Tag: bench top

Laminex has biggest refresh in quarter of a century

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date April 17, 2019
No Comments on Laminex has biggest refresh in quarter of a century

Laminex has hit refresh on its colour collection with the most comprehensive update in more than 25 years. The new Laminex Colour Collection has been carefully curated for the Australian lifestyle with an expansive range of true-to-life woodgrains, minerals and metallics, as well as timeless whites and neutrals and the latest trends.

There are more greens than ever in the new Laminex collection

As an iconic Australian brand, Laminex has been a pioneer in decorative, surfaces for over 80 years, providing a product range for interior surfaces including benchtops, splashbacks, doors, walls and panels.

The new collection refines the range to 187 decors, including 41 new ones. The refinement and simplicity of the Laminex range now makes it even easier to navigate and select décors for residential and commercial projects.

The collection has been inspired by the natural landscape. From muted, organic greens to rich, earthy neutrals and sophisticated textural metallics and woodgrains that capture the colour, structure and feel of natural timbers. Inspiration has also been drawn from global forecasting and complementary industries, such as flooring, tapware, appliances and tiles. Each of the décors have been selected and crafted based on their relevance to the Australian way of life and interior design.

“Our commitment to design, innovation, quality and sustainability endures. That’s why we have produced a beautifully curated collection of decorative surfaces that can enhance any space. The new collection is perfect for a wide range of styles and applications and have been designed to stand up to the rigour of everyday life,” says Sacha Leagh-Murray, general manager marketing.

Not only does the collection provide a contemporary and diverse range of choice in surface design, laminate is a durable, hard-wearing material that is resistant to stains and scratches and easy to clean. The Woodgrain, Mineral and Metallic palettes offer the look of other desirable materials at an affordable price point.

Whites & Neutrals
While the ideal shade of white has the power to transform a space, finding the right white can prove challenging. The Laminex Whites palette has 12 tones ranging from cool shades, such as Polar White and Super White for a light, bright, contemporary look as well as creamy, vanilla tones, such as Parchment and tranquil Calm White that work beautifully in classic, traditional interiors.

The Neutrals palette reflects the direction of Australian design with 36 light and dark shades in warm and cool tones. The organic, mid tones can be used singularly as the hero (such as Seed, Possum and Spinifex) or layered with stronger colours and natural textures. There is an increase in green-based tones, appreciated for their calming quality trends. As well as an expansion of darker tones, with the introduction of Green Slate, Terril and French Navy.

Woodgrains
The Laminex Woodgrains palette features 54 décors inspired by a range of natural timbers. The updated palette ranges in colour from pale ash to popular oaks and rich red-based timbers, offering more diversity with inspiration drawn from an array of sources, including salvaged planks, wooden beams and earthy walnuts. There is also more tactility with two textured finishes: Nuance is dual-gloss with a subtle linear and organic aesthetic, while Chalk is low-gloss with the look and feel of a natural veneer.

In addition to being cost-effective, woodgrain laminates offer greater durability than timber veneers, being more resistant to scratches and stains, providing three times more UV resistance.

Minerals
The Laminex Minerals collection features 36 décors that offer the timeless and coveted look of natural stone, marble and concrete. Designed for benchtop and splashbacks, the patterns vary from soft and delicate to heavy and intricate. Four of the décors can be matched with Essastone for seamless integration within a space.

Metallics
The new range of Metallics has 14 décors inspired by natural elements drawing influence from adjacent design industries, such as tapware and cabinetry handles enabling the surfaces to effortlessly integrate into a commercial or residential space. Bronze, copper, brass and platinum work beautifully in classic and urban spaces, while the softer tones of stainless steel, aluminum, and mirrored finishes are ideal for a modern environment.

Accents
From soft pastels to bright and bold hues, the Accents palette has 35 décors designed to personalise a space. These bolder decors were the neutrals of the 1950s to 1970s, but today have new life, adding a pop of colour in predominantly commercial spaces. The revitalised palette features four new pastel décors – Aquamarine, Just Rose, Just Blue and Just Lilac – as well as Enamel, a bright, strong, mid-tone green with a warm undertone.

For more information

Tags bench top, kitchen, laminex, metallics, polar white, splashback, super white, woodgrain

Bathrooms Kitchens RENO ADDICT

New on-trend marble collection from Granite Transformations

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 16, 2016
No Comments on New on-trend marble collection from Granite Transformations

Perfect for renovators, Granite Transformations has a long history of fuss-free makeovers. Their range installs easily over existing kitchen benchtops and splash backs meaning costly and time-consuming demolition can be avoided.

Kitchen bench and splash back in Carrara

Responding to consumer tastes, the company has just released an on-trend marble collection and while it looks like the real thing it’s actually an engineered stone, making it non-porous, heat, scratch, stain and impact resistant.

Kitchen bench and splash back in Calacatta

The super serviceable marble range includes four designs: Calacatta, Carrara, Portland White and our favourite, Statuario (a refined yet statement grey vein on a cool white background).

Statuario

With slabs that are just 6.5mm thick, your bathroom or kitchen can be renovated in as little as one day by simply laying it over the top.

There’s nothing we like more than a swift, cost-effective reno. Click here for more.

Tags bathroom renovation, bench top, granite transformations, home reno, home renovation, kitchen, kitchen reno, kitchen renovation, marble, reno, renovating, renovation, Splash back

Bathrooms Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Caesarstone launch new marble inspired design

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 3, 2016
No Comments on Caesarstone launch new marble inspired design

Featuring broad, warm grey veins and a soft white background, Caesarstone‘s latest offering ‘Statuario Maximus’ is perfect for lovers of the marble trend.

The new design joins the Caesarstone Supernatural designs collection and offers the same benefits we have come to love about the brand – it is scratch, heat and chip resistant.

“Over recent years we have seen the market truly embrace the natural inspired marble designs in Australia and overseas,” says Andrew Dixon, Caesarstone GM Marketing.

It’s a trend we have been tracking and we think this product could have a number of great applications in kitchens and bathrooms in particular – we love the luxe feel of marble but also its scope as a neutral.

“Statuario Maximus will work with many other materials and colours providing wide colour scheme flexibility,” says Andrew. From classic white to warm neutral or grey toned cabinetry to all the fabulous woods available now (oak and walnut spring to mind), the design options are endless.

See here for more.

Tags bathroom, bathroom design, bench top, caesarstone, design, interior design, kitchen, kitchen design, marble, renovating, renovation

Interviews The Block

Freedom Kitchens: bringing the latest trends from Milan to Australia within weeks

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date April 14, 2014

Last week saw THE event of the interiors calendar Salone Internazionale del Mobile (the international furniture fair) in Milan, and I was lucky enough to go for the first time. Within this mega fair sits Eurocucina, a kitchens-only showcase bigger than most Aussie trade fairs and full of beautiful things (read about the top trends I spotted here).

DSC_0093-processed — A display at Eurocucina in Milan

Freedom Kitchens sent a team of 10 of their designers to Milan to be inspired by Europe’s latest trends, innovations and materials in kitchens. Because they have their own Australian factory, this inspiration can become reality in customers’ kitchen within months — weeks even. This flexibility and freedom to move fast is what keeps their kitchens cutting edge and fashionable, as you may have seen on The Block Sky High.

Kim & Matt — Matt and Kim’s Freedom Kitchen from The Block Sky High

At the fair, Freedom Kitchens’ national sales director Susan Hasler said the kitchens at Milan were darker and moodier than last year with a lot of highlights in timber veneers and more matt than gloss finishes. “Some of the Dekton surfaces were very interesting and there was a lot of the concrete look and feel. It’s all a lot about texture. Touch and feel is really important.”

Cabinetry was perhaps more vertical than horizontal with taller pull-out drawers containing several internal drawers. Another trend she noticed was for integrated handles rather than a completely handle-less look.

Freedom Kitchens will be able to translate these innovations and trends to the local Australian market very quickly, while remembering that not everything will be popular or appropriate to our lifestyle. “We will be able to update some of our designs within a couple of months due to us manufacturing in Australia. We can do smaller runs, move quickly and see if things work and are popular,” Susan says. “It’s really important for us to come here to things like Eurocucina. Australia is sometimes thought of as being behind the times. You’re going to have a kitchen for a very long time so it’s important we’re ahead of the game. You don’t want to invest in something which is already a couple of years out of date. We have 10 kitchen designers here which is a big investment but it’s worth it for what we can bring back and the level of credibility it gives us. It’s about us bringing that fashion look at a value price.”

It’s not as simple as copying a load of ideas and expecting Australians to accept them as the latest and greatest, by any means. “It’s about adapting ideas to the Australian market and our way of life,” Susan says. “In terms of the differences between Europe and Australia, we entertain outside a lot, with kitchens often leading out onto decks or yards, or other entertaining areas. This lends itself well to the single wall and island design of kitchen.”

Kitchens were moodier, with more timber veneers and matt surfaces at Eurocucina

While people are often tempted to play it safe on a room which costs a lot of money and they hope to keep for years, Susan says a good kitchen designer can help them to be braver without wasting money or making an unwise investment. Her advice for a ‘safe’ yet fashionable kitchen is to stick to neutral cabinets and be bold with things you can change every couple of years (if desired) like wall colours (wallpaper even!), pendant lights and even splashbacks. You can make a real difference with how you accessorise (the great thing about Freedom Kitchens being that you can pick up Freedom homewares in store too). “We love being able to show customers how to accessorise and style their kitchens with our examples in our showrooms,” Susan says.

In terms of the strong presence of timber veneer at Milan, Susan doesn’t think many Australians will opt for that look in a big way. They may, for example though, choose to do their base cabinets in timber veneer and top cabinets in white, or just their end panels for example. These are all flexible options Freedom Kitchens can offer. “We also have to bear in mind that something that looks great here in Europe may not translate well in Australian light. It’s very different.”

Timber veneers seen at Eurocucina in Milan

The previous snobbery about veneer is disappearing these days, due to the huge advances in quality. “The new ones are so good you can’t even tell they’re not solid timber. They’re also more durable and hygienic which makes them a smart choice for kitchens.”

Look out for more expert tips on kitchen storage and how to get the most out of working with a kitchen designer on the blog next week.

My trip to Milan was hosted by Freedom Kitchens with support from Caesarstone Australia.

Kitchens Travel

Caesarstone think outside (or inside) the bench top in Milan

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date April 10, 2014

Last night, I went to a beautiful Caesarstone event in Milan as part of the international furniture fair Salone del Mobile. The crowning glory of the installation was a 19-metre long, super sleek and modern ‘island’ for cooking and food prep, looking striking in the middle of one of the historic Palazzo Clerici’s ornate old rooms, with a lemon tree springing from its centre.

Two further islands, also made of various Caesarstone surfaces, comprised a table tennis table and a stunning bath with built-in record turntable!

Islands is a collaboration with London-based Raw Edges designers Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay. In their eight years, the young duo have designed for Cappellini, Established & Sons, Moroso, Kvadrat, Stella McCartney, Arco, Mutina, Lema and more, and their many works have been showcased in museums and exhibited in expos in Milan, London, Paris and New York.

The main idea was to look at the Caesarstone product differently; beyond simply a surface that you put things on top of. The main island had cut-outs for sinks, dishes, chopping boards and much more, showing just what’s possible. The only limit is your imagination!

Caesarstone Australia marketing manager Andrew Dixon explains the idea is to really inspire people to think outside the box, and while it’s unlikely many customers will go as far as putting a turntable in their bathroom, the many possibilities available to customise the flexible and super strong product are not fantasy.

“We’d like people to think ‘do I really need all these cupboards?’ for example. Caesarstone is so user-friendly and so much more than just a bench top. I personally love the idea of creating a raised appliances station on top of the bench top where you keep appliances out, but out of the way of the main preparation surface,” Andrew says.

“Innovation is really important to us and we like to provide the customer with direct inspiration.”

Two exciting new products should hit the market around June/July: Sleek Concrete and the marble-inspired Calacatta Nuvo (I’ve seen it and it’s great).

I’m in Milan thanks to Freedom Kitchens and Caesarstone Australia.

Tags andrew dixon, bench top, caesarstone, concrete, design, interiors, kitchen, marble, milan, quartz, raw edges, salone del mobile