2018 Styles and Trends in Countertops and Accessories
- At June 15, 2018
- By catherineschager
- In Design Trends
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Let’s talk countertops. Whether your kitchen is small and cozy or large enough to entertain a crowd and equipped enough make Emeril jealous, your countertops are center stage. They take up a lot of real estate and there’s no hiding them away in the cupboard when company comes, so your best bet is to make sure you love them. Here’s the fabulous news: if you prefer a sedate look, a well-chosen countertop style can blend quietly into your overall design; but if you’re looking for a design statement piece, nothing adds personality and pizzazz to a kitchen (or bathroom) like countertops! Of course, nothing gets as much wear and tear either, from food prep to entertaining to homework (need we mention science projects?) so homeowners often wisely choose a gorgeous workhorse, like granite or quartz. Read on for a quick rundown of the newest trends and styles we’re seeing in 2018.
Materials
While are many wonderful materials to choose from, some are more work than others. Marble and wood tend to stain and are more easily damaged. Soapstone is durable but has little variety. This keeps people coming back to our previously mentioned workhorses, granite and quartz. Both are excellent choices. Granite used to be the reigning champ because it can often be found in jumbo-sized slabs and can be found in many unique designs.
Recently, quartz has taken the lead. Advancements have produced new, jumbo slabs that have closed the size gap. Dozens of color, style, and design options are now available. Quartz countertops can look like marble, granite, or even wood or concrete. Quartz is easy to clean and maintain and it’s nearly as indestructible as granite. (Granite still takes the hottest temps better.) Quartz is non-porous, so it won’t soak up any sloshed morning java or the red wine you sip while making dinner. Since quartz is engineered, the patterns are consistent, a plus for some tastes. (Others prefer the imperfections and uniqueness of granite.) Lastly, quartz is easier to keep germ-free. All those lovely pores and imperfections in granite not only soak up stains, they can also harbor germs, requiring harsher cleaning agents. There’s no place for germs to burrow and grow inside quartz. (Did you know bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes? All it takes is one germy cell phone on the counter…)
Textures
Polished finishes are still the most popular, but textures like matte are gaining attention. For example, Silestone offers polished, suede, and volcano finishes (below). All are non-porous and smooth to the touch, but the textures can add character and help hide flaws and scratches.
Silestone textures (polished, suede, volcano)
Caesarstone US is on top of the rising “urban industrial” kitchen design trend with a line of rugged concrete look quartz options that simulate a weathered patina.
Caesarstone Metropolitan Collection
Colors
2018 said goodbye to bright colored countertops and welcomed in a neutral color trend. Grays, beiges and white are popular in a variety of more soothing patterns and natural stone looks. Here are a few neutral bathroom countertops our own clients have chosen with beautiful results.
LCO Misterio from Vicostone; Vista Blanco from Marble Emporius; Travertine look-alike quartz
Cambria USA has dozens of neutral quartz designs in their lineup, like these stunning examples:
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- Cambria Brittanicca Gold
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- Cambria Brittanicca Warm
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- Cambria Delgatie
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- Cambria Highgate
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- Cambria Ironsbridge
Sinks
Composite sinks are gaining popularity in the kitchen and stone vessel sinks are being seen more and more in bathrooms. Aren’t these options from Stone Forest just lovely?
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- Stone Forest Carrara Milano Vessel sink
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- Stone Forest Onyx Wabi Vessel Sink
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- Stone Forest Onyx Wabi Vessel Sink
Faucets
Nickel and chrome finished faucets are still common choices, but brass finish is another growing trend. Whichever finish is chosen, faucet styles are trending toward either modern and streamlined or industrial and utilitarian, like the beautiful examples below.
Henry faucet by Waterworks in brass; NYC Apt of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen (Zillow listing)
Yaquina cross handle faucet from Rejuvenation in brass finish
Tolson faucet from Rejuvenation in brass finish
See more images from these current trends on our pinterest board. What do you think about the trends toward neutral, natural, modern and industrial?
KBIS 2017 Musings
This year’s show was amazing. It was held at the Orlando Convention Center which is huge. The show actually occupied two buildings as the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was combined with the International Builder’s Show (IBS). Both shows occupied spaces in both buildings which were conveniently connected via a ped-way, even though they are about a mile apart. So, you can imagine- lots of walking!
Day 1: I devoted day 1 to the educational seminars offered (there were tons to choose from!) and learned about resolving difficult on-the-job problems (some new things I’ll be incorporating to assist clients in understanding the process), attended a seminar from Houzz that gave us trends to watch based on user feedback, and hiring- how to do it well. In between times, I’d run down to the show floor and visit a vendor booth or two. In the evening, there was an event honoring my friend Michael Menn, who received the honor of Remodeler of the Year from Qualified Remodeler Magazine. So cool to know a celebrity!
Day 2: Only 2 seminars today: one that discussed the physiological and psychological effects of color and one that discussed the kitchen of the future. Both were among the best that I attended. The kitchen of the future is fascinating and there will be more to come on that! Again, I spent time on the show floor, looking at great storage solutions, the “Bedroom of the Future” built by students from Virginia Tech, which was fascinating, and listened to a presentation given by some of the guys from “This Old House” about an initiative that they’re cooperating in to encourage people to go into the trades. Sadly, as our industry ages, we’re not getting young people to join the trades and are losing valuable craftspeople to create beautiful homes. This evening hosted a huge party called “The Bash” which went on until really early on Thursday! Yours truly did not attend, as I wisely sought the comfort of a good night’s sleep.
Day 3: Our shortest day- as we were flying back home and needed to get off the floor somewhat early. Just one seminar today about marrying luxury appliances in a luxury kitchen and what pitfalls to watch out for. Always good information to have! More time on the floor where I saw some amazing new fixtures for the kitchen from Pfister- like a faucet that responds to your voice! Also saw some great new options for quartz countertops- they’re getting more and more beautiful! Hope you enjoy these “moments” from the show and I look forward to delving into the latest trends in future posts!
Check out our pinterest board for images from the events.
Northbrook Master Bath
This was a favorite project from last year. We were tasked with changing some but not all of the elements in this bathroom with the goal of updating it and raising the tub. The client’s shower was to stay but they wanted just about everything else new. They wanted to replace their ceramic tile but complement the existing travertine in the shower.
We created a raised tub with a tiled surround which features a decorative inset that continues the feeling of flowing water from the client’s glass artwork. We also added lighted mirrors and custom vanities, each tailored to its user. Her side has a large sink and a generous drawer for makeup, plus space for towel storage, the vanity on his side is a little taller and has minimal drawer storage. We selected a travertine look-alike quartz for the countertops and the tub deck to unify the space. The client also had lighting controls updated so one touch of a button sets the scene from full light to a relaxed ambiance. All in all, we transformed a 1980’s bathroom to one that will carry them through many years looking beautiful and functioning with ease.
For more images of this project, see our pinterest board. For more projects by Catherine Schager Designs, visit our Houzz page.
Engineered Quartz Countertops
If you are looking to upgrade your kitchen countertops, there’s a new competitor you shouldn’t overlook. With all the best qualities of both laminate and natural stone, engineered quartz is a gorgeous, durable, and versatile option. Here are some of the features that make it so fabulous:
It’s not indestructible, but it’s close.
This stuff is strong. Engineered quartz is about 93% ground quartz combined with polyester resin to bind it and pigments for color. Unlike granite, the reigning king of high-end countertops, which is quarried directly from the earth in huge chunks and then cut into slabs, all the flaws of engineered quartz are engineered out. There are no invisible striations waiting to crack open or defects to cut around during manufacturing. Quartz is one of the hardest minerals on earth. Once ground and mixed with resin binders, it’s durability is unmatched. It’s scratch-resistant and heat-resistant up to 400 degrees F, though sustained heat can cause damage, so always use a trivet.
It’s low-maintenance and antimicrobial.
The resins make it nonporous, so it doesn’t have to sealed or polished – ever. That spilled glass of red wine that could permanently stain other countertops won’t soak in to engineered quartz. That also means bacteria, mold and mildew can’t penetrate the surface. Just wipe with soapy water to clean. Avoid harsh chemicals though. You won’t need them and they could break down the bonds between the quartz and the resins.
It comes in a dazzling array of colors and styles!
Color and design options never before available in stone products are a snap in engineered quartz. Brilliant solids, dramatic patterns, or veining nearly indistinguishable from marble are as available as replicated gloss granite or matte slate look. Engineered quartz can look like just about anything, with more consistent patterns and veins than 100% natural stone. Even opulent gemstones like agate or amethyst can be sliced and added with the resin binders.
The resins make it more flexible than natural stone, so it can be fabricated in a variety of shapes. Graceful curves, crisp bevels or chiseled raw edges can all be replicated precisely to your specifications.
Check out the inspiration galleries at Cambria and Caesarstone for more stunning options, or visit our pinterest board. Your imagination is the only limit!
Transitions
Spring and summer are times of transition. We transition from the cold weather, begin to transition out of school and go on our summer holidays or work schedules. It’s a time of weddings, graduations, and a time when your home is a place of respite, retreat, and a welcoming place to return to. Recently, we transitioned two kitchens into homeowner’s favorite places!
Our first kitchen, in Highland Park, IL, was a face-lift for an existing space. The kitchen was well thought out, worked well for the client and the basic structure of the cabinetry was good. The clients also wanted to keep their existing countertop and backsplash. We suggested replacing the doors and drawer fronts with wood and “re-skinning” the outside of the cabinets to match (a veneer that matches the wood and finish of the doors is applied with adhesive to all external visible areas of the cabinetry). The client chose to replace the floor with a large-scaled porcelain floor, removed the old exhaust fan and replaced it with a canopy style metal hood and ceramic tile to fill in the space left by the old cabinet. We partnered with Callahan and Peters – remodelers and contractors who provided their expertise in the cabinetry and installation, including building a new custom bookcase for the client. The clients love their “new” kitchen and feel like it’s a totally different space!
“Before” Kitchen in Highland Park
“After” Kitchen in Highland Park
Our second kitchen transition in Glenview, IL was a total re-hab of a poorly designed condo kitchen that didn’t function well at all. We suggested removing a wall between the dining and living room which made the kitchen so much more spacious and allowed us to put in a great island. By covering up an existing awkward pantry cabinet and re-configuring the lay-out to allow the client a functional pantry, tons of storage space and a better work flow were created. The client selected quartz countertops from Cambria and used two different patterns. The perimeter countertop has the look of Carrera marble with none of the upkeep, and the island incorporates deeper shades of gray and blue for a more dramatic look. Our client loves sitting for coffee at the island and reading or using her computer. She also loves the clean look and most of all, her pull-out trash!
“Before” Kitchen in Glenview
“After” Kitchen in Glenview
You can see more photographs of beautiful transitions on my Houzz page and Pinterest boards.
Experts Expound on 2011 Trends
I was recently reading an article featured in a Kitchen and Bath trade publication of an interview of a panel of the top designers and experts in the kitchen and bath field. The panel consisted of: Mick deGiulio, Troy Adams, Ellen Cheever, David Alderman and Brenda Bryan. They were asked for their opinions on the market, what consumers are doing and also what they’re looking for, and I thought I’d share the results with my readers.
According to the panel, people are remodeling and most of them are planning ahead and paying cash (55-68%) instead of financing the projects. These well-prepared folks are generally in the 40- 55 year old range and are savvy enough to know the kinds of things they’d like their designers to incorporate. Here is their wisdom on what clients want:
In the Kitchen, people want:
- A minimalist, but not cold look, with lots of texture
- Less “bling” and more function
- Less woodworking details
- Incorporating technology such as laptops, iPads, smartphones, flat screen TV’s with internet access and a wireless keyboard
- Warming drawers
- Refrigerator drawers
- Dishwasher drawers
- Induction cooktops
- LED lighting (good idea!)
- Quartz counters
Minimal, but not cold
In the Bath, they’re looking for:
- A well-organized room with a spa-like feel
- Steam showers are replacing large tubs
- Limestone and Travertine as opposed to marble and granite
Spa-like bath
The “green” movement is also beginning to creep into the wants and needs of clients. Many still believe that being very eco-friendly isn’t hip, or is too expensive but many are adding some eco-friendly elements to their projects.
All in all, they feel the time is right to begin that project that will make your home more valuable, and a better place to live!
Parade of New Products
I love to keep up on the latest in building products, so when I received a story about the International Home Builder’s Show in Orlando, I thought I’d take a peek and see what’s new and exciting. As usual, it was a nice mix of the practical and the comical so I thought I’d share some of my favorites.
On the practical side:
- Zodiaq’s Terra Quartz countertops which are 25% post-consumer recycled content. Quartz counters boast a number of great features like being carefree, stain-resistant, anti-microbial and harder than granite. It’s nice to know that it’s now also a little more “green”.
- Delta Faucet’s Touch 2O kitchen faucet which you only have to touch to operate. Nice when you have messy chicken hands!
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Delta Faucet's new Touch 2O faucet
- Lutron’s Diva/C-L dimmer switch that works on CFL’s (compact florescent lights) and LED’s (do I need to tell you what that stands for?). Regular dimmer switches don’t work for these so it’s great to have an option and Lutron products are great!
- American Ecopower is a company out of Italy that is just breaking into the American market. They offer an electric radiator that can be mounted as glass art. Cool! (I mean warm!) I wish I could’ve found their website to take a look, but I guess we’ll have to wait on that one.
Now for the comical ones-
- Gerber’s new Avalanche toilet. Seriously? Who came up with that name?
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Gerber's Avalanche toilet
- Schlage now makes a door lock with a built-in alarm to prevent intruders from getting in, and also from your teenagers getting out. Hahahaha. Since when has a locked door ever stopped a teenager from getting out? Unless they make window alarms as well, I’d say it’s doubtful that it’d stop ANY determined teen. However, if you have aged parents that roam- it might just be helpful.
If you’d like to know more about the show and read more, check out the following:
- http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/01/ibs-reveals-innovative-home-products/1?csp=34
- www.ecohomemagazine.com
- www.builderonline.com
Have you seen or heard of any great new products for your home? Let us know!
Countertop Confessions
When it comes to picking out great products for your kitchen, bath or built-ins what do you think about when it comes to countertops? Many years ago your choices were whatever colors and patterns of Formica were available. Now, there are a multitude of choices of surfaces, colors, and patterns. You’re limited only by your imagination!
When choosing countertops, like any other product, it’s good to know the good and the bad and also how it will be used. Here’s a brief overview of some of the popular choices:
- Granite- Still a very popular choice for countertops because of its durability and beauty. It’s a very hard stone so it will stand up to almost any use. There are also many different colors and types of granite, so there aren’t a lot of limitations as far as aesthetics go. When it comes to the surface treatment, you can choose a polished (shiny), honed (flat or dull) or even flamed (pebbly textured) finish. Each of these gives you a different look. I’m told it needs to be sealed, but I’ve had polished granite countertops for years that have never been sealed and see no difference.
White Paradiso Granite
- Marble – Beautiful but soft. If you don’t like the look of scratches and stains (the patina of years of use) don’t get this. That (in my opinion) is part of its beauty and charm. There are also many colors of Marble. It needs to be sealed and polished on a regular basis.
Marble Counter
- Soapstone – A metamorphic stone, like Marble, it is soft and scratches easily. It is somewhat impervious to stains, but does need to be treated with oil often. Kinda high maintenance.
Soapstone
- Quartz – These countertops are usually under trade names like Cambria, Silestone, Caesarstone, etc. This is actually a man-made countertop using natural quartz chips bound together with a binder under heat and pressure. Quartz countertops are very hard, (harder than granite!) impervious to stains and anti-bacterial because they’re non-porous. They’re also maintenance free and come in a wide range of colors- some even looking like granite.
Cambria Quartz Countertop
- Concrete – Hard, but fairly porous. It comes in any color, shape, and texture you can imagine. Needs to be sealed so that it won’t absorb water and stains.
Concrete countertop w/ built-in drain board
- Corian – A solid surface material that comes in many finishes and colors, can have integrated sinks of the same material. Not heat resistant like most of the stones, can crack, but is fairly maintenance free. It may stain, but the stain can be buffed out in most cases.
Corian Countertop
We can look at some other options for counters in the next post but for now- tell me what you like and dislike about any of these! Have any personal experiences you’d like to share???
