4 New Looks for Engineered Benchtops and Surfaces From the USA
See the top colours and styles for new engineered surfaces, spotted at the 2021 KBIS trade show in the USA
There are many benefits to engineered surfaces. These materials – which are typically made from ground 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 benchtops in the USA, according to Houzz research.
Another added benefit, and perhaps the most compelling, is that these surfaces can be engineered in any colour 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 colours announced during the 2021 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in the USA. Although currently released to the USA market, we may expect to see them on our shores in the future.
Another added benefit, and perhaps the most compelling, is that these surfaces can be engineered in any colour 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 colours announced during the 2021 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in the USA. Although currently released to the USA market, we may expect to see them on our shores in the future.
Here’s a close-up of Cambria’s new Ivybridge style. “There’s also a shimmer of gold that represents the energy of Kyoto,” says Kath.
Kath drew on the same Kyoto trip for Cambria’s new Ruxley style, shown here in the benchtops, splashback and range-hood cladding. Morning jogs through the city revealed an old-world patina that she channelled with a warm white background and emerald green veining that resembles fractures.
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Here’s a close-up of Cambria’s new Ruxley style.
In early 2020, Caesarstone released a collection of dark, moody engineered surface styles in the USA. “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 in the USA, which includes three new white-based styles, two light colours that debuted in 2020 and two classic colours from its archive. “Whites allow natural light to play, and create a more uplifting mood,” says Margles.
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,” says Margles. “No more high gloss. Nothing that looks like a lab.”
The Arabetto style, shown here cladding the kitchen island, benchtops and splashback, mimics the look of arabesco marble with a vivid white background, big, busy graphic veins and dramatic wisps.
In response, Caesarstone did a 180-degree turn from its dark collection and launched the Whitelight Collection in the USA, which includes three new white-based styles, two light colours that debuted in 2020 and two classic colours from its archive. “Whites allow natural light to play, and create a more uplifting mood,” says Margles.
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,” says Margles. “No more high gloss. Nothing that looks like a lab.”
The Arabetto style, shown here cladding the kitchen island, benchtops and splashback, mimics the look of arabesco marble with a vivid white background, big, busy graphic veins and dramatic wisps.
Take a closer look at Caesarstone’s Arabetto, from the new Whitelight Collection in the USA.
Caesarstone’s new Arterra Blanca style, shown here on the benchtops and splashback, has a warmer white background with subtle translucent veining.
And here’s a close-up of Caesarstone’s Arterra Blanca style from the new Whitelight Collection.
Corian, which manufactures a solid-surface product, released its new Endura collection in the USA, which includes a range of tones and styles that mimic the look of marble, concrete and metal. Shown here is its new Cool Marble style.
Wilsonart officially debuted its Quartz Calacatta collection at KBIS 2021. Designs like the Aquilea shown here are inspired by Calacatta marble from Italy’s Carrara region and feature vibrant whites with deep, elegant veining.
2. Soft colours abound
White- and cream-based marble looks aren’t the only path to a feeling of optimism. Solid, soft tones in a variety of colours can provide a similar effect.
Here, the beige 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 colours can provide a similar effect.
Here, the beige Adamina, also in Caesarstone’s new Whitelight Collection, channels the look of sandstone, adding a warm, sunny vibe.
Here’s a closer look at Caesarstone’s Adamina, from the Whitelight Collection.
Silestone is betting on solid, uplifting colours for its engineered quartz product. Its parent company, Cosentino, is based near the coast of south-east Spain, where surface designers spent a lot of time during lockdown in 2020 looking at the Mediterranean Sea and sun-drenched terracotta rooftops, while dreaming of a return to life before COVID.
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 worn textural styles
In addition to a focus on new colours, 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 centred around five various concrete looks, from light to dark. Named Loft and available locally, the collection takes inspiration from industrial-style dwellings in cities such as New York, Detroit, London and Barcelona.
Here, Silestone’s new Camden, a light-coloured, smooth-concrete style in the Loft collection, covers the island, benchtops and splashback.
In addition to a focus on new colours, 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 centred around five various concrete looks, from light to dark. Named Loft and available locally, the collection takes inspiration from industrial-style dwellings in cities such as New York, Detroit, London and Barcelona.
Here, Silestone’s new Camden, a light-coloured, smooth-concrete style in the Loft collection, covers the island, benchtops and splashback.
Also in Silestone’s Loft series is Seaport, shown here; a darker concrete look with more pronounced textural patterns.
Corian’s new Endura collection also includes the cream-coloured concrete-style option called Alabaster Cement, shown here on a narrow kitchen island.
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Browse beautiful kitchen designs by talented Australian designers
The brand’s new Urban Cement is a darker concrete tone with a roughed-up look.
Speaking of roughed up, Corian’s Rustica Metal mimics the look of worn, rusted steel.
Here’s a closer look at Rustica Metal by Corian.
4. Engineered stone moves beyond the kitchen
Engineered surfaces are most commonly used for kitchen benchtops, 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 the material as cladding on vertical surfaces.
Cambria’s new marble-look Kendal style is shown here as a fireplace-surround cladding.
Engineered surfaces are most commonly used for kitchen benchtops, 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 the material as cladding on vertical surfaces.
Cambria’s new marble-look Kendal style is shown here as a fireplace-surround cladding.
Bathroom wall and shower cladding is a popular application for engineered quartz slabs. The product is waterproof, and its slab installation minimises grout lines. Plus, you can create large-scale feature-wall patterns, as shown here with Wilsonart’s Wetwall line in Calacatta Statuario.
In the USA, Caesarstone now offers products that are only 13 millimetres thick for any style, making it suitable for shower walls or tub surrounds.
In the USA, Caesarstone now offers products that are only 13 millimetres thick for any style, making it suitable for shower walls or tub surrounds.
Caesarstone will also add three new colours to its current three-colour Outdoor collection. The outdoor product has a different resin base to other Caesarstone styles, allowing it to stand up better to direct sunlight, rain and temperature variations. Its existing Clear Skies colour, shown here as an outdoor-kitchen benchtop, splashback and dining table, mimics the look of concrete.
Here is Corian’s new Black Marquis marble-look style used as cladding for an outdoor kitchen island.
Dekton launched its Craftizen collection in the USA in May 2020. The line features styles intended for exterior building cladding and large surface-area applications. The collection comes in five colours 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 is destroyed by chlorine. Here, Dekton’s Albarium colour 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 is destroyed by chlorine. Here, Dekton’s Albarium colour is used for the pool and exterior cladding to create a seamless design scheme.
And pictured here, Dekton’s Argentium colour from its Craftizen collection is used for the floor, benchtops, splashback and walls.
Dekton’s Umber colour from its Craftizen collection exudes a warm and inviting terracotta 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 colours that align with a desire for cleanliness and hygiene.
Cambria launched four new marble-look colours in the USA, 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 a kitchen benchtop and splashback. 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.