INTERIOR DESIGN: LISTING OF MATERIALS AND FINISHES PER APPLICATION

You wish to design your own interior space, or help a friend, but are uncertain or confused about all the available material options relative to finishes? We’ve made an analytical material listing below, per application; it’ll certainly help you understand all the available choices, so you can be an informed designer. 

Note that material selection is not subjective, as it's dictated by the particular application, the design concept or the client.

CABINETS (KITCHEN, BATH, OTHER)

Glass

Laminate

Metal (Usually, stainless steel).

Wood

CEILINGS

Acoustical Ceiling Tile (ACT)

Concrete

Cork

Fabric

Glass

Metal panels or strips

Metal (Exposed structure: steel joists, etc.).

Mirror

Paint

Wood (Exposed structure: trusses, etc.).

Wood planks

COUNTERTOPS

Ceramic Tile

Concrete (Sealed. Repeat sealing every three years).
Engineered Quartz (Wilsonart and other companies).

Granite

Laminate (Formica, Wilsonart, and other companies).

Marble (Requires sealing every 6 to 12 months).

Solid (Corian, Wilsonart and other companies).

Stainless steel

Stone (Other than granite or marble: Soapstone, slate, etc.).

Wood: Maple, red oak, mahogany (Excessive maintance. Also, as wood is porous, there's some concern about bacteria).

DOORS
Aluminum
Fire Rated (3 hour maximum)
Glass
Metal
Safety 
Synthetic
Wood

DOOR AND WINDOW TREATMENTS

Bare (None – Privacy and safety assured?)

Curtains

Drapes and valance

Roller Shade

Roman Shade

Sliding Panel Vertical Blind

Shoji Blinds (Japanese)

Tie-Up Shade

Venetian Blind (Horizontal)

Vertical Blind (Track blind)

Also, Blinds, manually or electrically operated, may be of the following materials:

Aluminum

Bamboo

Fabric

Integral with the window system (Enclosed between the glass panes)

Plastic

Pleated

Reflective

Wood

FLOORING

Bamboo

Carpeting

Ceramic tile (Glazed or mat finish)

Concrete

Cork (Only for the Kitchen)

Glass

Granite (For health reasons, check its Radon content).

Hardwood

Laminate (Stay away from this unnatural and unhealthy option).

Linoleum

Marble

Sheet Vinyl Flooring

Stone (Other than granite or marble).

Tatami (Traditional Japanese).

Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) 

KITCHEN SINKS

Composite

Marble

Stainless steel

WALL BASE

Brick

Ceramic Tile

Concrete

Granite

Linoleum

Marble

Sheet Vinyl Flooring

Stone

Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)

Wood

WALLS

Art (Painting, collage, sculpture).

Brick

Carpet

Ceramic Tile

Composite (For example, as in auditoriums, for sound absorption).

Cork

Fabric

Glass

Granite

Marble

Metal (Panels or strips).

Mirrors

Paint (Smooth, or with texture).

Paint effect (Stucco Veneziano, or other).

Stone (Other than granite or marble).

Wallpaper

Wood

As we see, the options are many, yet we often encounter in many applications, even in inappropriate ones, the same five or six trite materials. Armed with all the available options, as designers we can be more creative and express ourselves more freely.

Ceramic tile

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For specifics, or ideas about your own project, get in touch; we can work together. It's fun, easy and affordable. You'll be surprised! We'll do everything by email ! Phone contact is also available. Feel free to CONTACT:  interior.design.easy@gmail.com