Materials and our senses
A material can be “felt” with the eyes that perceive the colors and finishes that enhance the characteristics of the material and their three-dimensionality; “felt” with the ears that detect evocative sounds and sound effects: empty, full, deep, rustling; “felt” with the nose that incorporates unusual and sometimes difficult to recognize olfactory nuances; and finally “felt” with the hands (and why not, even with the feet) which thanks to their highly advanced perceptive capability feel the consistency and temperature of the material, distinguish uniformity and small roughnesses.
The experiment can be tried for example with the woods, metals, stones, marbles, which have always enhanced the compositions of TM Italia.
Natural materials treated with great respect, worked to accentuate their intrinsic characteristics, and perfected with environmentally friendly finishes that enhance the final effect of great authenticity and reflect the advanced craftsmanship of TM Italia.
Wood in the kitchen environment
The physical properties of wood are related to strength, density, hardness and stiffness. There are therefore strong and hard woods, such as oak, fir or plane tree; soft woods such as chestnut; fine and hard woods such as walnut or cherry.
Each wood essence is also distinguished by its colour, which can be further enhanced with different treatments and processes.
Heat-treated woods are more durable and this treatment confers them a darker natural colour; the saw cutting technique recalls the marks left on the wood by the saw used in traditional carpentry; pickling is a decorative technique that gives the wood a more lived-in look; brushing highlights the grain giving a more rustic appeal; soap treated wood is enhanced in terms of the naturalness of its colour and this technique also protects the material.
The wood used in the interior design helps to create warm and intimate environments. One of the most intriguing aspects of this material is that it is alive, in fact its colour tends to vary over time and it undergoes slight movements, expanding or shrinking depending on the level of humidity in the environment.
Furthermore, some woods, such as cedar, have great olfactory properties and emit citrus fragrances into the environment for years.
Specific skills are required to work wood in order to highlight its intrinsic characteristics.
TM Italia offers a wide choice of essences for its kitchens: 15 basic essences including oak, teak, chestnut, bamboo: a selection of 10 premium essences including: olive wood, sycamore, rosewood, ebony, 12 essences dyed with various shades, 7 material essences, 4 coloured material essences.
Another characteristic feature that makes each wood essence unique is its grain, specific not only for each species but also for each cut.
The grain of the wood is like a fingerprint: one will never find two samples which are exactly the same and this is what makes each environment exquisitely unique.
There are different ways to use the grain of the wood, which can be flamed, half flamed, striped or frisé.
In the composition of a kitchen, the various doors and fronts can be combined to maintain the continuity of the grain- this particular process that distinguishes the best artisanal processes is called wood veneer matching.
Finally, there are different techniques for combining the different veneers which can be parallel book-matched, open flame, orthogonal or herringbone.
The surface of the wood can be sanded, polished or worked three-dimensionally, such as the exclusive milled workmanship of the Rua model which highlights the soul of the paste-coloured MDF material.
100% natural wood fiber doors
Wood veneered doors are a popular aesthetic choice for furniture, but it must be accepted that being a natural product, they have the limitation of altering over time, due to exposure to UV rays for example.
Although these variations are not to be considered as flaws, but rather merits of a living material, for those who want a more durable and stable material, TM Italia offers an environmentally friendly and technologically advanced alternative – 100% natural wood fiber doors.
These doors are distinguished by their low environmental impact, as they are made from natural materials and are PEFC and CARB P2 certified, which guarantees their sustainability and the absence of harmful substances.
Technically and aesthetically, they offer significant advantages such as resistance to UV rays, stains and liquids, making them particularly durable and easy to maintain. In addition, they provide excellent color uniformity, a pleasant tactile feel, and quick and easy cleaning.
These features, combined with their refined aesthetics, make wood fiber doors an ideal choice for those seeking durable and sustainable solutions without sacrificing the quality and beauty of wood. Pro. wood wood effect finishes are made from high-quality wood fibers.
A cellulose coating processed with high-performance melamine resin provides UV resistance and durability, while the quality of the edges ensures an elegant and flawless appearance.
In addition to the wood effect, we also find finishes in this collection that recall matte, glossy or metallic-effect surfaces.
The pro.nat collection features doors with a coating made using 100%natural materials such as linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour, and calcium carbonate, applied to a substrate composed of 90% organically grown cellulose.
This combination creates an environmentally friendly, extremely opaque material with a self-healing surface; in case of surface scratches, a massage with linseed oil restores and regenerates the fibers, reducing the effects of abrasion.
Metal effect finishes are inlcuded in the pro.metal group in Soft-touch brushed glossy metallic effect variants. The low-VOC coating is thermo-laminated and includes partial use of recycled plastic. It is a complete product that combines high performance, innovative design and environmental responsibility.
Natural stone in the kitchen environment
Kitchens in stone are a sophisticated and durable choice for those who want to add value to their homes.
One of their most fascinating aspects is their intrinsic beauty, stratified over millions of years which has allowed the materials to crystallize and mix, generating surprising designs.
The variety of stones allows everyone to find solutions that perfectly adapt to their style and personal needs. Whether it is marble, granite, travertine, slate or any other natural stone, each has its own unique characteristics that can be used to create a customized and uniquely styled kitchen.
Each type of stone in the kitchen can be further customized with mechanical, thermal or chemical surface treatments that give the same material very different characteristics: sanding, polishing, bush-hammering, sandblasting or flaming.
The use of stones in the kitchen environment are limited only by the designer’s creativity. Stone can be used not only for worktops, but also for backs and doors.
TM Italia’s stone doors are made with aeronautical technology which involves the use of aluminum honeycomb structure able to confer both lightness and structural solidity, increasing the longevity of the mobile connections.
TM Italia presents 29 stones and marbles and 20 types of quartz (composite materials) in its collection. The company offers its customers the possibility of choosing other types of marble and stones not present in the catalogue to satisfy any need for customization.
The stone in the kitchen can be combined particularly well with other natural materials such as wood, which with its warmth balances the mineral austerity. To match a stone with an important grain such as Corinth Stone, Brown Emperador or Frappuccino stone, a wood with a less pronounced grain is usually chosen, such as Oak, Eucalyptus or Chestnut.
On the contrary, stones with a more uniform structure such as Travertine, Ceppo di Gré or Slate are often combined with woods with a pronounced grain such as Canaletto Walnut, Olive or Rosewood.
Metals in the kitchen environment
Metal kitchens are a modern and stylish choice for home decor. With their unique sheen, these kitchens add vigor to any space and have the ability to easily match a variety of decor styles.
From an industrial kitchen to a more sophisticated setting, metal can be successfully integrated into various contexts, adding charm and character to the entire space.
One of the most characteristic aspects of metal kitchens is their ability to reflect light. Their polished or satin surface reflects light in different ways. They also take on and reflect the colors of other materials and facilitate refined combinations.
Metal kitchens are able to increase the perception of spaciousness and brightness of the entire surroundings, offering a wide range of design opportunities.
Whether stainless steel, aluminum, or bronze, any type of metal can be worked and shaped to individual preferences, offering a wide choice of finishes and textures.
TM Italia offers 4 types of Stainless Steel (in polished, satin, circular brushed, and scotch-brite finishes), metals such as Pewterx, Corten, Copper, and painted metals with Anthracite and Antique Bronze finishes in its matetial offering.
Metal kitchens are strong and durable, thanks to the high-performance character of the material itself.
This makes them suitable for heavy daily use, with great convenience in cleaning, maintenance and hygiene.
Ecomalta Kitchens
Ecomalta is an environmentally friendly and eco-friendly material and because of its properties derived from water, it is breathable and antistatic, thus limiting the accumulation of dust and maintenance. Ecomatla is made by mixing natural oils with pigments and minerals of different granularity, such as sand or crushed shells.
Thanks to its composition, which includes 40 percent aggregates from certified recycling, Ecomalta stands out for its low environmental impact, and the raw material used in its creation is certified by specialized international laboratories that guarantee it is free of gypsum, cement and epoxy resins, making it breathable and non-yellowing.
This innovative material makes it possible to create large, seamless surfaces that can be molded during spreading, offering different tactile experiences.
The application of Ecomalta is strictly by hand, which makes each creation unique. In addition to coating, impression processing can be performed, using different patterns that create three-dimensional effects. The end result can recall surfaces similar to aged leather, drapery or old plaster, with a rich and original visual and tactile effect.