What material should I choose
May 9, 2022

What material should I choose

We pride ourselves on being able to provide our customers with beautiful high end designs, in a wide selection of styles, at competitive pricing. With hundreds of colours, unique materials and numerous accessory options to customize your space; we are sure you will find the look that fits your design and budget.

Jun 20, 2022

What material should I choose

We pride ourselves on being able to provide our customers with beautiful high end designs, in a wide selection of styles, at competitive pricing. With hundreds of colours, unique materials and numerous accessory options to customize your space; we are sure you will find the look that fits your design and budget.

What material should I choose
Solid wood

Natural woods provide a traditional look with intricate moldings, wood grains, and rich colours. We offer many different colours and patterns. Available in maple, oak, walnut, and cherry woods.  

Natural woods will commonly vary in colour and characteristics due to the density of natural solid woods. Shaker doors may expand and contract due to temperature and humidity, up to 0.5mm visible cracking around joint areas may be visible from time to time.

Stained

Our stunning stained wood cabinets add warmth and texture to any space. Because wood density can vary, stain may absorb in the cabinet slightly different than the samples shown here and in our showroom. When choosing a wood-stained cabinet finish, our sales, and design experts will help guide you through the process to ensure your satisfaction with the result.

Painted

The most obvious advantage is the silky-smooth finish. You will only get that from painted wood or MDF. They also prevent dirt, and scratches, and are easy to repaint if the colour goes out of fashion. They cost more than the alternatives for example Laminate, Melamine, etc

Matte lacquer laminate

Matte Lacquer Laminate is glued onto the surface of the MDF board but could remove the fringe line making the product look seamless. It has a matte, smoothy, and anti-finger surface, while also recovering scratches that might occur on its facade with ease! The 16 subtle colour options of Matte Lacquer Laminate make it an excellent choice when you are in the market to update your home.

Acrylic

High gloss acrylic has a surface of rich colour combined with a glossy finish, making it a perfect product for maximizing lighting and creating an opening up any space. Acrylic may have prevalent characteristics over time, such as slight discolourations, blurs, slight waves, dimples, and scratches. Otherwise, they are also easy to clean, have high scratch resistance. At Zen Living, Acrylic is available for slab cabinet doors only.

High pressure laminate

High pressure laminate (HPL) is one of the most consistent and durable materials in today’s cabinetry market. HPL is a laminate applied to MDF Core which is bonded with high levels of pressure. It can withstand temperature changes without warping, is scratch resistant and comes in various colours, textures and wood grains. In rare cases, this product may experience slight colour discolouration over time.

Low pressure laminate

Low-pressure laminate (LPL) is an affordable wood alternative that enables clients to create bespoke creative designs. This product is available in hundreds of finishes and textures. LPL is an often refered to as Melamine.

UV

UV Mirror White is one of our best-selling finish options for cabinetry. It has a glossy and clean look that can withstand even the most active kitchen environments. They are also UV-resistant, so you can enjoy lasting colour that always looks new.

Engineered veneer

The main source of engineered veneer sheets is natural woods, so it is varied in colour and grain. The structure of engineered wood veneer and higher yield helps in minimizing waste and costs. However, it can be prevented stain colour consistency as they are sliced from big tree logs with retaining properties bestowed by nature.

Material Comparision

Veneers & Solids

Natural woods provide a traditional look with intricate mouldings, wood grains and rich colours. We offer many different colours and patterns. Available in maple, oak, walnut, and cherry woods.

Stained Natural Woods
Solid Painted MDF
Engineered Veneer
Wood Grain
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Grain Consistency
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Colour Consistency
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Colour Selection
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Styles
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slab only
Mouldings
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Hardness
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Scratch Resistance
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Stain Resistance
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Synthetics & Laminate

Synthetics and laminates are highly durable, less prone to discolouring and are easy to maintain. We offer many different colours and patterns to suit your design style.

Kitchen Materials
High Pressure Laminate (HPL)
Kitchen Materials
High Gloss Acrylics
Kitchen Materials
Textured Melamine (MFC)
High Gloss
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Wood Grain
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some
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Textured Surface
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Styles
slab only
slab only
slab only
Hardness
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Scratch Resistance
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Stain Resistance
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Temperature / Humidity Resistance
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Colour Selection
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Wood Types

Natural wood with unique grains and colour.

Birch
Kitchen Materials
Cherry
Kitchen Materials
Maple
Density
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Colour
pale white to yellow
rich, variant, darkens overtime
light with some reddish-brown hues
pale green with pink or brown hue
rich, variant, lighten over time
light to medium brown
elegant, rich, variant
Grain
straight-grained, fine and even texture
smooth, even, natural markings
light, limited variations
straight-grained, fine to medium texture
smooth and straight-grained
consistent
inconsistent with character
Can be stained
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Kitchen Materials
Beech
Knotty Alder
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White Oak
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Walnut
Kitchen Materials
Beech
Kitchen Materials
Knotty Alder
Kitchen Materials
White Oak
Kitchen Materials
Walnut
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pale green with pink or brown hue
rich, variant, lighten over time
light to medium brown
elegant, rich, variant
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straight-grained, fine to medium texture
smooth and straight-grained
consistent
inconsistent with character
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Countertop Selections

Natural stones in granite and quartz are extra durable and aesthetically appealing. Alternatively, our extensive selection of laminates offer beautiful options on a budget.

Granite Countertop
Granite
Quartz Countertop
Quartz
Laminate Countertop
Laminate
Unique Pattern and Colour
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Consistent Pattern and Colour
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Scratch Resistance
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Stain Resistance
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Temperature Resistance
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Colour Selection
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Maintenance
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Price
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Profile Edge CountertopProfile Edge Countertop
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