When considering a cabinet coating for your space, you should consider the intended use of the space as well as the household demographic, such as children. This will help you prioritise things that will make your day to day living easier, such as easy cleaning, high durability and low maintenance. Other important factors are your budget and your interior design preference – it’s imperative that you love your home! Johnny Rinaldi has more than a decade of experience, with Double Js Kitchens specialising in “cabinetry for luxury homes, including kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and built-in wardrobes.” The business has “expanded its services, embraced advanced technology and committed to sustainable practices” under Rinaldi’s leadership.

VOTING ON YOUR COATING
“One common mistake in kitchen or bathroom renovations is choosing cabinet coatings that aren’t suitable for the environment, like using coatings that aren’t durable or moisture-resistant enough,” Rinaldi says. He advises that when choosing a cabinet coating for a bathroom or kitchen, you should “opt for coatings that are specifically designed to withstand moisture, heart and daily wear.” But don’t forget to also base your decision on your style preference! “Choose an aesthetic that harmonises with your space, whether glossy, matte or a specific colour.” When working with his clients, Rinaldi emphases the use of premium materials to ensure that “each piece is both beautiful and durable.” But how do you even know where to start? Rinaldi talks us through his top preferences for bathrooms and kitchens that meet these considerations.

POLYURETHANE
Polyurethane is a painted coating that consists of paint and hardener, providing a protective coating very similar to the paint on motor vehicles. It requires meticulous care to implement, with many hours of preparation. “It needs careful application and can emit chemicals,” Rinaldi warns. This means that it is also slightly more expensive in terms of upfront costs.

However, this initial outlay and time becomes a worthwhile endeavour as polyurethane offers superior durability and will save you money down the track as it won’t need replacement as quickly. With outstanding resistance against chips and scratches, the area can simply be re-coated at minimal cost if it does incur any damage, rather than needing to replace the entire door or cabinet. It is also almost entirely UV resistant, meaning that there is a very low chance of the coating colour ever fading or changing over time. It’s also very easy to clean! It is impenetrable by most substances and can be easily wiped over with a damp clean cloth to remove fingerprints, smudges and marks.

And speaking of colour – the range of options is endless. Because it is painted on, you can create any colour that you like which makes it perfect for creating a statement kitchen. You can match it to the existing colour of the cabinetry or create a new colour of your own. The coating comes in matte, satin, sheen and high gloss – all of which provide their own aesthetics, making it a suitable coating for any style of kitchen, from classic to contemporary. There are also endless opportunities when it comes to door profiling, as the coating can be applied to any shape seamlessly.

Double J’s Kitchens recently completed a project that really stood out to them because of its utilisation of polyurethane. “One of our highlight projects was the transformation of the kitchen cabinets using a resilient polyurethane coating,” Rinaldi says. “The glossy finish accentuated the natural beauty while providing easy upkeep, seamlessly combining style and practicality to rejuvenate the space with a sleek, contemporary appearance.”

LAMINATE AND MELAMINE
Laminate and melamine are the alternative options that Double Js Kitchens recommends to its clients. Laminate is a material that is used to cover a substrate such as MDF, plywood or particle board. The resin-coated paper is backed with a phenolic resin layer and glued to the base