Unleash Your Inner Chef | Kitchen Countertop Design Ideas

Making a statement doesn’t need to involve total renovation or elaborate furniture. An upscaled functional surface can be the heart of your home.

The kitchen countertop is the perfect piece to add that element of sophistication and modernity to one’s kitchen. Choosing the right Metallic Epoxy combination can make a kitchen look good and stay practical.

A few key features are taken into account when transforming it into a statement piece:

Metallic Epoxy Singapore: Chrome Gold Marble Veins on Black Base.

The Bold and the Beautiful | Kitchen Countertop Design Ideas

A kitchen countertop is by large placed at the centre of the space it occupies and is incredibly engaging. To elevate its presence, you can opt for bold choices in the colour, pattern or even an accentuated feature.

You may also consider opting for a colour statement countertop that is a striking contrast to the rest of the decor yet falls in the same colour palette. For example, if the kitchen decor follows a minimalist white and off-white scheme. One can opt for a bold black countertop with metallic accents, that compliments the contrast.

Metallic Epoxy offers a stunning jet black countertop marbled with chrome gold and a finish of liquid diamonds. This piece creates just the right hint of magic and intensity.

Apart from just the aesthetic appeal, the Metallic Epoxy offered on the best countertops is a perfect way to ensure the durability of the piece. It offers great protection from physical hazards, stains and chemical damages as well.

The surrounding kitchen decor can be in the same colour scape to accompany the countertop.

Metallic Epoxy Singapore: Black Mix Chrome Gold Marble Veins with Pearl White Highlights

Scandinavian Spotlight | Kitchen Countertop Design Ideas

If a bold colour choice may not be your cup of tea and you prefer to stick to the duller colours and materials. The nordic setup might be your best fit.

A Scandinavian style of pale, pared-back and almost-monochromatic interiors. Paired with clean-lined furniture and natural materials forms the basis of this style. One can maybe opt for a rugged dark countertop with a wooden finish.

Metallic accents are also an excellent choice when it comes to adding dimension to space. Fluid metals like brass and copper work very well when paired with simple wood or marble. Metallic Epoxy offers a marbled speckle of chrome gold and black set against a beige-khaki finished countertop with iridescent pearl highlights. This addition adds the right amount of delicate sophistication ladled over a rugged backdrop.  

When considering a countertop, the material is vitally important so as to ensure maximum usability. Hygiene, kitchen damage and durability to be the three primary attributes one looks for in their kitchens. Metallic Epoxy are the most sought after, with its aesthetic appeal and its well designed functional attributes for the Best Kitchen Renovation.

Furniture Picks from: Noden | Hipvan | Crate & Barrel

Metallic Epoxy Singapore: Black Highlights on Orange Gold Base

Wood Works | Kitchen Countertop Design Ideas

Wood is a versatile staple that can offer a rugged and brutalist charm to the hearth. Using materials like reclaimed wood, it adds a rustic element to the piece. Accents of iron and bronze compliment the look as well.

For a more finished look, Metallic Epoxy offers a beautiful wooden countertop with an orangish and gold highlight coupled with black veins. The mirror-finished countertop adds an exquisite sophistication to any space it sits in.

Although a wooden countertop offers a rural element to the kitchen, it is often hard to maintain. Without a polyurethane coating, wood often corrodes, decays and is subjected to various levels of damage which can be very difficult to recover. Metallic Epoxy is the perfect alternative, it offers customisable unique designs at the same time it has none of the shortcomings of hardwood maintenance.

If not the countertop, one can add wooden elements to the surrounding kitchen area by opting for metallic light fixtures and darker stained cabinets. Paired against a rugged wooden backdrop or an exposed brick wall drives the theme of brutalism further. Wooden open shelving also adds a feeling of spaciousness and light to the decor.

Furniture Picks from: Noden | Castlery | Finnish Design Shop

3 Things To Note | Kitchen Countertop Design Ideas

1. A kitchen countertop can become a room’s centrepiece by opting for bold colours, statemented features, or contrasting material.

2. The countertop must be allowed to adapt to the surrounding architecture.

3. Choose the right Metallic Epoxy Finish that can match the palette of your room.

The island can be an integral part of the hearth that every homeowner would be proud of.

Do check out more of our past works MORE PROJECTS 

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The Benefits of a Metallic Epoxy: Part One and Part Two” for more information!

Best Color For Home Interior – Click Here

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More information which you may find useful

1) Metallic Epoxy Stress Test – Click Here

2) What our Metallic Epoxy can do for your Countertops – Click Here

Introduction | Modern Interior Design

A modern interior design theme employs crisp clean lines, minimal clutter, and modern materials such as glass and steel.

If you’ve read last week’s post, modern may sound really close to minimalism. Difference lies mainly on modern design prioritising variety over hard utility.

Today’s post explores modernism and its nuances, largely in the context of minimalism.

Modernism and Art | Modern Interior Design

Owing to its more liberal nature than minimalism. Modern design has far more variations and is difficult to pin down.

However, it has some key characteristics that help define it. Like minimalism, modernism began as a revolution against the opulent and ornate designs of Victorian and Gothic designs. This was then was reflected by the modern art revolution.

Modernism was an extremely broad intellectual movement that branched off into many forms in society such as art, literature, and design.

Examples of modern art include abstract or pop art, like Picasso or Warhol. Modern design forms include or relate to minimalist and Scandinavian designs.

Modernism and Interior Design | Modern Interior Design

The modern design employs the use of bold primary colours to offset neutrals or accent them.

As a consequence, it is often less monochrome than minimalism. This can come in the form of furniture like a red leather sofa, colourful but simple throw pillows. Think IKEA, but that’s Scandinavian design and a matter for another day.

Living Room | Modern Interior Design

The living room is the face and body of your home. It greets guests as they arrive and provides the living space for bonding and relaxing.

In modernism, open space is a very core concept. An open floor plan minimalises clutter and gives room for movement. Therefore spare elements like long large counters to separate the kitchen or dining area from the living room are preferred over hard elements like walls.

You’ll want to see a large combined space, but have clear defining lines to mark the transition between parts of the house that serve different purposes.

Check out what our Metallic Epoxy Floorings can do for you HERE

However, modernism does include more ‘futuristic’ elements of design than minimalism. Features like chrome, steel, and a single bold colour accent repeated throughout the space to give contrast.

Be careful of employing multiple colours. It may give rise to a messy and overly complex appearance that defeats the simplicity of the modern design.

Go for neutral colour floor rugs, stainless steel barstools for your counter. It should be a monochrome material like Metallic Epoxy or another synthetic. Not forgetting a leather or fabric couch without any patterns.

A glass and steel coffee table would be a perfect addition, as well as LED showroom lights. Go for large floor tiles or a seamless flooring material such as Metallic epoxy.

Bedroom | Modern Interior Design

The core concepts here would not vary too much from the living room. However you may wish to use a darker theme for a soothing and restful environment.

Choose colours such as black or dark brown for walls and bed frames. Keep accents more earth-toned than bright or bold.

Elements of wood can be used more liberally here. Examples of areas would include wall paneling, book shelves, or table counters, alongside steel wall lamps.

Check out what our Metallic Epoxy Art Panels can do for you HERE

Bathroom | Modern Interior Design

Open space may seem hard in a space as small as a bathroom. On the contrary, it is a little simpler because of the straightforward purpose of a bathroom.

A simple glass partition can separate your shower from your main bathroom, while a steel rainfall shower is perfect for the modern and decluttered look.

Dark greys work as well as whites for your floors and walls. Make sure to break it up with wood or chrome accents, nothing as bold as the living room.

Toilet bowls, bathtubs, and sinks should be simple glass or monochrome porcelain.

Check out what can Metallic Epoxy do for your Bathrooms HERE

Kitchen | Modern Interior Design

The kitchen offers more options than the bedroom or bathroom. Depending on your needs like a big family or party hosts.

You may wish for a bigger kitchen with more counter space for appliances. Likewise  a simple kitchen with more utility for storage and more breathing room.

The same rule of straight lines applies for shelves, try to keep them level without any abrupt placement.

A monochrome black or white counter material would be easier to keep clean, think Metallic Epoxy.

While chrome accents on your fridge, light fixtures, or even back-splash can stave off a boring, homogeneous look.

A bigger kitchen may suffer an island counter for more counter space, but a smaller kitchen could start feeling crammed.

Check out the Best Kitchen Renovation Materials HERE

Conclusion | Modern Interior Design

Regardless of your take on modern design. There are many good ways to go about it and few wrong ones, the most important aspect is function preceding form.

What does your household need more? Storage space for toys and tools, or display space for collector’s items and tasteful décor?

That may be the difference between extensive floor to wall shelves and in-wall recesses for display purposes.

We hope that today’s post has given you a good idea of what modern design is and how you can go about implementing it.

If you liked it, stay tuned for our upcoming posts on other interior design themes!

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Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Interior Design

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete. Shop here and check out our other services here.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Epoxy design

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Interior

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Epoxy design

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Interior

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Is Wood The Right Material For Your Home? | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

For a more detailed understanding of how we judge the materials based on the different scales. Head over to “The Best Interior Surfacing Materials For Your Home: A Prelude | Blog Post #9“.

How will hardwood fare against other classic and modern interior surfacing materials? Not forgetting it has been used for millennia in human construction from the ships of the Trojan War to the Torii gates of feudal Japan.

Introduction | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

While it has many natural weaknesses. When used in tandem with special chemicals and treatments, its shortcomings can become strengths.

Just like marble in our previous post, hardwood is a catchall term for a large collection of similar materials with varying properties. Hardwood consists of wood from trees favoured for its colour and texture, or resistance to elemental damage.

Some of the most common hardwood trees include oak (both red and white), mahogany, and maple.

Top 3 Species of Wood | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Oak is the most common wood used for flooring in North America, due to its abundance and affordability.

Mahogany is a more premium option, considered by many to be the Ferrari of hardwood interiors.

Maple is a balance between the former two, cost-wise. It is also considered one of the toughest hardwoods for interior surfaces, often being used in places like bowling alleys.

We will be exploring the ways hardwood is treated for function as an interior surface while preserving its beauty. Not forgetting how well it holds up to the rigours of everyday life.

Durability | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

This section describes how well wood stands up to abuse in a house over the course of its entire lifespan.

From the mundane, like falling objects and age-related discolourations, to more like mould and bacteria growth. The evaluation in each category applies to hardwood as a material in general.

They will be concluded to different variations of hardwood flooring, such as parquet flooring.

Scratch Hardness: 5.5/10

Scratch hardness describes how easily a material gets scratched.

While many common materials such as glass and steel can be measured on the Mohs scale. Wood is an organic material with different grains and texture instead of a uniform surface throughout.

Thus, the Mohs scale isn’t as meaningful here, when referencing wood itself.

Wood is never used in its raw form for interior surfacing | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

It is usually coated with shellac or other varnishes. On occasions, it is also finished with a polyurethane topcoat similar to that used in epoxy finishes.

For a fair comparison, we will go with the toughest coating commonly used. Polyurethane, which can have a hardness of around 5.5 on the Mohs scale. This is in contrast to epoxy finishing, where the polyurethane topcoat has additional gritty material added for a hardness of up to 7.5.

Hardwood, on the other hand, demands a clearer coating that shows off its texture and patterns at the cost of scratch hardness.

Indentation Hardness: 6.5/10

Indentation hardness describes how easily a material gets dented by an impact or prolonged force. Examples include falling bowling balls or stationary stone shelves.

Wood has a special scale of its own, the Janka scale. The Janka scale measures the force (in Newtons) required to embed a .444-inch diameter (11.28 millimetres) steel ball halfway into a sample of the wood specimen.

Janka Scale Scenario | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

As an example, the most common hardwood, oak, can take around 5000 Newtons of force. This translates to just over 500kg of mass.

Taking this as an example, it takes 500kg of bookshelf pressing down on the surface area of a .444-inch diameter steel ball to press into the wood. Objectively, that is quite a bit of hardness!

Disclaimer on Janka Scale

However, in the real world. Furniture often stands in the same spot for months or years. Pressing into the wood with much less weight but over a far longer period than demonstrated in the Janka test.

So a 100kg bookshelf would eventually achieve, over a few years, what a 500kg bookshelf could in hours or days on an oak floor. As such, we caution readers to take the Janka scale with a pinch of salt.

Using the Janka scale as a relative comparison between hardwoods is more meaningful than comparisons with other materials like stones or synthetics.

Hardest Type of Wood used in Interiors | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Mahogany, the premium wood, rates a whopping 17 000 Newtons, while maple is a respectable 6400 Newtons.

All that being said, we conclude that hardwood, at its hardest, has a relatively robust indentation hardness. This is depended on your price points.

Ageing: 4/10

Wood is a natural product and changes over time as it is exposed to light. Some homeowners appreciate the (ironically) ‘live’ nature of wood. While it matures with the occupants of a household, it can sometimes be an incredibly vexing issue.

Hardwood Ageing Scenario | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

For instance, a sofa arranged in the middle of your living room for many years. When removed, it will reveal a sofa-shaped patch of hardwood flooring many shades lighter than its surrounding.

Since the sofa shaded the floor beneath it, the surrounding hardwood darkened much more. Leaving this bizarre and unsightly crime scene chalk outline of your sofa.

Thus, great foresight and planning is required when you plan your interior layout over a hardwood floor.

Hardwood Maintenance | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Furthermore, the coatings on most hardwood floors are not especially thick. Even polyurethane coatings will require a re-coat every year or two as scratches add up. This adds to maintenance costs and downtime.

While waxing hardwood floors regularly helps increase the time between re-coats, the cost is an inevitability.

Cheaping out on a such essential maintenance will spell drastic consequences for your hardwood. This is a concern especially if the coating wears clean through in certain spots and the hardwood is exposed to moisture.

Hygiene | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Porosity: 9/10 (Coated), 1/10 (Uncoated)
Hardwood is a relatively high-maintenance material. With a polyurethane coating, it is entirely non-porous and shares the wonderful properties of an epoxy finish.

No dirt or organic waste is trapped in pores, and no bacteria or mould can take hold. We’re giving it a 9 here, because a perfect 10 should have an ultra-hydrophobic, self-cleaning wonder material of some sort.

However, falter even slightly in your re-coating duties. The hardwood will see that you pay the price in blood. Being natural and all, wood is a wildly porous material that is happy to embrace mould and bacteria in a “James-Cameron-Avatar-esque” harmony, much to your chagrin.

Corrosion Resistance: 9/10 (Coated), 1/10 (Uncoated)

Again, a polyurethane coating is a miracle for interior surfaces. Much like epoxy finishing. Coated hardwood will stand up to a large variety of household chemicals and moisture with no sweat.

But fail just once… You get the idea. Wood, being a natural material, does not play well with moisture and corrosive cleaning chemicals. An example is just like your skin against bleach.

Aesthetics | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

This section is all about the looks, feels, and sound of hardwood. Since these properties are perceived so subjectively, this section will omit any scoring.

It’s entirely up to you, as a homeowner, to decide if the following details persuade or dissuade.

In the Eye of the Beholder 

Hardwood is an incredibly varied and lovely material. Often cherished for unique grain and texture across different species of wood. Staining a wood prior to using it further changes its colours to better suit your ideal theme.

Overall, wood comes in too many variations, subtle and dramatic, to call it any one thing. Except incredible, that is.

Temperature-wise, hardwood is a wonderful medium. It is neither too cold nor too warm. However, thicker coatings can present a startlingly chilly surface in the mornings.

Noise Concern 

One common complaint across hardwood flooring is its general noise level. The floor doesn’t emit ghostly moans mourning the loss of forestry. However, falling objects and heavy-footed people can produce clicking and slapping noises that reverberate throughout the house.

Not ideal if you’ve a sleeping toddler or a grumpy spouse.

The Big Question | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

So, is wood right for you? The characteristic look and feel of wood is truly unique to the material. Half-hearted attempts to replicate it with vinyl prints often fall tragically short.

However, the vigilance required in keeping up with maintenance is often off-putting to many homeowners. Any missed coating appointments will shortly be replaced by floor repair appointments.

Conclusion 

If you really see yourself comfortably keeping up with the demanding maintenance schedule and cost of hardwood. We believe that it is a premium material with a wonderful look that will make any home feel classy and comfortable.

Yet, beauty exists in many other forms as well. The natural beauty of rainforests, which are often cut down and replaced by teak plantations, are diminishing every year.

In the instance where you would like to preserve this beauty. Help us save such ecosystems by only choosing wood from certified and sustainable sources that give back to these communities. Alternatively, you may wish to explore Metallic Epoxy Interiors.

Alternative Solution

Metallic Epoxy have absolutely none of the shortfalls of hardwood maintenance. It also allows you to further choose from an incredible array of customisable designs that give your home a unique look.

With safe manufacturing processes and no direct destruction of the environment. Metallic Epoxy is an eco-friendly option to hardwood. If you’d like to find out more about the material, visit our blog post HERE

Else, you can learn more about the benefits of Metallic Epoxy HERE

More information which you may find useful

1) Metallic Epoxy Stress Test – Click Here

2) Pros & Cons of Marble – Click Here

3) Pros & Cons of Vinyl – Click Here

4) View more of our Services – Click Here