Countertops are the first thing people see when they enter a kitchen and are at the top of anyone’s mind when they begin planning a kitchen renovation or upgrade. There is a wide range of countertops on the market, and below are some of the different types you will be able to find in the Western Cape.

Quartz

Quartz is a man-made product comes in many different colours and thicknesses. It is often made to look like a natural product like marble and is available in honed or polished finishes. Although it does not stain easily, it is a common practice to maintain it.

Among the most popular brands are Caesarstone, Pro quartz, Vicostone, Eezi Quartz and Silestone.

Granite

Granite is a natural product that comes from volcanic rock and needs to be mined. It comes in many different colours and textures but the most commonly used granite colour is Rustenberg, which is actually cheaper than quartz.

It is also available in honed or polished finishes and is much more heat resistant than quartz. It does not stain but may be prone to chip slightly more easily than quartz.

Marble

This natural product also needs to be mined. It is susceptible to damage because it is much more porous than quartz or granite, but with proper care, it may last you many years.

It is not the most common countertop but you may find it in very high-end kitchens or bathrooms. Is considered a luxury product in the industry.

Porcelain

Porcelain is the best of the lot and can be used anywhere. It is very strong, heat resistant, scratch-resistant and stain-resistant, which makes it the most expensive choice.

It has highly varying properties and although thin, it can be built up to be any thickness.

Popular brands include Neolith & Dekton Surfaces

Select the countertop that suits your homes look and feel

If you’re still unsure and would like a home renovation expert consult you on the best materials and options for achieving the look you want, then reach out to us. We would be more than happy to help guide you through all the countertop options and find the perfect solution for your Cape Town based-home.

Find out more about kitchen renovations

Home Decor Interiors has over 20 years of experience and during that time we’ve renovated hundreds of homes. We pride ourselves on being a premium kitchen renovator in the Western Cape. Let us help you customise or upgrade your dream home.

Contact us today for an obligation free quote

Contact us

Recommended reading

If you’re considering renovating your kitchen and you’re looking for more ideas, inspirations or insights on the subject, then you can find more kitchen upgrade advice here.

Whether you are planning a full kitchen upgrade, or whether you’re just freshening your kitchen up a little bit, there are some top tips to adopt. With some guidance, a task of this sort in the home is always less daunting and the end product so much more fulfilling.

As one of Cape Town’s most reliable home renovation company, we’ve rebuilt our fair share of kitchens. In that time we’ve learned a number of lessons we feel would help you. Below are three points of direction to help you turn your kitchen into an area that people want to spend time in.

Start with a focal point

Have a focal point in your kitchen. This should be the first thing guests see when they walk in, and it should stand out. It can be a piece of art, an ornament or even a large painted wall.

Once you’ve decided what to use, you should base the rest of your kitchen on this portion – let it be central to the theme of your kitchen and build all your other ideas around it.

Exploit the use of colour

Colours are so important and they set the tone for the kitchen in a big way. The colours that you choose for your kitchen play a part in the vibe it gives off and the mood that people feel after being there.

Use 3 colours and stick to them:

1. A fundamental colour
2. A backup colour
3. and A third colour.

The fundamental colour is one that you can’t easily control or change – this is usually the colour of the cabinets and is, therefore, most commonly white.

The backup colour should be a cooler colour; it’s an addition to the fundamental colour and doesn’t clash with it.

The third colour is slightly more shocking – the idea is to have some pieces of furniture stand out.

Example: If your colours are white, light blue (backup) and maroon (third). The white and light blue account for the majority of the kitchen. The maroon pieces add a bit of pop to the kitchen and allow the homeowner to make some bold statements with a bit of variety.

Spare shelf

Kitchen space is limited, which means that shelves in the room are generally utilised for useful and functional items, like crockery and utensils.

One needs to make sure the surfaces stay clutter free. A useful way of dealing with extra items from around the house is to make sure there are some spare draws in the kitchen, so that clutter can be placed out of eyesight.

Try to keep a spare shelf just for some ornaments and a plant or two. This will interrupt the usual, bland patterns in your kitchen and will give your guests something different to look at – the plants will grow and the ornaments can be changed when you want to keep things fresh again.

Find out more about kitchen renovations

Home Decor Interiors has over 20 years of experience and during that time we’ve renovated hundreds of homes. We pride ourselves on being a premium kitchen renovator in the Western Cape. Let us help you customise or upgrade your dream home.

Contact us today for an obligation free quote

Contact us

Recommended reading

If you’re considering renovating your kitchen and you’re looking for more ideas, inspirations or insights on the subject, then you can find more kitchen upgrade advice here.

Ever thought about upgrading your kitchen, but then stopped yourself mid-thought because you weren’t quite sure where to start? Many of our clients say that when they decided to upgrade, they had to educate themselves on the process of a kitchen renovation.

This can often be misleading because the client gets second-hand information from differing sources. Upgrading your kitchen is a process but it doesn’t have to be draining, time-consuming and cause your family inconvenience.

A kitchen renovation procedure

The procedure can be carefully managed. This is why HDI follows a process that has maintained our reputation as sound planners, and the Western Cape’s premium kitchen installers. Below is a bit more about our process:

When a prospective client makes contact, we visit them to discuss their needs and they are offered an initial quote and a design. When they accept this plan, they visit the showrooms with HDI and we assist them in choosing the materials they would like to use and make recommendations based on their budget, what they want, and what we have laid out in the plan.

The client finalises the decisions on design, layout and material and the quote is adjusted if necessary.

We order the carcasses and doors and have them assembled at our warehouse where they will eventually be delivered to the site once the prep work is ready. Our experience in the business allows us to make the time and space spent in your kitchen minimal and non-intrusive.

Next is the wetwork – the plumbing, electrical hardware and plaster that will provide the framework for your new kitchen is installed. Your new kitchen now begins to take shape.

The final pieces of the plan have come together, everything is on site and ready to be implemented – now it’s time to begin installing the kitchen cupboards. The site has been stripped and we have planned the layout of the new plumbing and electrics beneath the surface.

We fit the manufactured kitchen carcasses on site and assemble all the necessary remaining parts, which get fitted and adjusted on site. This is where the doors, countertops, taps, and other accessories that will eventually form your kitchen are put together.

The kitchen renovation look and feel

The next phase is called ‘making good’. It’s a simple name we use, but HDI takes great pride in this step as it’s crucial to the layers of the process that follow it. The plaster and skimming work is perfected and ready for painting while ensuring that all inner workings implemented in the previous step are in good shape.

Now all visible parts are fitted. Sinks, basins, taps, joinery and the works. After these steps are completed the cupboard doors are adjusted and aligned perfectly. The kitchen has taken its shape and will begin to resemble the final product.

The final steps of the kitchen renovation

Onto the final steps – tiling or glass backsplashing between your countertop and wall unit are installed to complete the look of your kitchen.

These occur in the following order: painting, flooring, sealing, filling and touching up. Ultimately your kitchen will be revered and remembered by your guests for how well this part of the job is carried out.

This is the final stage and it’s how our clients will judge our work. This is why HDI always ensures that our customers are 100% happy – that gives us the most satisfaction, and we consider it the final step of the process.

All of the above is fully project managed from start to finish by us.

Find out more about kitchen renovations

Home Decor Interiors has over 20 years of experience and during that time we’ve renovated hundreds of homes. We pride ourselves on being a premium kitchen renovator in the Western Cape. Let us help you customise or upgrade your dream home.

Contact us today for an obligation free quote

Contact us

With all this DIY information at our fingertips these days, it can be hard to convince yourself to do otherwise. Especially when handing your pride and joy, over to someone who you don’t even know. However daunting it may seem, some things are best left to the professionals. So how do you spot one? Here are some tips to look out for when choosing the best kitchen installer Cape Town has to offer you;

They should know how to read a floor-plan.

Chances are if someone cannot read a floor-plan, they do not fully understand what they are doing either. Floor-plans are critical for capturing and obtaining the correct measurements. This is the foundation of any build or renovation project. Make sure they help you understand the drawing as well, to avoid any disappointment.

Get your measurements wrong, and all the rest will follow.

As a famous saying in the industry goes, “measure twice cut once.”

If you are dealing with a professional, not only will they get it right the first time, but you might spend less money, too. DIY’s can be fun, but the risk of a do-over is always going to be 10 times more. Ask your installer to supply references so you know exactly what you are dealing with.

Speaking of money, a professional will know how to keep your budget on track.

Just because you are hiring someone else to do the job instead of burying yourself knee-deep in Google searches, does not mean it has to be expensive. A professional will be able to give you insight into various options to keep your budget on-track. This kind of industry knowledge only comes from experience, something you will be able to pick up on quickly if they provide zero flexibility. So, make sure to get more than one quote before you settle, all in writing.

Not Your Average Joe:

Another way to find the best kitchen installer Cape Town has to offer you is by making sure they have knowledge in more than just one aspect. Whoever is installing your new kitchen, also needs to have extensive insight into the most important aspects of any functional kitchen; plumbing, electronics, gas and storage. If it’s a big job, rather leave electrics and gas to the specialists.

Of course, there are many more tips, but much like anything well-built, we hope these serve as a solid foundation to help you find your way around your new kitchen.

Find out more about kitchen renovations

Home Decor Interiors has over 20 years of experience and during that time we’ve renovated hundreds of homes. We pride ourselves on being a premium kitchen renovator in the Western Cape. Let us help you customise or upgrade your dream home.

Contact us today for an obligation free quote

Contact us

The days when kitchens were dark spaces to be kept hidden behind the doors are long gone. Today, a kitchen can be anything but a boring space to be kept a secret. From hosting parties to cosy family dinners, modern kitchens perform various roles, and to perfection.

One of the latest trends that are catching up these days is blending the dining area with the kitchen area. A kitchen can be renovated to double up as a dining space. All you have to do is keep some tips in mind. These will help you in creating the right amount of drama which will appeal to the imagination of your guests.

Open Up Your Kitchen

An open kitchen looks stunning and helps in enhancing the space. This can be a very useful trick if you have a small apartment kitchen or a small area that you have to use as both kitchen and dining space. Food is cooked in the kitchen and filling up the dining room with aroma while guests or family member enjoy some time together a satisfying experience.

Bring in the Dining Space

If you do not have a space that can be used for dining, you can design your kitchen to play a dual role. A kitchen counter can become a dining table for your guests and family members. Prepare fresh salad or serve your sizzling dishes straight out of the microwave, the countertop dinner table will change the way you dine.

Get the Lighting Right

If you are renovating your kitchen to enable it to play the role of a dining space as well, you need to pay special attention to the lights. Since you will have guests and friends coming into your kitchen, you need to choose lights that are decorative and attractive. You must also keep in mind that lights should also be suitable and convenient. The cooking area will need different lighting arrangements than the dining zone. Remember to choose stylish pieces while keeping the light arrangements in mind.

Cupboards and Cabinets

A clumsy kitchen is a complete turn off and when it doubles up as a dining space it can be quite embarrassing. Using the right set of cupboards and cabinets designed to go with your kitchen is crucial for better organisation. Cabinets that are functional and easy to operate help in enhancing the efficiency of the kitchen. Choosing the right set cabinets is an art that is essential for getting an exceptional kitchen. You can also achieve a clean and modern look by integrating your kitchen appliances with cabinets.

Backsplash

If you are inviting your guests to your kitchen, you must ensure they are all praises about it. To ensure that your kitchen impresses your guests, you must pay attention to the décor of your kitchen.

Backsplash tiles are one of the simple ways to add elegance to your kitchen. With the right set of tiles, you can create the right impression and add an edge to your kitchen.

Renovating a kitchen that doubles up as a dramatic kitchen is easier to design if you have a theme in mind. This will help you to choose your cabinets, get the colour combinations right, better light arrangements and decide about the décor.

Find out more about home renovations

Home Decor Interiors has over 20 years of experience and during that time we’ve renovated hundreds of homes. We pride ourselves on being a premium kitchen renovator in the Western Cape. Let us help you customise or upgrade your dream home.

Contact us today for an obligation free quote

Contact us