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Selecting one of the most suitable bench tops is unquestionably an imperative decision while creating or designing a new kitchen. The feel and look of the design as well as the material functionality needs to be considered.

You will have lots of binding choices for kitchen benchtops, together with wood, half round nose, bevel, bull nose and round nose. The bench top material used decides what you have in the sorts of binding. Getting along with rounder varieties would be a good idea if you have young children and wishing to stay them away from nasty bumps on heads. In order to hold all kinds of tastes as well as budgets the manufacturers have been making the following types of bench tops that are available in a large number of colors.

Laminate kitchen bench tops will be your economical and flexible choice, and a variety of finishes and looks will be availed in them to splendidly match most decors. Laminate bench tops may well be your one of the cheapest options in wide array of colors and finishes. But laminate bench tops stop you from placing hot pots directly on them, besides being prone to scratching.

Timber kitchen bench tops are perfectly suitable for rustic-style kitchens being made of timber. They tend to be of strong and sturdy material and won’t blunt your knives. On the other hand, they can be an expensive option.

Granite benchtops communicate a streamlined appearance to the kitchen. Fashionable or classic, colonial charm or inner-city style…whatever be your style, granite bench tops provide a durable, low maintenance, elegant surface. Granite is stain resistant, scratch resistant, strong, and heat resistant and also comes in a wide range of thicknesses and arrays. Same are the benefits with limestone bench tops, and sandstone bench tops. Stone kitchen bench tops allow you to design a variety of bench top shapes with countless versatile advantages.

Marble kitchen bench tops will show luxury and entice you for their wonderful looks. On the other hand, they might not be matching in toughness as granite kitchen bench tops and other stone benchtops have. With them, don’t expect a scratch or stain resistant stuff and be ready to shell-out more, as they are luxurious choice.

Stone kitchen bench tops offer complete warranty and being stain, heat and scratch resistant, make an ideal choice for all lifestyles. High flexural strength, remarkable toughness, variety of colors, an array of patterns and extremely resistive properties; all of these factors have contributed to the increasing popularity of stone bench tops.

In their training, student interior designers often learn about the history of their profession. This can be a really important way to give context to their subsequent careers. In this article, I will draw on my experience as an interior designer and educator to discuss the history of this exciting field.

The earliest professional interior designers were based in London – the British had become intrigued by Egyptian techniques of decorating household objects and wanted the same for themselves. London families became desperate to employ an interior designer to create magical spaces and accessorise their interiors. As interior designers came to be recognised as professionals, they increasingly found a need to draw on history to create fabulous results. This was particularly true when creating designs for historic London mansions or listed buildings – they saw historical reflections as a way of preserving the past while also looking to the future.

THE ANCIENT ROMANS

In Ancient Rome, citizens demanded comfort, luxury and wealth. These elements are still important in the work of interior designers across the world today. The lavish decorations, tapestries and iconic stonework today remain as timeless and popular in London as in Tokyo or Sydney. The Ancient Romans adored bespoke furniture and loved quality textiles and expensive fabrics.

MONASTIC TIMES

After the collapse of Roman rule, the church assumed power and largely discouraged the most creative interior designers. Opulent interiors were taken out and interior designers were instructed to install quiet and simple oak panels with dark lines and sharp edges. This influence was felt throughout Europe – from London all the way to Florence.

RENAISSANCE AND REVIVAL

The Renaissance saw the emergence of professional French or French-inspired interior designers. It was a new age of elegance and sophistication, which saw the rebuilding of the London Interior Designer community and a fresh take on creative and beautiful living spaces. A “palatial” feel was rediscovered, and interior designers began to take advantage of new transport axes going through London to the continent and to the Americas in order to rediscover their profession and herald the next generation of design.

This brings to an end my article on how the work of interior designers has changed over the ages. In my next article, I’ll reflect on how interior designers use interior fashions for great effect.