In today’s upscale countertop market, granite is still “it.” So, is
it any wonder the industry is coming up with a host of granite-look
options at a lower price point, as well as granite-style engineered
stone that has fewer maintenance issues?
In the meantime, natural granite is also sporting a new look in
the form of honed and satin finishes, as well as large tile for a
more economical granite look.
Many other countertop choices from new looks in solid surface,
to concrete to butcher block to good old ceramic tile are available
as well, and consumers are frequently choosing them all for a mix
and match kitchen, according to the manufacturers surveyed by
Kitchen & Bath Design News.
Granite looks
Now that everyone and their brother seem to have a granite
countertop, high-end customers are looking for a new and different
look, reports Jim Janochoski, national product manager for Cold
Spring Granite Inc., in Cold Spring, MN. That’s answered by less
shiny honed and satin finishes. “It’s not as shiny as a gloss
finish, [but] more buffed than honed,” Janochoski explains about
the latter. He adds that an impregnating sealer is recommended for
less shiny surfaces, and “it takes a little more TLC to make sure
the surface stays clean.”
“There’s a terrific interest in limestone, which is still new to
much of the country,” notes Jonathan Zanger, president of Walker
Zanger, in Mt. Vernon, NY and 14 other locations nationwide. He
notes that limestone is harder to maintain than granite because
it’s more porous, “but people like the less glossy, more
traditional look of it. So, they’re taking the finish and
translating it over to granite.”
In recent years, the trend has also been toward smaller, tighter
grains, in browns and gold, manufacturers note. “The earth tones
are still very popular,” says Janochoski. “It’s a softer look with
satin or honed finish.”
Earth tones are also a hot pick for engineered stone, a
significant entry in the market. “Zodiaq is over 90% natural
quartz,” explains Gin Guei Ebnesajjad, manager of product styling
and development for the Wilmington, DE-based DuPont Surfaces,
makers of Corian and Zodiaq. The engineered stone aims to alleviate
some of natural granite’s downsides, such as fault lines and lack
of stain resistance, according to manufacturers. Ebnesajjad points
out that real granite must be sealed with acrylic, which makes it
somewhat man-made. It also has to be resealed periodically, unlike
Zodiaq, she explains, noting that, “we take what nature has to
offer and make it more functional.”
“In most households, both of the parents are working. They’re
looking for something that requires less maintenance,” adds Brandon
Calvo, v.p./sales for Cosentino USA, in Stafford, TX, which
manufactures Silestone. He notes that engineered stone is much less
porous than natural stone, and comes in colors not available in
natural granite, such as blue and yellow.
Engineered stone can even be honed, though Calvo points out that
this process affects the maintenance factor. “You’re actually
creating small divots in the face of the material, and that tends
to collect dirt.”
Predictably, purveyors of natural stone don’t think engineered
stone measures up.
“From what we’ve seen, the pricing is similar if not higher;
most folks look at engineered and natural stone and it’s a
no-
brainer,” says Janochoski, though he admits the engineered stone
has some advantages, such as additional choices in
edging.
Granite laminates
For lower price points, the explosion in granite has resulted in
new technology to produce a host of exciting granite-look
laminates.
“We use an enhanced finish so you get more clarity,” notes
Brenda White, spokesperson for Wilsonart International, in Temple,
TX. The new finishes are somewhat less shiny: “We don’t recommend
[a glossy finish] for horizontal surfaces because it shows
scratches easily,” she explains. The 10 colors with the series
include traditional granite looks as well as a few “fantasy
colors,” including blue shades.
Formica has also launched new lines of realistic-looking
granite- and marble-look laminates, reports Renee Hytry,
v.p./design for Formica Corp., in Cincinnati, OH and the new lines
instantly became the company’s best sellers. “The printing
processes are so much better,” she notes, which results in a
photo-realistic look.
Other new laminate looks from Wilsonart include a commercial
product line, Evolve, which features a small-scale design that’s a
fusion of different organic and industrial materials. For accents
and backsplashes, metallic laminate looks remain a popular
choice.
Natural-looking small-scale patterns are also popular in
laminates, adds Hytry. “Solid colors are out of favor. People are
looking for visual texture.” She cites sparkle finishes and lighter
colors as popular in laminates, since those diminish visible
scratches. “Tile aesthetics are also hot,” she adds, citing a
Formica textural product that looks like grouted ceramic tile,
which can be edged with solid surface or wood for a grout-free tile
look.
New surfaces
Perhaps in response to the previously mentioned granite looks,
solid surface materials are moving away from granite textures to
more innovative styles.
“[Designers] are excited about the new colors that are
available, the solid colors,” says James Yon, distributor for
Samsung/Cheil Industries, Inc., makers of Staron products, in La
Mirada, CA. He adds that the new solid surface is finding its way
to other decorative applications, such as frames.
“Solid surface has become a classic, a noble material in its own
right,” declares Ebnesajjad.
“I think that’s always the smart thing to do, to [develop]
surfaces that are proud to be the materials they are,” adds
Zanger.
However, Ebnesajjad also notes that a significant portion of
[Corian customers] like granite looks, a consistent seller for the
company. Similarly, while brighter colors are a new trend for solid
surface, “neutrals still dominate the market.”
A currently hot new solid surface offering is Avonite’s series
of translucent glass-like products. The company originally
predicted more use in commercial applications and on vanities,
notes Wayne Rutledge, director of marketing communications for the
Belen, NM-based Avonite Inc. But, the material is receiving rave
reviews for kitchen countertops, as well. The “glass” countertop is
available in a greenish, antique glass look, as well as a
turquoise, a cobalt blue and a clear frosted glass whose backing
can be tinted in colors for a unique look: For instance, painting
the back purple would result in a frosted lavender glow.
“[The materials] draw on a contemporary technology but also mix
in an emotional, nostalgic feeling,” says Rutledge. “The lifestyles
we have in 2001, you can’t escape the technology, but you want to
carry that nostalgic feeling with you and make your home
comfortable.”
Mix of materials
Each countertop material has its own strengths and weaknesses and
many consumers respond by electing to use more than one,
manufacturers agree.
Ebnesajjad points out that today’s more educated and assertive
consumer values function more than in previous decades. “They want
everything to look good, but everything should have a functional
purpose, as well. You start to see more mixing of material, of
texture.”
Thus, a beautiful granite island can be combined with stainless
steel around the cooking area, butcher block for food preparation
and solid surface to make the sink area easy to clean.
Other consumers are picking more exotic countertop materials,
such as butcher block, stainless steel or concrete, to give their
kitchen a definitive, “statement” look.
Pam Beam, national sales manager for the countertop division of
John Boos & Co., in Effingham, IL, notes that butcher block is
a time-honored classic that works well with many design
applications. “It really stands the test of time,” she says. Hard
rock maple is hand-sanded and detailed; maintenance includes
natural mineral oil, and gentle washing with soap and water.
Butcher block is also a renewable surface that can be sanded down
in case it gets burned or otherwise damaged. “Nothing warms the
look of a kitchen like butcher block,” adds Beam. “It adds a lot of
depth and warmth.”
The professional-look stainless steel countertop was a hot item
when stainless steel was overtaking kitchen design, but seems to be
declining of late. “That gets to be a very cold [look],” says Beam.
“It’s okay for certain applications.” The advantage is sterility,
she notes you can use bleach on it. The all-steel look with
integrated welded steel sink also makes for a very contemporary,
minimalist design choice. Its major disadvantage is stainless
steel’s tendency to scratch, which has led to an increase in
textured or brushed steel countertops, since these don’t show
scratches as readily.
“It’s a valid look,” insists Zanger. “What happens traditionally
is, when [a product] is new, it gets a lot of press, and then it
becomes part of the mainstream design vocabulary.”
For cutting-edge consumers, concrete is the choice du jour,
though questions remain about maintenance and fabrication.
“Concrete is very much in vogue people want the softer texture,
not [so much] contrast, to give you harmony and peacefulness,” says
Ebnesajjad.
“I think concrete countertops are a limited part of the market,”
says Zanger. Fabricating is difficult, he confirms, adding that,
“it’s for someone at the upper end of the spectrum who wants an
unusual look.”
Last but not least, the original countertop material, ceramic
tile, is still a popular selection for those who want to maintain
the retro character of an older home they’re renovating.
Additionally, tile is a stylish, economical choice to pair with
granite or other more expensive materials. “It saves a lot of money
and it still looks good,” says Zanger. Another money-
saving alternative, granite tiles give a granite look at a lower
cost than a slab.
When it comes to tile, the trend is toward larger tiles, notes
Zanger. “The technology that will make a ceramic tile larger
without warping is improving,” he explains. “So you have a lot of
design options. The larger tiles minimize grout areas that remain a
maintenance problem with ceramics, even with the introduction of
more stain-resistant epoxy grout [materials].”
Zanger notes that his company is introducing stainless steel
mosaic tiles to coordinate with steel appliances. In general,
mosaics and medallions have made tile a particularly appealing
choice for backsplashes.
But, in the end, he concludes, “people are opening so many new
quarries and there’s so many new granites available. Granite rules
in the upper end of the countertop market.” KBDN