I recently moved into a new house. Well … not so ‘new’, exactly. From the particular colour of the brickwork to the organisation of the front garden, I’ve figured out that the last time my new surroundings received some love was a few decades ago. But that’s part of the fun, right?!

Every time I move into a new place, I’m always swept away by a new surge of energy to redecorate, repaint, overhaul the garden and renovate. And, without fail, my first port of call is always the kitchen. As the heart of the home, our kitchens are really put to the test: high-traffic, constantly changing temperatures, and (if you’re anything like me when you cook) a LOT of mess that leads to a lot of scrubbing to avoid those pesky eyesores: stains.

But, I’ve decided that now I have a new home, it’s time for a new me. No more messiness, no more spillages, no more kitchen disasters and … importantly … no more stains! Unfortunately, given my poor kitchen prowess, I may have bitten off a little bit more than I can chew. But I’m nonetheless resolved to succeed – so I called in the pros in living a stain-free, scratch-free life!

And boy am I glad that I got in touch with the team at CDK Stone. Because, just in case you’ve never heard of it before, CDK Stone’s NEOLITH is a range of sintered compact surfaces made entirely of out clay that has made the scratched and stained kitchen surfaces of my past a very distant memory. Made from clay, Neolith’s a perfect addition due to its natural pigments with such a richness of colour and subtly varied texture. Now, even though I’ve used it across both of my countertops, Neolith is ideal for flooring and walls as well as countertops due to its ability to not scratch, stain or absorb heat. Dream come true, right?!

Look, even though all of my friends are sick of me talking on and on about my new countertops (I’ve become a little bit evangelical about them), I’ve discovered that there is a huge amount of research and development that gives the surface its superior quality. Let me break it down for you:

So why consider Neolith?

1. Neolith has near-zero porosity, making it stain resistant and easy to clean. Because of this the material is highly hygienic and easy to maintain – a literal lifesaver in more ways than one!
2. Neolith is heat, UV, scratch, chemical and wear resistant, making it perfect for a wide range of surfaces. The surface does not buckle or warp, burn or release smoke when subjected to high temperatures and is chemically unreactive, meaning it is able to be cleaned by ammonia, bleach or other domestic cleaning agents.
3. Neolith is eco-friendly and made entirely out of natural products. The surface, comprising clay, mineral oxides, silica and feldspar comes with a lifetime guarantee and a 15-year warranty.
4. Neolith is available in four finishes – Satin, Riverwashed, Silk and Polished. The Satin Finish is Neolith’s original finish, characterised by its natural matte look and slightly textured feel (it’s also my personal favourite, and the showstopper of my kitchen). The Riverwashed finish is often compared to a brush hammered or aged finish, known for its range inspired by natural stone. The Silk finish is much smoother and softer. The smooth surface is achieved through Neolith’s Airless Pistol technology, a perfect option for interior flooring. Not only is Neolith available in a range of finishes but thicknesses. The difference in thicknesses is dependent upon how the surface is going to be used and where.

5. Now, technical specs can often be boring to digest – but hear me out. Neolith is available in three thicknesses: 3mm THICK x 3600 x 1200mm, 6mm THICK x 3200 x 1500mm and 12MM THICK x 3200 x 1500 mm. The 3mm option is ideal for indoor furnishings, whether it be in a kitchen, bathroom or on wardrobes, closets and doors. The 6mm option is ideal for flooring, walls, covered pools, exterior facades and stairs. The 12mm option is perfect for bathroom and kitchen countertops; with one slab able to be used for two full countertops. So why should you care about technical specs? Good question! I opted for the 12mm choice for my kitchen benchtops and not only because it was attractive and eco-friendly, but because it was enormously cost-effective too!

Put it all together and Neolith is stain, chemical, heat and wear resistant, durable, eco-friendly, 100% natural, versatile, cost-effective, looks AMAZING and has a lifetime guarantee.

What’s not to love?

Please note: as I write this, I am sitting cross-legged on the edge of my kitchen bench facing across the hall toward the bathroom. Hmm … I might need some help from Neolith there too.

Neolith, supplied throughout Australia by CDK Stone, is the proud Partner of the Object 2017 INDE.Award. Join us at the inaugural INDE.Awards this June.