Casa PescaraKitchen · 3 min
How to compare kitchen finish samples in Pescara
Assess cabinet fronts, worktops and splashbacks in your own light before choosing colours and materials.
Ask for samples that match the order
Before taking a sample home, check the reference, finish and type of surface. A scrap of laminate can show the pattern, while a completed cabinet door also includes the edge and thickness. For timber or stone, ask to see a range of variation. One uniform piece may be unlike many of the pieces in the delivery. If possible, see how the pattern is oriented on the panel and how it reaches any exposed edge. Write the reference on the back and photograph the label. Several options of nearly the same colour can be hard to identify from pictures alone. An exact reference lets you recognise the same finish on the quote and order acknowledgement.
Place the samples as they will be installed
A horizontal worktop catches light differently from an upright cabinet front. Lay the worktop sample flat where you will prepare food, stand the cabinet sample up and place the splashback behind it. Add a floor sample if that is changing and a card showing the wall colour. View the group from the door and table as well as up close, focusing on the surfaces that will stay visible. In a Pescara flat, try it by the balcony door and in the area farthest from daylight. Photograph the groups from the same distance at the same time. The images make good comparison notes, and you can settle the choice looking at the actual finishes together.
Assess appearance and care separately
A sample can look right and require a different cleaning routine from the one you use now. Read the instructions for each surface and see what they say about oil, water and fingerprints. Handle edges and pulls with dry hands to compare the feel. For a textured finish, see what it looks like under a cabinet light. With gloss, check whether a reflection lands at eye level. Ask the supplier which tests you can do on samples and use the recommended products and methods. A practical choice also takes account of how easily you can reach corners, joints and other places you will clean frequently.
Compare the junctions between finishes
A showroom sample may omit the point where the worktop meets a wall, a metal trim or the side of a tall cabinet. Ask for a drawing and, when possible, an assembled sample. If two materials have a directional grain, compare the directions and decide which lines will align. For a splashback, place the chosen grout or edge trim alongside the surface. Look at the details from your normal viewing distance as well as close up. If the wall is out of square, ask how the gap behind the worktop will be dealt with. A picture of the agreed edge makes the intended finish easier to identify when the full piece is made.
Keep a clear record of the chosen finish
Keep a note of the approved sample, its reference, finish, location and any junction details. If a supplier cannot deliver it, compare the substitute in the same light and beside the same materials. Check whether thickness, weight, fitting or care requirements change. After approving a finish, put the reference in the order schedule and keep the sample available until delivery. Check labels and documents on delivery before similar boxes get mixed up. When the work is complete, file the care instructions and references together. They will help if you add a shelf, repair an edge or need to identify the finish when ordering a replacement part.
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