, super-matt surface finish that’s beautifully smooth to touch, these elegant laminates will elevate your kitchen’s luxury credentials.

Styling tip: An island makes a wonderful central point in a kitchen where everyone can congregate, so consider adding two separate laminate surfaces, such as a sleek, dark style mixed with a wood effect, to define the food prep area and the eating zone.

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5. They’re Budget-friendly

When it comes to planning a new kitchen or updating an existing one, working out where to spend and save can be tricky. Consider your lifestyle and how you use the space to begin with. For example, if you’re a keen cook, then professional (aka more expensive) appliances might be on your wish list. Or maybe you’ve spotted your dream benchtop that will eat up most of the budget.

Well, the good news is, if you opt for hard-wearing polytec doors and benchtops that combine a super-matt surface and fingerprint-resistant technology with a great price tag, you’ll be guaranteed beautiful robust cabinetry that will retain its good looks for longer. Plus, you’ll have extra cash to splash on those extravagant wish-list additions.

Styling tip: To create a minimalist aesthetic that’s on point, choose super-sleek handle-free laminate doors, such as the new Venette range, and enjoy easy-to-clean surfaces that are timeless.

More: Discover more about polytec’s laminate surfaces here.

Your turn: Which laminate surface has caught your eye and why?

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.