In November 2018, Mal Corboy was a key speaker at the Laminam 12mm XL launch, where he discussed the properties of the product and why he enjoys using it. “The design potential for the XL range is only limited by the designer’s creativity,” he suggests.

The Laminam XL range has been created with the world of indoor and outdoor furniture in mind, while also being suitable for more traditional specification in benchtops, countertops and splashbacks. “The collection can be used both inside — in applications as diverse as stair treads — or outside, where it would be fantastic as part of an outdoor kitchen. Sheets can be book matched too, so if you were designing a six-metre-long wall, you could have the pattern flowing continuously through the whole wall,” says Mal.

For Mal, the extensive new colour range that is now offered in the XL collection is one of the most important aspects. “From darker, moodier tones to a lovely interpretation of gold and grey-veined marble, the XL colour palette perfectly reflects where interior design is headed.”

Many homeowners today love the look of marble, such as Calacatta and Statuario, however, there can be a lot of hesitation around using the material on benchtops because of the possibilities of staining from things such as red wine, oil or lemon. With sealers often costing the same to apply as a marble benchtop, the Laminam range creates the marble aesthetic in a much more cost-effective fashion, while being resistant to organic and inorganic solvents.

“One of the things I love about using porcelain for benchtops is that it’s extremely strong, easy to clean and has high resistance to scratching and abrasion,” Mal says. “Additionally, Laminam doesn’t allow the formation of mould, bacteria and fungi, so it’s perfectly suited for use in food preparation areas.”

Laminam is a totally natural product, created with materials such as quarry clays, granite rocks and ceramic pigments that don’t release any elements into the environment. Furthermore, Mal says that thanks to the fact that the range is so durable and of such high quality, there’s less going to landfill. “I’m very particular about the products I use. I need to know they can truly stand the test of time,” he explains.