Worktops focus – A guide to edge profiles in high-end kitchen design

New to specifying edge profiles in kitchen design or need a refresher? Clare Howcutt-Kelly's brief guide will help to ensure your next project is a cut above the rest.

Edge profiles are more than a finishing touch, they can add personality and allow a beautiful material to really shine whether it’s natural stone, porcelain or another solid surface. Of course, trends come and go so it’s important to go with one that is timeless and suitable for the chosen material. Always work with a fabricator who really knows what they are doing and who can advise on the best treatment as this will ensure work surfaces last longer and are functional, too.

Andy Phillips of Affordable Granite has this advice: “Any profile requiring a tight internal corner can be tricky unless you can put a join there as most profiles are put on with a circular tool with a diameter of around 80mm. Considering the overhang in relation to the carcase either above or below the worktop. The material can also make a tremendous difference especially with hard quartzites or stones with an inconsistent density.”

The choice of profiles is infinite but these are some of the key ones you’ll see in high-end kitchen design.

STRAIGHT AND MINIMALIST PROFILES
Contemporary, fuss-free and easy to keep clean.

Square
Clean, flat, architectural profile with a 90-degree angle and a slightly rounded edge.

Pencil Edge
Offers a lightly rounded top edge and is one of the easiest for a fabricator to achieve. It’s really common and won’t go out of style.

SOFT AND ROUNDED PROFILES
Ideally suited to family kitchens where hard edges could be a hazard.

Half Bullnose
Rounded at the top and rounded underneath providing a smooth, tactile finish and allows spills to run off.

Full Bullnose
Fully rounded top and bottom edges for a softer look and more commonly seen in solid surfaces rather than porcelain.

Demi Bullnose
A subtle top curve that is practical and modern; often used in quartz and solid surface tops.

DECORATIVE AND TRADITIONAL PROFILES
Perfect for statement kitchens, bars and islands in domestic and commercial properties.

Ogee Edge
Elegant “S” curve offering depth and refinement – common in granite, marble, and solid surface designs where hand-finishing or thermoforming is possible.

Dupont Edge
A crisp top step followed by a rounded drop which can create a dramatic effect especially when used on natural stone and high-end solid surfaces.

Cove Edge
Concave detailing near the top of the material creates a shadow line with a handcrafted feel making it best suited to solid surface materials.

LAYERED AND CUSTOM PROFILES
When luxury is in demand, a custom profile fits the bill.

Bevel Edge
Typically angled at 45°, a bevelled edge offers geometric definition and works well with porcelain.

Mitred Edge (Waterfall)
Two slabs are joined at 45° to create a seamless drop down the side panel. Especially effective in porcelain and engineered stone, where they can be vein or bookmatched for extra impact.

Built-Up Edge
Layers of material are bonded to create a thicker visual profile, commonly used in solid surfaces and laminate; precision mitring makes this a possible treatment for porcelain, too.

A well-executed edge profile takes something beautiful and makes it sensational but only when it’s undertaken by an experienced and skilled fabricator such as a member of the Worktop Fabricators Federation. Consider the material first and ask plenty of questions – the right fabricator will be happy to answer them and ensure both you and your client are pleased with the end result.

Clare Howcutt-Kelly is the communications officer for the Worktop Fabricators Federation (WFF) and can found on Instagram @clarehowcuttkelly