New Looks for Engineered Countertops and Other Surfaces
See the top colors and styles for new engineered surfaces introduced at the 2021 KBIS trade show
There are many benefits to engineered surfaces. These materials — which are typically made from ground-up quartz, resins and pigments, or are created by heating and compacting raw materials — are incredibly durable. They resist scratches and stains, and unlike natural stone, engineered surfaces don’t need to be sealed or waxed. That’s why engineered quartz, for example, is currently the most popular material for kitchen countertops, according to Houzz research.
Another added benefit, and perhaps the most compelling, is that these surfaces can be engineered in any color or style, opening up a wide variety of options to fit homeowners’ preferences. And that freedom means surface designers are constantly developing new looks. Here, we examine four trends from new engineered surface styles and colors announced during the 2021 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS).
Another added benefit, and perhaps the most compelling, is that these surfaces can be engineered in any color or style, opening up a wide variety of options to fit homeowners’ preferences. And that freedom means surface designers are constantly developing new looks. Here, we examine four trends from new engineered surface styles and colors announced during the 2021 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS).
Kath drew on the same Kyoto trip for Cambria’s new Ruxley style, shown here for the countertops, backsplash and range hood cladding. Morning jogs through the city revealed an old-world patina that she channeled with a warm white background and emerald green veining that resembles fractures.
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In early 2020, Caesarstone released a collection of dark, moody engineered surface styles. “Then COVID hit and the mood changed,” says Elizabeth Margles, the vice president of marketing for Caesarstone North America. “People were staying home and wiping everything down, so there was this focus on hygiene and safety. People wanted to see everything so they could clean it.”
In response, Caesarstone did a 180-degree turn from its dark collection and launched the Whitelight Collection, which includes three new white-based styles, two light colors that debuted in 2020 and two classic colors from its archive. “Whites allow natural light to play, and create a more uplifting mood,” Margles says.
Not surprisingly, the collection focuses on marble looks. The white backgrounds span warm and cool tones, but you won’t find anything too stark. “We didn’t want it to be super sterile or clinical,” Margles says. “No more high gloss. Nothing that looks like a lab.”
The Arabetto style, shown here cladding the kitchen island, countertops and backsplash, mimics the look of arabesco marble with a vivid white background, big, busy graphic veins and dramatic wisps.
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In response, Caesarstone did a 180-degree turn from its dark collection and launched the Whitelight Collection, which includes three new white-based styles, two light colors that debuted in 2020 and two classic colors from its archive. “Whites allow natural light to play, and create a more uplifting mood,” Margles says.
Not surprisingly, the collection focuses on marble looks. The white backgrounds span warm and cool tones, but you won’t find anything too stark. “We didn’t want it to be super sterile or clinical,” Margles says. “No more high gloss. Nothing that looks like a lab.”
The Arabetto style, shown here cladding the kitchen island, countertops and backsplash, mimics the look of arabesco marble with a vivid white background, big, busy graphic veins and dramatic wisps.
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your kitchen project
2. Other Soft Colors
White- and cream-based marble looks aren’t the only path to a feeling of optimism. Solid, soft tones in a variety of colors can provide a similar effect.
Here, the beige-y Adamina, also in Caesarstone’s new Whitelight Collection, channels the look of sandstone, adding a warm, sunny vibe.
White- and cream-based marble looks aren’t the only path to a feeling of optimism. Solid, soft tones in a variety of colors can provide a similar effect.
Here, the beige-y Adamina, also in Caesarstone’s new Whitelight Collection, channels the look of sandstone, adding a warm, sunny vibe.
Silestone is betting on solid, uplifting colors for its engineered quartz product. Its parent company, Cosentino, is based near the coast of southeast Spain, where surface designers spent a lot of time during lockdown in 2020 looking at the Mediterranean Sea and sun-drenched terra-cotta rooftops while dreaming of a return to wine and tapas at local cafes.
In response, Silestone launched Sunlit Days, a collection of four soft, uplifting colors. Posidonia Green, shown here, was inspired by seagrass commonly found at the bottom of the Mediterranean.
In response, Silestone launched Sunlit Days, a collection of four soft, uplifting colors. Posidonia Green, shown here, was inspired by seagrass commonly found at the bottom of the Mediterranean.
3. Concrete and Other Worn Textural Styles
In addition to a focus on new colors, manufacturers are also creating lots of interesting textural looks for engineered surfaces. Concrete and other worn looks are showing up frequently in new styles.
For example, Silestone launched an entire collection centered around five various concrete looks, from light to dark. Named Loft, the collection takes inspiration from industrial-style dwellings in cities such as New York, Detroit, London and Barcelona, Spain.
Here, Silestone’s new Camden, a light-colored, smooth-concrete style in the Loft collection, covers the island, countertops and backsplash.
In addition to a focus on new colors, manufacturers are also creating lots of interesting textural looks for engineered surfaces. Concrete and other worn looks are showing up frequently in new styles.
For example, Silestone launched an entire collection centered around five various concrete looks, from light to dark. Named Loft, the collection takes inspiration from industrial-style dwellings in cities such as New York, Detroit, London and Barcelona, Spain.
Here, Silestone’s new Camden, a light-colored, smooth-concrete style in the Loft collection, covers the island, countertops and backsplash.
4. Other Applications
Engineered surfaces are most commonly used for kitchen countertops, but they are increasingly showing up elsewhere inside and outside the home. That’s because manufacturers are offering thinner slabs of the materials, which makes it easier to install as cladding on vertical surfaces.
Cambria’s new marble-look Kendal style is shown here as fireplace surround cladding.
Engineered surfaces are most commonly used for kitchen countertops, but they are increasingly showing up elsewhere inside and outside the home. That’s because manufacturers are offering thinner slabs of the materials, which makes it easier to install as cladding on vertical surfaces.
Cambria’s new marble-look Kendal style is shown here as fireplace surround cladding.
Bathroom wall and shower cladding is a popular application for engineered quartz slabs. The product is waterproof, and its slab installation minimizes grout lines. Plus, you can create large-scale feature-wall patterns, as shown here with Wilsonart’s Wetwall line in Calacatta Statuario.
Caesarstone now offers products that are only 1.3 centimeters thick for any style, making it good for shower walls or tub surrounds.
Caesarstone now offers products that are only 1.3 centimeters thick for any style, making it good for shower walls or tub surrounds.
Caesarstone will also add three new colors to its current three-color Outdoor collection. The outdoor product has a different resin base than other Caesarstone styles, allowing it to stand up better to direct sunlight, rain and temperature variations. Its existing Clearskies color, shown here as an outdoor-kitchen countertop, backsplash and dining table, mimics the look of concrete.
Dekton launched its Craftizen collection in May 2020. The line features styles intended for exterior building cladding and large surface area applications. The collection comes in five colors and is based on Venetian stucco, featuring subtle textural sweeps.
The line can even be used to clad a swimming pool, unlike actual stucco, which gets destroyed by chlorine. Here, Dekton’s Albarium color is used for the pool and exterior cladding to create a seamless design scheme.
The line can even be used to clad a swimming pool, unlike actual stucco, which gets destroyed by chlorine. Here, Dekton’s Albarium color is used for the pool and exterior cladding to create a seamless design scheme.
Dekton’s Umber color from its Craftizen collection exudes a warm and inviting terra-cotta look.
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Marble-look engineered surfaces are the most sought-after styles right now for kitchens. And styles with white and cream backgrounds dominate new collections. Manufacturers say it’s a response to an increased interest in 2020 for lighter, more optimistic colors that align with a desire for cleanliness and hygiene.
Cambria launched four new marble-look colors, three of which feature a white background. But while hygiene and optimism was part of the inspiration for the collection, Cambria’s executive vice president of product development, Summer Kath, also looked to another feeling common in 2020: a longing for travel.
Kath drew on a previous trip to Kyoto, Japan, when designing Cambria’s new Ivybridge style, shown here as kitchen countertops and backsplash. A green bridesmaid dress she wore during a wedding on that trip and an abundance of green moss she saw around the city inspired the diagonal emerald green veins on the milky white background.
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