If you are planning a kitchen refurbishment project, do take the time to check out the latest design trends for kitchen worktops. Incorporating these design trends in your project will help your space become the cynosure of all eyes in the neighbourhood.

The dramatic rise in the number of kitchen brands in the market, along with the increasing number of readily available design and kitchen remodel ideas, has led to many homeowners shopping for the trendiest kitchens for their homes. If you are on the lookout for a few such new trends that are setting major design goals for kitchens, here are some of these:

Concrete Effect Worktops

Concrete kitchen worktops impart an industrial feel to a contemporary space although these can be difficult to maintain. This is because even high-end concrete requires regular sealing to avoid staining. In addition, cracking of concrete kitchen worktops can occur, which are nearly impossible to repair.

For these reasons, traditional concrete worktops are taken care of by the rise of stone-based materials such as quartz. Concrete-effect quartz worktops are engineered with polymer resins to impart the natural look of concrete sans the problems encountered by the material as a worktop surface. Quartz concrete effect worktops are gaining a lot of popularity among homeowners owing to their ability to create a polished or matt concrete-like worktop surface, while also offering the superior quality of quartz, including enhanced strength, durability and resistance to heating and scorching.

In the first place, quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on earth. It is quarried and crushed into very fine grains. Moreover, different adhesives and resins are blended and vibro-compressed, resulting in an ultra-compact slab surface. Since quartz worktops are non-porous, there is no risk of stains or etching when used in kitchen worktop applications. Secondly, there is a plethora of quartz brands in the UK marketplace. This provides you with a huge array of options when it comes to selecting your ideal kitchen worktop product. With the use of organic elements and traditional decoration materials in different properties, products such as marble-effect worktops and concrete-effect countertops are very popular in urban lifestyles. Of course, these surfaces must be easy to clean and maintain too.

Caesarstone Concrete Worktops

Engineered from a mix of over 93% pure natural quartz stones and polymer resins, Caesarstone quartz has become a mainstay in many kitchens owing to its robust properties, with surfaces such as Caesarstone Rugged Concrete. Caesarstone, however, comes with a glossiness that is hard for concrete to emulate. The latest kitchen design trends therefore, see concrete and Caesarstone come together to create a surface that is robust and authentic like concrete worktops in its look and feel while being non-porous, heat resistant, bacteria resistant and one of the easiest surfaces to clean. With the overnight success of this material in 2019, the company has moved on to expanding the range of Caesarstone Metropolitan Collection.

This range of quartz worktops in inspired in the mysterious patinas of casting and oxidizing, combined with the authentic features concrete and rust. The surfaces offer a subtle tactile feel with the texture of traditional concrete, and the superior performance features of Caesarstone. The most popular colours in this new range are Caesarstone Airy Concrete and Caesarstone Cloudburst Concrete, which boast light grey hues on concrete surfaces.

Marble Effect Worktops

While marble worktops provide an elegant and sophisticated look to a kitchen, they can require different maintenance, when compared to other kitchen countertop products. The year has so far seen natural quartz being designed to resemble other materials. One such trend is quartz being engineered to emulate marble effect worktops complete with their natural veining patterns while offering robust, durable, non-porous and easy to maintain features of quartz worktops. These marble worktops can suit any kitchen décor and blend in seamlessly with existing floors and backsplashes. There are marble-effect worktop designs of many different varieties of this natural stone. Some of these are Italian Calacatta quartz worktops or Statuario quartz surfaces. In addition, white marble effect quartz and grey marble effect quartz, seem to be in vogue in both commercial and residential designs. One of the most popular quartz manufacturers, Cosentino, offers Silestone Calacatta Gold worktops which are very popular amongst architects and designers in London. Having said this, you can find a huge variety of marble effect surfaces and brands, providing you with options for practically any budget. Besides versatility, quartz kitchen worktops provide any space with a tough and durable surface, with superior resistance which is proven over 30 years since its inception.

Ceramic Worktops And Ultracompact Surfaces

Ceramic worktops are making a comeback in kitchens this year. Traditionally speaking, ceramic products have been used for a long time as a tile surface. Ceramic, as a material, has its benefits when compared to quartz and other materials. This includes, but is not limited to, the material’s impermeability, which makes it resistant to all weathers and more – from heat and cold to mould, mildew and bacteria. It is resistant to stains and scratches and low maintenance necessity.

But when it comes to kitchen worktops, there is a rise to a new generation of ceramics and ultracompact surfaces. These are made with 100% raw materials such as natural granite, glass and clay, and blended to result in exceptional surfaces. These revolutionary ceramic worktop materials can be available in large sheets with dimensions of up to 3200 x 1600 mm, bringing a new dimension and possibilities of designs.

The versatility of ceramic as a worktop offers a wide range of colours and finishes to suit a kitchen décor with ease. Manufacturers of high-end ceramic worktop surfaces brought about the latest sintered stone technology to create unique and groundbreaking designs. Not only that these materials are very durable, but they also offer incredibly pleasing aesthetic features. Rather than being limited to indoor use, these new ceramic worktop materials can also be used outdoor, expanding design possibilities. Brands such as Laminam and Ceralsio, offer marble-like worktops for every style of project. These surfaces are available in different thicknesses, finishes and sizes. Thus, providing infinite possibilities when it comes to interior and architectural decoration.

Porcelain Worktops

There has also been a rise in the number of homes featuring porcelain worktops. Porcelain worktops, also known as sintered stones, are made with raw materials. By mixing natural products under intense heat and using an industrial press, porcelain worktop result in ultra-compact surfaces. Not only that this new breed of porcelain is highly resistant to heat, but also to freezing conditions. This enables users to install the surfaces practically in any place. Applications such as wall cladding, furniture decoration and floors are all possible. Thanks to its lightweight nature (porcelain surfaces weigh approximately 25kg per m2, compared to 50kg per m2 with granite), you can reach high places and hidden spaces too.

With a varying palette of colours, designs, patterns and finishes to choose from, porcelain offers a versatile design option for the kitchen. In addition to this, porcelain worktops come with other benefits like increased resistance to UV rays, stains and scratches, along with the ability of a single slab fitting the entire kitchen worktop space with ease.

Published by Jesus Alberto Mouzo on January 29, 2020