Carrara look porcelain
PorcelainSoft grey veining on a white ground, in a sintered porcelain slab. A matt finish that stays calm under the hand.
- Oak
- Brass
- Warm plaster
Materials
Made of real things.
We begin every project with material. Surfaces, timber, metal and glass decide the feeling of a room long before the layout does.
Surfaces we use
Dark veined quartz
QuartzA deep brown and black ground with a bold white vein, in quartz. Dramatic on a splashback or an island.
- Walnut
- Brass
- Matt lacquer
Travertine look porcelain
PorcelainWarm sand tones with a soft, fossil-like pattern, in sintered porcelain. The surface is matt and smooth under the hand.
- Matt black
- Linen
- Walnut
Oak veneer
TimberOpen-grained and oiled, kind to fingerprints. Pale for lightness, smoked for depth.
- Veined porcelain
- Brass
- Reeded glass
Reeded glass
GlassFluted glass for display cabinets. Softens what is behind and catches the light.
- Oak
- Dark lacquer
- Brass
Copper veined quartz
QuartzWarm veining in copper and grey on a pale ground, in quartz. Used sparingly, as a feature.
- Sand porcelain
- Brass
- Cream
Material guide
Seven materials, in plain words.
What each one is like, where it works best and how to look after it. General guidance: the maker’s instructions for your own finish always come first.
01 · Timber
Oak
- Character
- Open-grained, warm and quietly varied. Oak takes oil well, hides small marks in its grain and deepens gently towards honey with light and time. It sits comfortably beside pale surfaces, plaster and brass.
- Best used for
- Cabinet fronts, drawer interiors, open shelves, oiled worktops and panelling. Veneered oak on a stable board suits large doors and tall units. Solid oak suits edges, shelves and worktops.
- Care
- Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry. Keep standing water away from sinks and dishwashers. Refresh the oil from time to time on worktops, and sand light scratches along the grain.
02 · Timber
Walnut
- Character
- Darker, richer and more formal, with a grain that moves like water. Walnut gives a room weight and depth, and looks best against pale surfaces and soft light.
- Best used for
- Tall units, feature walls, islands, niches and shelves, where its depth can be read against calmer surfaces.
- Care
- Keep it out of long, direct sun, which lightens it slowly. Wipe spills quickly and dust often, because dark timber shows fine dust. Oil lightly if the finish is oiled.
03 · Porcelain
Sintered porcelain
- Character
- A dense, fine-grained ceramic slab, made in looks that follow marble, limestone and travertine, in matt and satin finishes. It reads as one calm, even surface, with the veining and tone of the look you choose.
- Best used for
- Islands, worktops, splashbacks and full-height back walls, where one long surface carries the room. Large slabs mean fewer joints.
- Care
- Wipe with a soft cloth, warm water and a mild soap, then dry to avoid streaks. Use boards and trivets, and keep abrasive pads and harsh cleaners away from matt finishes. The maker's instructions for your slab come first.
04 · Quartz
Quartz
- Character
- Engineered quartz is made from crushed quartz bound with resin. It comes in plain colours and in veined looks that follow marble and stone, and it is consistent from slab to slab, which suits clean, modern rooms.
- Best used for
- Worktops, islands and splashbacks in busy family kitchens, where a consistent surface that is easy to keep clean matters most.
- Care
- Wipe with a soft cloth and a mild soap, then dry. Use a trivet under hot pans, because the resin can be damaged by high heat, and keep solvents and abrasive pads away. The maker's instructions come first.
05 · Painted finish
Lacquer
- Character
- A sprayed, painted finish in matt, satin or gloss, in almost any colour. It is smooth and even, and gives large flat fronts a calm, uniform surface. Gloss shows fingerprints, matt feels soft.
- Best used for
- Handleless fronts, tall units, wardrobes and deep colours that timber cannot give, such as charcoal, forest green or chalk.
- Care
- Use a soft cloth with warm water and mild soap. Avoid abrasive pads and solvents. Keep edges away from standing water. A damaged panel can often be re-sprayed.
06 · Glass
Glass
- Character
- Clear, tinted, reeded or fluted. Reeded glass softens what lies behind it and catches the light, and smoked or amber tints add warmth. It hides fingerprints better than a smooth pane.
- Best used for
- Display cabinets, sliding doors, splashbacks and lit niches.
- Care
- Clean with water and a drop of mild soap, or a glass cleaner, and a lint-free cloth. Brush the ribs gently to lift dust. In hard-water areas, wipe dry to avoid limescale spots.
07 · Metal
Metal
- Character
- Brass, bronze, steel and aluminium sharpen a design. Brass and bronze darken to a soft patina, steel stays cool and precise, and powder-coated finishes are the most stable.
- Best used for
- Fine details: grip profiles, shelf edges, glass frames, niches, taps and handles.
- Care
- Clean with a soft cloth and mild soap and dry afterwards. Polish brass if you want it bright, or let the patina develop. Avoid abrasives on brushed finishes and acidic cleaners on any metal.
Care guide
Looking after what you choose.
A few habits do more than any product. Wipe spills early, dry what is wet, use boards and trivets, and test samples at home before you decide. For porcelain, quartz and oak in more detail, read the care article.
| Material | Every day | Avoid | Now and then |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak | Soft, slightly damp cloth, then dry | Standing water, steam from the dishwasher, hot pans on oiled timber | Refresh the oil on worktops, sand light scratches with the grain |
| Walnut | Dust, then a soft damp cloth | Long direct sun, standing water | Light oiling if the finish is oiled |
| Porcelain | Soft cloth, mild soap, rinse and dry | Abrasive pads, harsh cleaners on matt finishes, a hard knock on an edge | Follow the maker's advice for deeper cleaning |
| Quartz | Soft cloth, mild soap, rinse and dry | Hot pans straight from the hob, solvents, abrasive pads | Follow the maker's advice for deeper cleaning |
| Lacquer | Soft cloth, warm water, mild soap | Solvents, abrasive pads, standing water at the edges | Touch up or re-spray a damaged panel |
| Glass | Water with a drop of soap, lint-free cloth | Abrasive pads, leaving hard water to dry on the surface | Brush the ribs of fluted glass to lift dust |
| Metal | Soft cloth, mild soap, dry | Abrasives on brushed finishes, acidic cleaners | Polish brass if you want it bright, or leave the patina |
See them in your light.
We bring physical samples to your home so you can judge each material where it will live.