Melawood and Novoboard Melamine colour range, Pretoria

Crafting Dreams, One piece of wood at a Time: Get exactly what you want at Dust Factory

Welcome to Dust Factory, where I, personally craft custom furniture and cabinetry.

I don't just drop teams on site and head to the pub; I'm involved in every aspect of the process, from selecting the finest timber and board products to meticulously sandpapering and even cleaning the floors. Quality is my utmost priority, and I believe that the joy of owning a remarkable piece of furniture outlasts any fleeting thoughts of its cost.

If you're searching for something truly unique, whether it's a bespoke kitchen, a cozy bedroom, or a timeless piece of furniture destined to become an heirloom, you're in the right place. Your journey with Dust Factory will be more than just a transaction; it will be a collaborative experience in creating something special that you'll cherish for years to come.

This also means I have limited capacity, I cannot be rushed, I only take on as much as I can cope with at any given time.

2020-07-08

Melamine faced chipboard is most commonly used for kitchen units and bedrooms. This type of board was developed in the 1970's. Melamine is a printed surface laminated on a substrate, most commonly chipboard. MDF or Supawood is also used for Melamine boards but the cost of Supawood boards is higher than chipboard. More 95% of carcasses built in South Africa during 2019 and 2020 will be made with Super White Melamine.

Best Melamine for kitchen units


Modular cabinets made with Melamine are usually built with sides, shelves and rails. The only component not made with Melamine would be the back which is made with primed Masonite or Supawood. The two components of any cabinet are the carcass and the faces. Carcasses are the parts that cannot be seen when the unit is in place and closed. Most kitchen designers will only face cabinet sides if they are going to be visible.
Melawood Summer Oak Melawood kitchen cupboards

Super white Melamine is the go to budget option for faces. Super White Melamine is no better or worse than any other colour Melamine in terms of longevity and strength.

Chipboard is the go to material for Melamine boards


Chipboard has improved over thast 40 years but still has much the same disadvantages. Water and chipboard are not friends and the vast majority of damage to kitchens is caused by water or steam. I have seen 30 year old Melamine kitchens that still look reasonably good, The fact is that most kitchens that are 30 years old or more tend to look tatty.

Melamine is available from two main manufacturers in South Africa, Melawood® and Novoboard® are the two main brands. Melawood is manufactured by PG Bison and Novoboard by Sonae previously Sappi Novoboard®. In terms of quality, there is no real difference. The colour range from both differ but they have something to offer that makes the ranges not entirely dissimilar. Melawood® will as an example have a colour called Windsor Cherry and Novoboard® Cherry Royale. The two colours differ marginally but not so much that the untrained eye will be able to identify them when faced with the two in different kitchens.

Melawood Harvard Cherry Melamine drawers

Melawood® were the first suppliers of Melamine in SA. Feel free to browse the Melawood® range of Melamine below. Melawood® has four different colour ranges. MelaWood® is available in four surface finishes: Peen (a textured, stipple), Ashwood (an embossed, woodgrain), Linear (a deep textured, straight wood grain) and Natural Touch (a luxurious, smooth matt). A perfect solid surface material to complete any task.

Melawood is light and water resistant, this does not translate into water proof. The hygienic surfaces are easy to clean.

At Pretoria Cupboards and Bedrooms we design, create and install Melawood Kitchen Cupboards and Melawood Bedroom Cupboards.

Choosing colours can be difficult with the vast range available, my advice is eliminate the ones you like least and continue eliminating till you find the one. You can always be daring and choose two.

Melawood Value range


The value range has something for every possible space, Some of these colours have gained popularity over the years and hark back to simpler times.

Melawood Value African Wenge Melamine Melawood Value American Walnut Melamine

Melawood Value Black Cherry Melamine Melawood Value Brookhill Melamine

Melawood Value Burgan Mahogany Melamine Melawood Value Cadbury Oak Melamine

Melawood Value Etimo Melamine Melawood Value Harvard Cherry Melamine

Melawood Value Haven Melamine Melawood Value Maidenwood Melamine

Melawood Value Natural Oak Melamine Melawood Value Shale Oak Melamine

Melawood Value Summer Oak Melamine Melawood Value Vancouver Maple Melamine

Melawood Value Windsor Cherry Melamine Melawood Value Vancouver Maple Melamine

Melawood Accent range


These are the solid colours, for the less complicated and minimalist looks, Combined with boards from the other ranges these colours can accent, contrast or highlight features. You can mix and match to create your very own living space.
Melawood Accent Cuppacino Melamine Melawood Accent Espresso Melamine

Melawood Accent Folkstone Grey Melamine Melawood Accent Iceberg White Melamine

Melawood Accent Storm Grey Melamine Melawood Accent Super Black Melamine

Melawood Accent Super White Melamine Melawood Accent Congo Melamine

Melawood Accent Petrol Blue Melamine Melawood Accent Petrol Blue Melamine

Melawood Demand range


Demand the latest in fashion, These timeless wood finishes can only make your project look fantastic.

Melawood Demand Cannero Melamine Melawood Demand Coimbra Melamine

Melawood Demand Esparanza Oak Melamine Melawood Demand Lanza Oak Melamine

Melawood Demand Monument Oak Melamine Melawood Demand Normandy Melamine

Melawood Demand Arden Melamine Melawood Demand Vardo Melamine

Melawood Demand Camden Melamine Melawood Demand Greythorne Melamine

Melawood Demand Vence Melamine Melawood Demand Verzasca Oak Melamine

Melawood Supamatt range


You don't like bling, but want something warm and luxurious? Then the Matt boards may be the answer.
Melawood Supamatt Iceberg White Melamine Melawood Supamatt Congo Melamine

Melawood Supamatt Folkstone Grey Melamine Melawood Supamatt Cuppacino Melamine

Melawood Supatexture range


Like it rustic, these boards feel like they look. The grain and roughness brings authenticity to your project.
Melawood SupaTexture Cambridge Melamine Melawood Supatexture Astana Melamine

Melawood SupaTexture Calais Melamine Melawood Supatexture Napoca Melamine

Melawood SupaTexture Treviso Melamine Melawood Supatexture Napoca Melamine

Melawood Supagloss range


The blingier the better, check out Supagloss melamine to make your design shine.
Melawood SupaGloss American Walnut Melamine Melawood SupaGloss Candy Red Melamine

Melawood SupaGloss Cuppacino Melamine Melawood SupaGloss Coimbra Melamine

Melawood SupaGloss Espresso Melamine Melawood SupaGloss Folkstone Grey Melamine

Melawood SupaGloss Lime Green Melamine Melawood SupaGloss Summer White Melamine

Melawood SupaGloss Petrol Blue Melamine Melawood SupaGloss Congo Melamine

Melawood SupaGloss Super Black Melamine Melawood SupaGloss Iceberg White Melamine

Melawood SupaGloss Storm Grey Melamine Melawood SupaGloss Storm Grey Melamine

For more information about the Melawood range visit PG Bison

Sonae Novoboard ranges


Here at Pretoria kitchens we also make use of the Sonae Arauco Novoboard range. The range is available in Stucco, Silhouette, Alpine and Textured finishes. The stucco finish is only available on the sensation range of colours listed below which are only available in the stucco texture. The metro finish is only available in textured. Heritage, Inspiration and unicolour are available in Silhouette and textured finishes, All other finishes are available in textured or alpine finishes.

Textured finishes on Novolam or Novoboard


The textured finish is a smooth board, this board is designed for all environments because of it's natural appeal. The textured range is useful in all applications including Novobord Kitchens and Novobord Built in Cupboards. This textured range has everything from simple solid colours to wood finishes and cloth texture.

Silhouette finishes on Novolam or Novobord


The silhouette texture is a linear embossed finish allowing you to see and feel grain. This is a deep matte effect creating a very authentic wood grain even on the solid colours. Can be used in everything from Bedrooms to Bars. No room in the home or office cannot be improved with a silhouette finished board.

Alpine finishes on Novobord


The alpine finish is an embossed finish which brings wood grains to life, It's a more subtle finish than the silhouette finish.

Stucco finish on Novoboard


The stucco texture is highly tactile and inspired by industrial and natural origin materials.

Novoboard sensation colour chart.


The sensation range is all about natural materials like stone. Marble, oxide and industrial finishes are the hallmarks of this range.
Sonae Novobord Bianco Melamine Sonae Novobord leatherwood Melamine

Sonae Sonae Novobord Oxide Melamine

Sonae Novobord Urban Steel Melamine Sonae Novobord Urban Steel Melamine

Novoboard contemporary colour chart.


The contemporary range is all about wood grains. Mostly light wood are the hallmarks of this range.
Sonae Novobord Balsa Melamine Sonae Novobord Laricina Melamine

Sonae Sonae Novobord Washed Shale Melamine

Sonae Novobord French Walnut Melamine Sonae Novobord Washed Shale Melamine

Novoboard Heritage colour chart.


The heritage range is all about aged wood grains. Wood with character are the hallmarks of this range.
Sonae Novobord Burnt oak Melamine Sonae Novobord Mozambique wenge Melamine

Sonae Sonae Novobord Symphony Melamine

Sonae Novobord Terra Nova Melamine Sonae Novobord Symphony Melamine

Novoboard Inspiration colour chart.


The inspiration range is not just the standard boring wood grains. Wood grains and natural materials are the hallmarks of this range.
Sonae Novobord Aged Stone Melamine Sonae Novobord Cascade Melamine

Sonae Sonae Novobord Natural Concrete Melamine

Sonae Novobord Nordic Ice Melamine Sonae Novobord Sahara Melamine

Novoboard Timeless colour chart.


The timeless range is all about wood grains that have been popular for all time. If you want something that won't make waves, that will look good and not be subject to the whims of fashion, look at this range.
Sonae Novobord Canadian Maple Melamine Sonae Novobord Cherry Royale Melamine

Sonae Sonae Novobord Natural Oak Melamine

Sonae Sonae Novobord Royal Mahogany Melamine

Novoboard Textile colour chart.


The textile range consists of Metro
Sonae Novobord Metro Melamine

Novoboard Unicolor colour chart.


The unicolour chart range is all about beige, plain colours for a kitchen or bvedroom that will keep the contractor, the agent and the buyer satisfied.If something won't make waves, it's a simple single colour.
Sonae Novobord Basalt Melamine Sonae Novobord Cotton Melamine

Sonae Sonae Novobord Vermont slate Melamine

Sonae Sonae Novobord Vermont slate Melamine

If you liked this please share it, it really makes my day and I really appreciate it.



See more blogs by tag

Contact Us

The addresses are here for information only, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. We may be on site, so don't just arrive.

Contact: Guy McLaren

Map to WoodGuy's Dust Factory

Pretoria Cabinetmaker

364 Fountain Ave
Lyttleton Manor
Centurion
Gauteng
0157

Call 076 934 3640
Mobile 076 934 3640