Kitchen fitters glossary
Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a Kitchen Fitters provider in Bristol.
- What is a Belfast sink?
- A deep, single or double ceramic sink with a distinctive exposed front, traditionally installed without an overflow hole, often chosen for period or farmhouse kitchen styles.
- What is a breakfast bar?
- A breakfast bar is an extended or raised section of kitchen worktop with an overhang that provides seating for informal meals and casual dining.
- What is a butcher block worktop?
- A worktop made from strips of solid wood glued together edge-to-edge, creating a thick slab that requires regular oiling and sealing to protect against moisture and wear.
- What is a corner carousel unit?
- A corner carousel unit is a rotating shelving system (lazy susan) installed inside a corner base cupboard to make difficult corner space accessible and usable for storage.
- What is a handleless kitchen?
- A handleless kitchen features cabinet doors and drawers without external handles, using recessed finger pulls, rail systems, or push-to-open mechanisms to open them.
- What is a kitchen carcass?
- A kitchen carcass is the structural box or frame of a cabinet, comprising the sides, base, and back panel, before doors and worktops are installed.
- What is a kitchen island?
- A kitchen island is a freestanding cabinet unit positioned separately from the main cabinetry run, often incorporating appliances like a hob or sink, and requiring clear space around it for movement and function.
- What is a kitchen peninsula?
- A kitchen peninsula is a countertop unit that extends from the main run of cabinetry and utilities, typically open on three sides, combining prep space with informal seating.
- What is a laminate worktop?
- A laminate worktop is a kitchen surface made from a decorative resin-coated paper layer bonded to a chipboard core, offering a budget-friendly alternative to solid wood or stone.
- What is a larder unit?
- A larder unit is a tall, full-height kitchen cupboard designed for storing dry goods, tins, jars, and pantry items, usually fitted with pull-out shelves and wire baskets for easy access and organisation.
- What is a plinth (kickboard)?
- A plinth (or kickboard) is the horizontal panel fitted at floor level beneath kitchen base units to conceal support legs, water pipes, and electrical wiring.
- What is a quartz worktop?
- A quartz worktop is a kitchen surface made from crushed natural quartz stone mixed with polyester or epoxy resin and pigments, then compressed into slabs in a factory rather than quarried as a single block.
- What is a shaker style door?
- A shaker style door is a cabinet front made from five pieces of wood joined together: a solid frame with a recessed panel set into the centre, creating a simple, flat appearance with a subtle shadow line around the panel edge.
- What is a slab door?
- A slab door is a flat, single-panel cabinet front with no frame or decorative moulding, typically finished in gloss, matte, or wood veneer.
- What is a soft-close hinge?
- A soft-close hinge is a hinged mechanism with internal damping that slows and gently closes cabinet doors or drawers instead of allowing them to swing or slam shut.
- What is a solid surface worktop?
- A solid surface worktop is a man-made, non-porous material (typically acrylic-based like Corian) with invisibly welded seams, offering a seamless, hygienic kitchen surface that resists staining and scratches.
- What is a splashback?
- A splashback is a protective wall panel installed from the worktop to the underside of wall units, designed to protect the wall from water, grease, and steam around cooking and prep areas.
- What is an end panel?
- An end panel is a finished side cover attached to the exposed flank of a cabinet run, matching the colour and finish of the cabinet doors.
- What is an undermount sink?
- An undermount sink is fixed from underneath the worktop, with the bowl hidden below the countertop surface for a flush, uninterrupted edge.
- What is an upstand?
- An upstand is a short raised strip of matching worktop material installed vertically along the junction between the wall and the rear edge of kitchen worktops.
- What is cornice and pelmet?
- Cornice is decorative trim fitted above wall units, and pelmet is trim fitted below them, both used to finish cabinetry runs and conceal fixtures like under-cabinet lights.
- What is MDF (medium density fibreboard)?
- Medium density fibreboard (MDF) is a manufactured panel made from compressed wood fibres and adhesive, valued for its smooth surface and suitability for painted kitchen cabinetry.
- What is MFC (melamine faced chipboard)?
- MFC is a composite board made from chipboard with a bonded melamine decorative surface, commonly used for kitchen cabinet carcasses and budget-range cabinet doors.
- What is worktop templating?
- Worktop templating is the process of accurately measuring and recording the dimensions, angles, and cutout positions of a fitted kitchen at the installation site, performed after base units are fixed but before fabrication of stone or solid surface worktops begins.