The materials chosen for the walls and floors in the kitchens and bathrooms have a huge role to play, stylistically and practically. These are surfaces that are highly visible and in the open-plan setting, always on show as well as so often in use. So what are the latest surface trends that can help ensure both form and function are met? Simon Boocock, Managing Director of CRL Europe, takes a look.
The materials used for kitchen and bathroom surfaces have a tremendous impact on the design of the space overall, both visually and practically. Now more than ever before, comfort and luxury are at the heart of these rooms, so the surfaces chosen need to be as big on practical benefits as they are on style. The kitchen is a multi-functional space at the heart of our homes while the bathroom is a home-spa, a place of sanctuary and escapism and it is the surfaces chosen for these two areas that will have the biggest impact.
Surfaces walls and floors, plus worktops, are all highly visible. This means that from an aesthetic viewpoint, the style and colours chosen really do matter. The kitchen and bathroom are also high-traffic areas of course, so practicalities are just as important. Materials that are easy to wipe clean and can withstand high temperatures and spillages must prevail.
Trending Sintered Stone
This accounts in large part for the growing popularity of materials such as sintered stone. Extremely hard wearing, Ceralsio is non-porous, stain, scratch, heat and shock resistant and also very strong and simple to care for, making it ideal for use in the kitchen and bathroom. Available in a wide range of colours and patterns, Ceralsio is also an extremely flexible option for the contemporary and classically-styled home.
Ceralsio offers the best of both worlds, available in a myriad of styles while being a highly functional surface that is ultra-durable and easy to maintain. Meeting the demands of modern design and modern living, sintered stone is an on-trend material choice that is unaffected by the passage of time. Ceralsio can be used for virtually any surface, from feature and media walls in the living area, to kitchen splashbacks and worktops and bathroom countertops.
Features and benefits
The growing popularity of sintered stone is unsurprising, given the many advantages of the material, including:
- Resistance to wear and tear – ideal for use indoors and on external projects.
- Scratch resistance – even in high traffic areas with lots of contact with footwear, Ceralsio will not scratch, even over time.
- Stain resistance – sintered stone is unaffected by products like solvents, detergents, and bleach, as long as any spillages are cleaned away within 24 hours.
- UV resistance – a weather-proof solution that makes it suitable for use outdoors too.
- Impact resistance – Ceralsio has a high resistance to knocks and impacts by everyday objects.
- Easy to clean and care for – no extra care or special products are needed to clean it. Stains can be removed with water or mild cleaning products and there is no requirement for sealing.
- Hygienic – Because Ceralsio is a non-porous surface, the build-up of bacteria or mould is prevented, making it an excellent flooring option for environments such as public washrooms in restaurants and bars.
- Bending strength – Ceralsio can withstand a high weight without bending or becoming deformed, with the entire surface remaining flat.
From a style viewpoint, large format slabs can be used to create astonishing vertical surfaces on kitchen and bathroom walls and offer endless possibilities for floors and countertops, visually expanding spaces with fewer design interruptions.
Slim profiles
Available in a super-thin 6mm profile, plus 12mm and 20mm thicknesses, Ceralsio is the ideal material choice for a media or feature wall, creating a sense of warmth and working in harmony with furniture and the overall décor while really drawing the eye. Equally, the 6mm profile makes Ceralsio a trending choice for kitchen splashbacks too. While the thin profile of the material creates a seamless impression, it’s the wide choice of styles that really ensures it stands out that makes the material an excellent alternative to painting or wallpaper.
In the bathroom where wetroom-style showering is on-trend, the 6mm profile works extremely well too, with a grout-free alternative to tiling that creates a spa-like space that is also extremely practical from a cleaning and maintenance viewpoint.
Nature-inspired designs
Style-wise, visual appeal is one of the main drivers for the popularity of marble-inspired patterns in the kitchen and bathroom, all of which can be emulated to perfection with Ceralsio. The elegance and luxury look of marble accounts for much of its appeal. Revised classy marble and granite patterns displaying elegant veins used on kitchen worktops and on bathroom walls and floors create a sophisticated ambience that is the epitome of luxury and sophistication. The ancestral charm of stone makes it one of the most popular materials in contemporary design, with Ceralsio ensuring that this look is solid, durable and extremely versatile.
However, marble itself is not overly suited to the kitchen and bathroom environment, due to its high maintenance needs. Alternatives such as sintered stone offer the opportunity to embrace this trend, both from a visual and functional perspective. Although often chosen as imitations of natural materials such as marble and wood, Ceralsio doesn’t need to be sealed, which means maintenance can be kept to a minimum.
For details visit www.ceralsio.co.uk or call 01706 863600.