Testing Materials in our Material Lab

Designing and building a bespoke kitchen is a dream come true for many homeowners. It's an opportunity to create a space that perfectly fits your needs and reflects your style. But with so many materials to choose from, how do you ensure that the ones you select are suitable for use in a kitchen environment? At our workshop, we understand the importance of material testing and the role it plays in creating a kitchen that lasts. This is where our Material Lab comes in.

Testing New Materials

As kitchen designers and makers, we are constantly exploring new materials to use in our designs. But before we introduce them into our kitchens, we put them through rigorous testing to ensure they can withstand the harsh environment of a kitchen. We test them against common cleaning products, oil spills, and even sticky jam fingers. We have been know to take samples home and prop them against the wall behind our hob to test how they react to everyday grease splatters.

Natural Materials

While we love to incorporate new and innovative materials into our designs, particularly when they are naturally sourced. Naturally sourced materials such as wood can be temperamental when it comes to changes in humidity and temperature. They can shrink in warm summers and expand in the cooler damp winter months. It is our years of experience and appreciation of the material that allows us to work to these constraints and consider them during the design phase and to construct cabinets in such a away that mitigates dimensional changes.

Recycled Materials

As we become more aware of the impact of our consumption on the environment, we are witnessing a surge in materials that aim to reduce waste sent to landfill or incineration. Two such materials are Durat and Foresso, both of which offer innovative solutions to this problem. For instance, Durat has a "Durat Circular" program, which aims to create a circular economy of their material by buying back and refurbishing used Durat. Foresso, on the other hand, uses waste materials, such as timber chips and sawdust, to create unique composite materials.

In addition to these eco-friendly materials, we are also seeing a resurgence of traditional materials such as terrazzo. This versatile material has been around for centuries and is renowned for its durability and timeless aesthetic. By using these materials, we can create beautiful and functional kitchens that also prioritize sustainability.

If you're not already familiar with Durat, Foresso, or terrazzo, they are definitely worth considering for your next kitchen project. These materials not only offer aesthetic appeal but also contribute to a more sustainable future.

Designing for Longevity

At our workshop, we believe that a bespoke kitchen should be built to last. We want our designs to be enjoyed by our clients for years to come, which is why we take the time to test materials thoroughly before using them into our designs. We want our clients to have peace of mind knowing that their kitchen has been designed and built with longevity in mind.

To summarise; material testing is a crucial step in the bespoke kitchen design process. It ensures that the materials selected are suitable for use in a kitchen environment and that the design will stand the test of time.