Balancing style and durability in kitchen materials is always a trade-off. In design there is a fundamental concept of form versus function, and most people lean more towards one over the other. Rarely can we have perfection in form that also meets the criteria for perfection in function. In today’s blog article we are going to discuss how to approach style and durability when choosing materials for your new kitchen.
Time
When choosing materials consider time as one of the first considerations. By time, we mean several things. How long do you want the materials to last? How long do you intend to stay in your space? Will it be up for resale in less than five years? Is this your forever kitchen and you never want to change anything again? In this way, if you consider durability as a sliding scale, you can decide just how durable do the materials need to be.
Let’s use marble as an example. Say you want marble counters. Marble is exquisite, but it is softer and more likely to be damaged over time than granite or quartz. Perhaps the key is to have a small area of marble just for rolling out dough, and choosing something tougher for other larger areas.
Intended Use
When choosing materials for your kitchen, the intended use of your kitchen should be a factor in your choices. Some materials may be beautiful, but harder to clean than others. So, who is using the kitchen? Is it a busy family with small children or is it just a professional chef that you are paying?
Let’s use cabinet pulls as an example. A detailed, filigree pull may be beautiful but hard to clean. It may not be so practical if you have small children with dirty hands who are going to be gumming it up regularly. Something smooth and easier to clean might be a better choice, even if both pulls have equal durability.
Commitment
How much time or energy do you want to expend cleaning the kitchen. Shiny, contemporary, lacquered cabinets are beautiful but will show fingerprints. If you want them to gleam, they require regular attention.
You are the only one who can decide the importance of form versus function in your kitchen. Consider the overall picture and look at each material as it relates to does it give you the durability you want and need and does it give you the look that you want at the price you can afford.
If you want to learn more about kitchen design, definitely call Elite Kitchens and Bathrooms for some help with your project at (604) 533-4541, as this is our area of expertise.
Elite Kitchens and Bathrooms, based in Langley, BC, is your source for everything custom cabinetry related. As the 2019 winner of the Vancouver Consumer Choice Award, they pride themselves on stellar customer service to match the quality of their cabinets.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about cabinets, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected].
