Ultimate Guide to Luxury Kitchen Materials: From Marble to Matte
When planning a high-end kitchen design, there are numerous factors to consider, like what appliances to use and the general layout. But what luxury kitchen materials to use is equally important. Choosing the right material for worktops, flooring, cabinets and fittings can make that dream bespoke kitchen come to life and add elegance to the home.
This ultimate guide will give you the information you need, when deciding on what materials to use to achieve perfect premium kitchen finishes.
Luxury Kitchen Materials to Elevate Your Kitchen
At Bayliss Bathrooms and Kitchens, we are proud to offer a wide variety of kitchen styles. Modern, traditional, contemporary and German style kitchens are all on offer here and can be designed in collaboration with our team of experts to fit your needs. For more inspiration, take a look at our kitchen design services.
Choosing the right materials for your requirements is vital, as busier kitchens are going to need higher-end materials to better cope with the wear and tear of daily life.
Worktop Materials
This section of our guide will walk you through all of the luxury kitchen materials on offer at Bayliss for worktops. The worktop in a kitchen will see a lot of use when preparing food, unloading shopping, serving and so much more.
Choosing the right material here is important, as not only can the colours and designs of each material play a huge part in how the kitchen looks, but some surfaces are harder than others and require less maintenance. A kitchen’s work surface is a large part of its design, so making the right choice for your needs is vital.
Quartz
Quartz worktops have an enormous number of benefits. They can be the cherry on top for a premium kitchen finish. As a material, it comes in a range of colours and patterns and, unlike other natural stones, quartz requires less maintenance and doesn’t need to be sealed.
It is highly durable, resistant to heat, scratches and staining and is a more hygienic choice as it is impermeable, which prevents mould and bacteria growth.
Granite
Granite, like quartz, is exceptionally durable, with high resistance to heat and scratches. It is a high-end design choice that will remain in fashion for as long as its timeless look.
It is porous, however, and will require resealing occasionally to maintain its hygienic nature. For our clients who are looking to build their dream kitchen exactly to their standards, granite has a unique feature. This feature is that no two pieces of granite are the same; each one has natural veining and patterns that make every work surface bespoke.
Marble
Marble is a choice favoured by classic and contemporary styled kitchens. It is the quintessential sign of luxury and offers unique natural patterns just like granite. While it is easy to clean and is highly resistant to heat, marble requires regular resealing and maintenance. It is a softer stone, so it won’t be as chip and scratch-proof as other options.
Wood
Wooden work surfaces have a great ability to complement both modern and traditional style kitchens. It is another option for bespoke countertops, as no two cuts of wood are ever going to be the same.
This unique character in each piece makes it a luxury kitchen material as it brings a touch of class to every design. When properly maintained with a little oil or wax, wooden surfaces can be as resistant to bumps and scratches as stone, but unlike stone, can be repaired.
Stainless Steel
More of a professional’s choice for a kitchen environment, stainless steel is easy to clean, highly heat-resistant and is durable against stains and corrosion. It is the most sustainable choice of luxury kitchen material, as stainless steel is 100% recyclable.
Stainless steel is also a great choice for a modern industrial look that has been all the rage over the past few years. Possible issues to consider are that the surface will scratch, and it will leave fingerprints.
Cabinet Materials
This next section in this ultimate guide to luxury kitchen materials focuses on the various choices to be made regarding kitchen cabinetry. Each material has different strengths and design options, so the explanations below should fill you in on the pros and cons of each choice.
With all the versatility in each cabinet material, there is no right or wrong answer when deciding which choice fits best with what style of kitchen.
Solid Wood
Solid wood cabinets will hold their value for the longest time and are the best choice in high-end kitchen design. Wood as a material is timelessly elegant and fits into all types of kitchens, contemporary or traditional. Solid wood is a strong base and is less likely to start to sag and warp over time.
Wood can also be stained and painted to give the whole kitchen a fresh look and can be sanded and refinished multiple times.
Matte
Matte is a great alternative to the solid wood look. It is endlessly versatile, as its subdued finish and anti-glare effect help cabinetry blend in seamlessly. Matte requires very little maintenance and is forgiving of small scuffs and scratches. Compared to glossy finishes, matte finishes conceal fingerprints and other smudges far better.
Lacquer
When lacquer is sprayed well, it can look and feel like a solid protective layer on top of a cabinet’s surface. As ‘lacquer’ is the final part of a painting process, there are far more options for colours and finishes. It is easy to clean, water-resistant and will hold its colour brilliantly for years.
But this hard surface can chip after impact, and this has the potential to break that sealed lacquer layer and compromise the cabinet.
MDF
MDF is an alternative to solid wood. It is more cost-effective than solid wood and can be manufactured far more uniformly to fit a more specific design. It is made from recycled fibres and can be finished in numerous styles, from paint to laminate.
Although similar, MDF and solid wood don’t have the same kind of durability and can be prone to warping and swelling.
Flooring Materials
This upcoming section contains all the important information to consider when choosing the perfect flooring for your high-end kitchen design. Each of these luxury kitchen materials is similar in its robustness and design capabilities, so the real question comes down to upkeep and what will seamlessly fit your dream kitchen plan.
The flooring for a newly designed kitchen needs to fit the overall look and style of the kitchen. It needs to be able to stand the test of time with consistent heavy footfall and furniture. Crucially, the flooring should fit the intended use of that kitchen space. For instance, a more open plan kitchen style setup for relaxing evenings would benefit from engineered wood more than ceramic tiles.
Luxury Vinyl
Using luxury vinyl as your choice of flooring offers numerous benefits. It is low maintenance, easy to clean, durable[SB1] and comes in a wide variety of styles, patterns and shades. It is also a more comfortable choice compared to hard natural floors, as they are fitted with a cushioned layer.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood has all the looks of solid wood, but with hidden layers intertwined throughout that address some issues that can be faced by some hardwoods. This level of resistance and easy management ensures that an engineered wood floor will retain its luxury look for longer.
Natural Stone
Natural stone is a highly robust luxury kitchen material that can withstand high levels of foot traffic, spills and general wear and tear. This material is a great heat conductor and can create a more energy-efficient home. Natural stone has a timeless look, and being so long-lasting, it can contribute to the value of a property.
Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles
Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are luxurious choices for high-end kitchen design. As luxury kitchen materials go, they are very similar. Both are made with clay and are fired in a kiln. They can both be made with various designs that can fit perfectly into any space.
The main difference between the two is that porcelain tiles are fired at a higher temperature, which makes them more durable, and they have no need for resealing.
Splash Back Materials
Splashbacks are protective panels that tend to be installed against the wall behind hobs, sinks and sometimes whole work surfaces. They are made from durable materials that won’t be damaged by water or intense heat. Splashbacks are also made from easy-to-clean surfaces, so any grease or food splatters from cooking can be wiped off better than on a painted wall.
Choosing the right material for a kitchen splashback is largely about what will fit design-wise with the rest of the kitchen.
Glass
Using glass for kitchen splashbacks is a great choice when looking for premium kitchen finishes. The glass used is ‘tempered’, which makes it highly heat and impact-resistant. Glass is easy to clean and non-porous, so it is very hygienic. Each design can be customised with various colours and sizes, and the natural light reflection can make any kitchen brighter.
Tile
Tiles have been used regularly in kitchens for so long for a reason. They are durable, easily cleaned and resistant to almost everything. There is a huge variety of tile sizes and colours to choose from as a luxury kitchen material.
There is some maintenance to do, keeping the grout clean, but small sections of tiles are easily replaceable and are more of a cost-effective choice compared to glass splashbacks.
Metal
Metal can offer some brilliant choices of creative variety, with stainless steel, brass and even polished copper being potential materials. They are easily cleaned, hygienic and long-lasting.
Hardware & Fittings Materials
Kitchen hardware and fittings include everything from cupboard door handles to taps and hinges. They make up the bulk of those small aesthetic choices that can either stand out as intricate details or assist with the flow of the rest of the kitchen.
This section of the guide talks about each of the material choices we have on offer at Bayliss, how they are best used, what style they work best with and everything else you need to know about for a high-end kitchen design.
Nickel
Nickel is a fantastically versatile material to use for premium kitchen finishes. When polished, it has an almost yellow hue that is reminiscent of sterling silver. But brushed, it is a more subdued tone that can seamlessly fit into a more contemporary and refined kitchen space. As well as its design flexibility, it is also a durable choice that is resistant to general wear, corrosion and tarnishing.
Matte Black
Both a modern and timeless aesthetic choice, matte black is a neutral colour that adds a sophisticated touch to any kitchen. The beauty of this material is that in darker colour schemes it can add further depth, while in brighter kitchens it creates a stark contrast that makes the fittings pop. Unlike some trends that come and go, matte black has remained a classic choice for premium kitchen finishes.
Brass
Brass is one of the more traditional choices for kitchen fittings with good reason. It is a sturdy material to use, and it is resistant to corrosion and scratches. It has antimicrobial properties that make it hygienic. This luxury kitchen material is highly malleable and can be machined into a variety of styles for greater design flexibility.
Copper
For many years, copper has been found in kitchens in the form of pots, pans and even kettles. In a similar way to brass, the colouring of copper can either feel rustic in a traditional styled kitchen or cutting edge and modern in a contemporary kitchen. The warm and stylish colouring allows for the fittings to become as important to the design of the kitchen as anything else.
As with other metals, copper is easy to clean and maintain, very durable and has a variety of versatile finishes.
Chrome
Using chrome for kitchen hardware and fittings will provide a sleek and timeless finish to any kitchen. It is a recognisable style that is capable of fitting into any design[SB2] and colour of kitchen. Like any shiny or glossy material, chrome will show fingerprints and other little marks, but a quick clean will get it back to its original glory in no time.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a solid material for any use. The bare metal look is endlessly versatile across styles, it is easy to maintain, robust and will last an age. This modern and neutral look can be the perfect choice for understated premium kitchen finishes.
Choose Bayliss for Kitchen Design
At Bayliss, luxury kitchens aren’t just what we do — they’re what we’re known for.
Our spacious 2,500 sq. ft showroom in Sutton Coldfield is just a short drive from Birmingham, Lichfield and Solihull. It’s the perfect place to explore the full scope of our kitchen design capabilities and speak with our expert team of designers about what goes into creating a truly bespoke kitchen, including costs, timelines and style options.
This guide should have answered your questions about what luxury kitchen materials will be best to choose when planning a high-end kitchen design.
Still have questions? Book a visit to our Sutton Coldfield showroom and enjoy a one-on-one consultation with a designer who will listen to your ideas and help you on your way to bringing them to life.