Nature Inspires Quartz & Natural Stone Countertops

In the kitchen, where countertops serve multiple purposes, materials must not only be aesthetically appealing but also durable. For this reason, both natural stone and quartz remain popular choices, offering nature-inspired looks that hold up to everything from cooking to craft projects, homework to house work and dining to entertaining.
While granite has long been a popular choice in the kitchen for its upscale appearance and ability to create a truly personalized look, quartz continues to gain attention for its ease of maintenance and nearly endless array of design choices. Quartz is also seeing increased interest for its ability to offer a thinner, lighter countertop option – particularly important with today’s larger islands.
Below are some of the hottest trends in quartz and natural stone countertops right now.
–Nature continues to inspire designs in quartz, with popular looks drawing on elements of earth, sky and sea.
–Large movement and marble-like patterns that reflect classical work are also popular in quartz surfaces, while subtle metallic elements are seeing increased interest.
–Richer, darker tones with contrast are growing in popularity in both quartz and natural stone surfaces. However, light colors, such as white and beige, also remain strong.
–Veining, in both natural stone such as marble and manufactured materials such as quartz, is in demand because it offers dimension and contrast – particularly when the material is light-colored and the veining is dark, such as gray or even black.
–The interest in oversized islands is also driving demand for quartz products that can be manufactured in single extra-large slabs that are thinner and lighter than natural stone.
–Granite continues to be a hot choice in the kitchen with consumers who like the idea that each slab is unique; many believe the subtle changes in coloration and even minor imperfections are part of what gives the material character and allows for a totally personalized design.