the award winning silent move worktop by Hacker Kitchens - custom made and designed to your individual needs – available from surreal designs

Eggersmann – Red Dot winner 2008

We are delighted to announce that "The Wall" by Eggersmann has been awarded the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for 2008.

When choosing a suitable kitchen worktop there are many aspects which need to be considered to ensure you select the surface which most suits your needs in terms of; durability, aesthetics, resistance to heat & compatibility with the style of kitchen. We have put together this short guide to worktops which we hope is of assistance to you. If you have any queries on any of the surfaces listed below please email info@surrealdesigns.ie

Stainless Steel Often associated with professional kitchens, stainless steel is stylish and contemporary helping create a very unique and individual kitchen. Steel is highly durable and can be shaped in many ways to fit your kitchen. Stainless steel is hygienic and is the only surface that can be safely bleached. We have an example of a stainless steel worktop on display in our showroom in Galway.

Wood Wood will always give a great look and add character to your kitchen. On the countertop, however, it is highly susceptible to scratching and cutting. Hot pans will burn it or leave marks, and it can be unhygienic if meat or poultry is prepared on it. However, it is one of the only surfaces that will not damage your knives. Oak, maple, cherry, beech, walnut and dark ash are all hardwoods favoured for countertop applications.

Corian / Solid Surfacing

A countertop that consists of a solid plastic all the way through is said to be a solid surface countertop. (as opposed to those built up in layers i.e. laminate). Corian is non porous and therefore stain resistant. If you do manage to damage the countertop you can easily repair it unlike other surfaces. Probably the biggest benefit to using Corian is the wide range of colour and design options available with what is probably the most flexible counter service available to designers.

Granite

Until recently Granite was the most common type of stone used for a countertop. Granite is quarried worldwide, with colours and patterns that reveal the region and the geological conditions that created it. Each slab is unique, with random and inconsistent patterns for a great character and look. It is highly durable, it doesn’t scratch or burn and it keeps its colour. As well as locally sourced granite, Surreal Designs also have an extensive range of German machined granite which offers many alternative colours, finishes and edgings (up to 80mm thick) which are otherwise not available locally.

Laminate

An ever-popular choice for kitchen countertops and it comes in a variety of colours and textures. The quality of laminate worktops has improved dramatically with increased durability and a wide range of attractive edging options to create a stylish look. Laminate worktops are available in thicknesses from 40mm up to 80mm.

Glass

Glass contains no pores, and therefore is extremely hygienic. Glass is also very heat resistant and less sensitive to normal household detergents, however it can react to sudden changes in temperature. Glass is also a wonderful way to introduce and exciting vibrant colour into a kitchen.

Quartz

Quartz is probably one of our most popular surfaces for a number of reasons including durability and a wide choice of colours. Quartz, often known as composite stone, is re-engineered granite which uses granite along with other compounds to create an extremely durable work surface which is also non porous. This worktop comes in a wide variety of colours and textures and can be fabricated with extra thick edges

surreal designs have been nominated in two categories for the upcoming kitchen retailer ireland awards for 2011.

below you will discover some of the very latest kitchen design ideas and innovations from surreal designs in galway including the award winning silent move worktop

Now its Open….

The ‘Silent Move’ kitchens has taken the German kitchen industry by storm. An exciting and innovative concept unique to Hacker which is both practical and at the same time holds that wow factor which everyone wants to achieve with their custom designed kitchens

This  revolutionary new granite worktop solution which allows you to open the counter to access the hob and sink (if applicable) whilst also creating a breakfast bar at the same time. When finished preparing your food, you can then retreat to the dining area and close the worktop again in one simple movement. The Silent Move comes in 120mm thick granite edging, combining with 40mm granite worktops underneath and can be custom designed for both straight and Lshape worktops of varying lengths. Perfect for kitchens with space restrictions

Le Mans Corner Pullout The smart corner pullout eliminates unnecessary lifting, bending and reaching in your kitchen as the two shelves can be easily guided out of the unit. The Le Mans corner unit comes with an anti-slip feature and is designed to take heavy loads	Le Mans Corner Pullout This new larder pullout is one of the most innovative storage units available today. At 600mm wide, the unit can come in varying heights and the storage shelves glide out of the unit as you open the door, maximising the storage space available. a must have in every new kitchen design

The Horizontal glass roller shutter has proved to be a great success since it was launched by Hacker earlier this year. As well as being a very functional storage unit, the shutter has great aesthetic appeal and is a wonderful way to introduce alternative lighting in a kitchen. The shutter is available in a selection of different coloured glass fronts to suit many different kitchens.

call to our showroom today in Galway to view these and many more innovations in our showroom kitchens

C O L O U R S  

Kitchen colouring is a daunting topic especially with more and more choice in terms of what colours are available.

A good combination of colours can help achieve a particular mood or effect in the kitchen depending on what you are looking for, whether its a vibrant and lively workspace or an intimate and relaxing atmosphere. Equally, mismatched colours can not only ruin your décor but also create a disjointed feel in the room thereby upsetting the ambience.

Using complimentary colours can introduce a dramatic and intense feel to a kitchen. Bright vivacious colours also have the same effect but need to be used carefully and perhaps sparingly to avoid an overpowering effect. When used correctly they will be stimulating, energetic and formal.

The use of analogous colours (neighbours on the colour wheel) will help create a more casual and relaxing room, less formal and lending itself to a more rustic country style kitchen.

White remains a very popular colour especially for the clean line minimalist contemporary kitchen. The use of handless cabinets also works well in such a colour scheme but its important to soften the effect with the addition of an accent colour.

Neutral colours such as tan, brown, black, cream and grey are always popular and can work well with almost any other colour or texture. They also have a very broad appeal, perhaps ideal for contract developments.

Monochrome (using varying shades of one colour) can be a very smart option but needs a lift with a splash of colour whether it’s a red, blue, yellow or orange. There are many ways to introduce such a splash of colour whether it’s on a backsplash, a group of units or on a worktop.
 

Old Favourites – New Introductions

With all of that out of the way – here is a brief synopsis of what is happening at the moment in our kitchen designs.

Cream will always be popular whether on a ornate country kitchen or a high gloss lacquer contemporary design. It’s a very popular choice because it is less likely to date and can be used in combination with a whole host of different colours and shades of wood.

High Gloss Black has been in demand recently. Being a neutral colour it will work with almost anything. Lately we used high gloss black and magnolia together, while another kitchen design combined high gloss black with a deep bordeaux red and stainless steel. For something completely different you could try black gloss with a natural wood texture such as high gloss olive.

Late last year we added Aubergine to our range and it is proving very popular. A recent installation showcased the combination of aubergine doors with white panelling and worktops and it looked great.

the article below details the process involved when created a new kitchen makeover design for a client. we selected this particular kitchen as it required the designer to think outside of box which culminated in removing the walls between the utility and kitchen and the removal of a door so as to achieve more light and better use of space

before

11 year old bungalow, existing kitchen was never satisfactory and client in recent years had become aware of all the latest styles and trends in kitchens. the kitchen was disjointed, hard to work in and was not using space effectively. also, the kitchen was the focal point of the house as it had magnificent views over Galway Bay and the rooms potential was not being realised. pictured below is the original room layout.
 

the brief

• cutting edge contemporary makeover design
• like high gloss black and black appliances
• leave sink in current position and do not put hob in Island
• want island with seating
• want a more effective utility with a place for everything

design concept

the initial laying out of the room centred around the need to use the existing black american fridge freezer and the desire to have the dishwasher at a midheight level. because the sink and hob had to be positioned on the other free wall, this dictated the need to position other appliances on the same wall as the fridge and dishwasher. from this the layout took shape with the following considerations:

• had to keep the existing floor tiles, so we used the island to hide broken tiles
• needed more open spaces and light in the room so the walls were removed
• remove door into hall as it was obsolete
• used the island to maximise storage
• wine cooler was positioned for easy access from living and dining rooms
• while cooking, the client was able to look out at the view from rear window
• glass worktop allowed a lower counter level
• simple design but high functionality in all units
• extensive functionality in units including pullout larders, broom press, shoe rack, coat rails, ironing board, corner unit, dividers & bins

pictured below is the final agreed layout design

final design

prior to completing the design, the designer visited the house to confirm all measurements and to ensure there was nothing to impede the new kitchen renovation plan. some issues arose such as fuse boards, pipes and radiators which we accommodated into the design. the final appointment involved viewing the amended design incorporating any changes and the incorporation of materials selected in the previous appointment. internal accessories such as cutlery holder, drawer dividers, detergent racks etc were also selected and the client signed off

project management & installation

the designer prepared annotated electrical and plumbing drawings and met the clients builder and electrician onsite to agree on all structural, electrical and plumbing alterations and to agree an installation date. two weeks prior to installation we  made our final site visit to ensure that all building, electrical and plumbing work had be done correctly according to the plan. the kitchen was then delivered 2 weeks later and installation commenced on the day after delivery.

• 98 degree hot water
• Up to 100 cups of steaming water per hour
• Filtered water
• Space saving design
• Energy efficient

This wonderful new feature helps save time and makes life easier as well as being cost effective and environmentally friendly. Here are just some of the uses, this tap can be put to:

Making tea & coffee Creating sauces thawing frozen foods Warming baby bottles Cleaning baby bottles Washing up Fill hot water bottles Remove labels from containers for recycling Available now from Surreal Designs