High-End Kitchen Renovation
- Carol Angel
- Aug 20
- 4 min read
Materials, Brands, and Method for a Successful High-End Kitchen Renovation Project
A high-end kitchen isn't just about beautiful materials: it requires meticulous planning, rigorous product selection, and flawless technical coordination. The interior designer 's role is to coordinate everything—from ergonomics and choice of floor coverings to the integration of appliances, plumbing, and lighting—to deliver a cohesive, durable, and flawless space for everyday use.
Before discussing finishes, the success of a kitchen depends on the plan. Analysis of needs, efficient circulation, suitable working heights, optimized activity triangle, functional lighting (under-cabinet, recessed, LED lines), efficient ventilation, water inlets and outlets in the right places: each decision impacts the longevity of materials and user comfort. The designer anticipates constraints (door thicknesses, opening gaps, appliance clearances, island and splashback alignments), synchronizes carpenter, marble worker and electrician, and arbitrates the invisible details that make a kitchen quiet, robust and easy to maintain.
Furniture and coverings for a high-end kitchen
The perceived quality comes first from the facades and panels. Selected wood veneers and catalyzed lacquers offer a deep and durable finish, provided you choose stable brands and substrates.
REHAU : decorative panels (RAUVISIO range) renowned for their flatness, precision of edges and matte or high-gloss finishes that retain their strength over time.
FENIX innovative materials : ultra-matte, anti-fingerprint nano-tech surfaces that are pleasant to the touch, appreciated for their everyday resistance and contemporary aesthetics.
Sublime Polymers : highly aesthetic decorative polymer panels (deep matt or high gloss), useful for obtaining very regular facades and impeccable edges.
In terms of execution, choose dense MDF for lacquers, UV-resistant varnishes on veneers, integrated grooves (without handles), quality shock absorbers and flush bases. For wall coverings, FENIX or RAUVISIO panels ensure impeccable visual continuity behind technical areas (sockets, niches).
Worktops, splashbacks and stones to create a high-end kitchen
Surfaces must combine beauty, resistance and ease of maintenance.
Cambria : North American quartz known for its consistent color and realistic veined patterns, ideal for mitered islands and “monolithic” drop-downs.
Cosentino : an innovative Spanish group offering Silestone (reliable and versatile quartz), Dekton (an ultra-compact, technical porcelain-like surface that is highly resistant to heat, UV rays, and scratches), and Sensa (natural granites with anti-stain treatment that preserves the stone's authenticity).
HanStone : Quartz appreciated for its timeless color palette and stability, perfect for intensive preparation areas.
Santamargherita : materials inspired by Italian minerals (recomposed stones and decorative profiles) offering a uniform and elegant finish.
In practice: quartz (Cambria, Silestone, HanStone) is the ally of versatility; technical porcelain (Dekton) excels in thermal and UV resistance, including full-height splashbacks; natural stones (Sensa) provide authentic veining with an anti-stain treatment. Pay attention to the assemblies (discreet joints, radii at exposed angles), the sealing of under-counter basins and the consistency of finishes (polished, satin, suede).
High-end kitchen appliances
Beyond the look, the quality of a kitchen is felt in daily use.
Miele : German reliability, precise steam and combination ovens, very quiet dishwashers, intuitive controls and renowned longevity.
Fisher & Paykel : New Zealand design and modularity (DishDrawer, refrigeration columns, versatile cooking tables) for custom installations.
JennAir : bold aesthetics, sleek design lines, built-in refrigerated columns and powerful appliances designed for panel-ready installation.
The interior designer ensures the alignment of the frames, the hidden ventilation slots, the thickness of the panels used as appliance doors, the compatibility of the cooking areas with the hood (flow rate, noise level, external discharge), and the accessibility of the technical outlets. The result: a kitchen with controlled noise, continuous lines, where everything falls just right.
High-end kitchen faucets, sinks and functional details
The faucet is a high-use item: priority is given to mechanics and finishes.
Brizo : high-end design, exclusive finishes and precise cartridges, ideal for a main water point with a pull-out shower.
House of Rohl : a premium brand house bringing together manufacturers of high-quality faucets and accessories, with particular attention paid to machining and the choice of finishes.
Rubinet : Canadian manufacturer known for its customizable finishes and careful manufacturing, useful for harmonizing every detail (mixer, soap dispenser, drain button).
Add an undermount sink to the pan section, a filtered water mixer tap, and possibly a pot filler near the cooking area. For flooring and splashbacks, large formats in Dekton or technical porcelain reduce joints and facilitate maintenance. The well-coordinated ensemble elevates the level of comfort and visual coherence.
A high-end kitchen is the combination of sophisticated design and impeccable materials. Technical veneers (REHAU, FENIX, Sublime Polymers), high-performance surfaces (Cambria, Cosentino / Silestone, Dekton, Sensa, Santamargherita, HanStone), reliable appliances (Miele, Fisher & Paykel, JennAir), and precise faucets (Brizo, House of Rohl, Rubinet) create a whole that must be thought out together. The support of a Studio Angel & Co interior designer guarantees this consistency: informed choices, mastered details, and uncompromising execution for a kitchen that is beautiful, durable, and a pleasure to live in every day.
