What's The Best Material For Your House?

'Creating a home that's built to last.'

As a homeowner, isn't that pretty much your agenda when doing up a new home? After all, when you're forking out thousands of dollars for a renovation, you'll want a place that can stand years of careless wear and tear. (Because life's too short to tip-toe around your house.)

But, with so many elements to consider, you'd be hard pressed to find the right material for your lifestyle. Which is why we've made life easier - by asking an interior designer for you! Here, Montie from M3 Studio breaks down the most durable and effective materials for 5 key features in your home.

1. Flooring

Best Materials: Granite/Homogenous Tiles

Interior Designer: Innerspace Design Solutions
Location: Jalan Tenaga

Montie (M): This is a big one - flooring covers a huge amount of space and it is where everything rests on - so, it's got to be hardy! Granite tiles are the ultimate in lasting durability, however they can be costly.

Interior Designer: Asolidplan
Location: Prive

Homogeneous tiles are your next best option as they are firm, resist water and stains and are easy to clean.

If you are looking for a warmer, more rustic feel, I'd recommend using wood vinyl tiles which are resistant to scratches and impact absorbent.

2. Kitchen Countertops

Best Materials: Granite, quartz, Kompacplus, solid surface

Interior Designer: Free Space Intent
Location: Eng Kong Terrace

(M): You'll need to ask yourself these two questions before choosing the right countertop.

1. How often will you cook? Everyday or once in a while?
2. What kind of cuisine do you often cook? Western, Chinese or Indian?

Interior Designer: Weiken.com
Location: Mahon Park

If you're cooking heavy-duty cuisine like Indian or Chinese on a regular basis, get a stone countertop made from either granite or quartz. Quartz has the lowest water porosity, which means that it's pretty resistant to absorbing spilled liquids and the like. Meanwhile, granite has the highest heat resistance.

Interior Designer: KDOT Associates
Location: Telok Blangah

If you don't cook much, easy to clean and maintain Kompacplus panels or solid surfaces (e.g. Corian) would be sufficient.

Interior Designer: Weiken.com
Location: Gallop Gables

3. Kitchen Backsplash

Best Material: Tempered glass

Interior Designer: NextDoor ID
Location: Woodlands

(M): In the olden days, tiles were used to cover this extra wall between your countertop and top cabinets. However, the grout lines easily absorb dirt and grime, resulting in dirty look after a couple of years. These days, backsplashes made from tempered, spray painted glass are the best, modern alternatives. Why? They are easy to wipe, give a glossy, polished look and reflect more light, allowing the kitchen area to feel bigger. Plus, tempered glass are super effective at resisting heat!

4. Feature Wall/TV Console

Best Materials: Solid plywood with laminate finish

Interior Designer: Project File
Location: Springleaf

(M): Your feature wall/TV console isn't just a decorative piece, but also a storage space to keep your Medusa-like TV cables in check. Use a durable, but relatively lightweight material that will not put too much weight on the actual wall. For durability, I'd advise the feature wall or console body to be made up of solid plywood, with laminate finishes.

Interior Designer: The Scientist
Location: The Gale

As for the TV console storage unit, if you're looking for a closed, tidy look, it's best to use frosted or tinted glass drawer doors, as this material allows your infra-red signal to go through to your players.

5. Curtains

Best Materials: Suede or velvet

Interior Designer: Free Space Intent
Location: Mountbatten

(M): Don't overlook your curtains! They take up a large portion of your visible space, and can also contribute to the overall aesthetic of your home. If your home gets a lot of sunlight, blackout suede curtain materials would prove useful.

On the other hand, if your home has thin walls and gets a lot of noise, velvet would be the best as they block off and bounce off sound well.

Check out M3 Studio's profile here.

Hope this gives you a better idea of what materials you should use for a sturdy, durable house! Looking for an interior professional to help you put it all together? We can help - drop us a free quote request, and we can match you up with 5 IDs, based on your style and budget. All recommendations made by Qanvast may also be covered by the Qanvast Guarantee, up to $50,000.

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