Wood Finishes For the Kitchen
Choosing cabinet finishes for the kitchen takes time and careful consideration. Timber veneers and wood look laminates are a popular choice for Australian kitchens adding warmth, dimension and contrast to the space. Here at Retreat Design, we love to incorporate timber and wood-like finishes in to the kitchen design and have several options when it comes to selecting the right product for you.
REAL WOOD / TIMBER VENEER
Nothing compares to the luxury and warmth of real wood and our Italian suppliers have an array of veneer finishes on offer for their kitchen collections. Ebony, Chestnut, Walnut and Teak to name a few.
Benefits:
Luxurious finish
Exclusive product with a high-end finish
A real wood finish and natural product
Adds warmth to the kitchen
Negatives:
A natural product which has a less uniform appearance
If changes are made or damage is done and needs replacing, the wood cannot usually be exactly matched with a replacement
Somewhat delicate and requires more care with heavy items in the kitchen
Grain alignment cannot be perfect due to the natural characteristics of the wood
A pricier option and can be very expensive for rare veneers
WOOD LOOK LAMINATES
Approximately 75% of the kitchens we produce use wood laminates due to their excellent durability and price point. The wide range of laminates on offer now have life-like timber finishes with texture and tone very similar to that of real wood.
Benefits:
Durable finish for kitchen cabinetry
Exceptional quality from our Italian suppliers such as Arredo3 and local suppliers such as Polytec & Laminex.
Affordable price point compared to real wood
Hard wearing, easy to clean
New technology allows for laminates to look less like plastic with more texture and a matte surface
Negatives:
Made from synthetic plastic
Can look too uniform, ‘too perfect’ compared to the natural beauty of real wood
Can’t have the grain alignment
When it comes to selecting the right product for you, ultimately it comes down to aesthetics, functionality and budget constraints. Our designers have an array of wood finish samples available in the showroom to guide you through the selection process.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information on these innovative wood materials and how we can incorporate them in to your kitchen design. Our showroom is located at 156 Onslow Rd, Shenton Park W.A. (Ph. 08 6101 1190). We’d love to hear from you!
Arredo3 Oak laminate cabinetry at our Shenton Park Project
Effeti ‘Natural Oak’ Veneer cabinetry at our Lake Monger Project
Our Claremont Project featuring Canapa Oak Laminate for the integrated fridge
Effeti stained oak veneer cabinetry at our City Beach Project
Stained Oak Veneer at our West Leederville Project
Wood laminate ‘Poro Inciso Rovere Columbia’ from our Italian supplier Arrital at our Mt Claremont Project