Strong, affordable and easy to maintain, porcelain benchtops are moving beyond the natural stone look to offer exciting new architectural aesthetics. We explore five new design directions that unlock the true aesthetic potential of porcelain.
We’ve been talking about the benefits of porcelain for years and, as a kitchen benchtop material, it hits the sweet spot on both counts of strength and price point. Porcelain as a natural material is made using no chemicals or binders. In fact, it is made in a similar way to how nature makes natural stone, using a combination of clay, feldspar, sand and other natural materials crushed into a fine powder, pressed together and fired to create one mass. This makes porcelain incredibly strong and durable, not to mention affordable when compared to natural stone, plus a great choice for those who want a benchtop that will remain unchanged over time.
Where porcelain has really innovated in recent years is in the wide range of beautiful and exciting patterns, colours, finishes and forms. Here, new design innovation and cutting-edge manufacturing techniques are resulting in a variety of new architectural aesthetics borne from creative investigation and imaginative vision. For kitchen benchtops this trifecta of strength, easy everyday maintenance and architectural aesthetic is hard to pass up.
Explore the following five design directions to consider how porcelain can bring new aesthetic qualities to your project, your kitchen zone and your benchtops.
Patterned porcelain
Among of the most innovative porcelain coming out of Italy and the headquarters of porcelain aficionados, Fiandre, is the Veneziano range of patterned porcelain panels and tiles. Their natural speckled composition appears almost terrazzo-like, with colour options ranging from grey through to beige in natural and polished finishes.
Ticking the boxes of architectural impact, performance and versatility, the Veneziano range is a full body porcelain. This ensures a uniform composition, so the unique patterning and colour runs all the way through the panel or tile – which in turn allows for the option of leaving the edges of the porcelain exposed to create neat, uniform detailing on benchtops and corners. A distinct architectural aesthetic in itself.
The ‘Full Body’ effect
A bit more on full-body porcelain tiles: These are distinctive for their uniform composition with the colour and pattern running all the way through the depth of the tile. This honest structural integrity means the colour and pattern won’t wear away, as it would with a printed or coated tile. It also allows the edges of the tile to be exposed, creating neat and uniform detailing on splashbacks, benchtops and corners. Plus, any etching or fluting cut into the tile will also have the same appearance as the top surface.
Fiandre has been a leading producer of full-body porcelain tiles for more than 50 years, staying at the forefront of aesthetic trends and advancing technology. And most importantly, Fiandre’s full body products continue to match the superior architectural aesthetic with a competitive price point.
Colour-matched chromatics
With Artetech’s chromatic collection you can effectively use one single material for many different applications in many different colours, textures and finishes. Some of the collection’s cornerstone products include Ombra Blanco, Ombra Carbone, Ombra Rope and Beton White – view here. Desirable for their limitless design possibilities, and highly adaptable nature, benchtops are just the tip of the iceberg. You can craft sophisticated architectural environments using Artetech chromatic on floors, walls, ceilings, inside, outside, bathrooms, counters, barbecue joinery and more.
Precious metals on porcelain panels
Expert in porcelain, Maximum channels the beauty of naturally occurring metallic compounds with a Zinc Titanium porcelain panel in 12mm thickness. It’s incredibly lightweight, and adaptable to all manner of interior and exterior applications.
Honouring the fine line
The 12-millimetre-thick porcelain benchtop is an aesthetic in itself. It delivers a clean fine line and maintains incredible strength. While many like to give their 12-millimetre porcelain benchtop a mitred edge to make it appear thicker, we’re strong believers in honouring the original aesthetic.
We also offer elegant 6-millimetre-thick porcelain panels to match with or contrast against your splashbacks and drawer fronts. So, we say, go with the fine line and believe in the strength your porcelain can deliver!
Artedomus holds plentiful stock in supply in our Australian warehouses, ask us today about viewing samples and purchasing porcelain for your kitchen benchtop.
Like this article? Dive into our 10 natural stone and porcelain benchtop alternatives to engineered stone.
Words by Alice Blackwood