When it comes to aesthetics, homeowners are usually looking to incorporate what\u2019s trending and what\u2019s \u201chot\u201d on the market to make each space unique.<\/span><\/p>\n When speaking with fabricators along the East Coast, it\u2019s apparent that granite is not the only popular choice for countertops anymore. \u201cEveryone wants white marble,\u201d said Tim Farr, owner of StoneWorks in Augusta, Inc. in Augusta, GA. \u201cIt\u2019s just really popular. We see some quartz, but for the most part, it\u2019s everything light and white. People are moving away from the staple colors to the whites.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n \n Marco Duran, co-owner of Atlas Marble & Granite in Springfield, NJ, also is seeing a trend towards marble countertops. \u201cThe most popular [materials] right now are marble or quartzite,\u201d he said. \u201cOn a scale from one to three, with one being the most popular, I\u2019d say marble is at one, with second, being quartzite. I think marble is the most popular only because people are not really aware of quartzite.<\/span><\/p>\n As an interior designer, Alena Capra, CKD, CBD of Alena Capra Designs in Fort Lauderdale, FL, said she has been working with a tremendous amount of white quartz lately. \u201cI\u2019ve done work in New York City as well as Florida, and more people are very much looking to do neutral quartz counters,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n Anna Marie Fanelli, designer and vice president of Floor & Decor in Tenafly, NJ, echoed Capra\u2019s comments and said her clientele is also requesting a lot of quartz to use for their homes. \u201cI\u2019ve introduced them to Dekton [by Cosentino], an ultra-compact material composed of glass and porcelain and the highest quality quartz material that can go on the inside and outside of buildings,\u201d she said. \u201cIt comes in monochromatic colors \u2014 blacks and different types of whites. The technology is crazy; it\u2019s amazing. I\u2019ve used it for fireplaces, kitchens and bathrooms.<\/span><\/p>\n \n \n Selecting the right edge<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to edges, the mitered edge has been growing in popularity, but for some areas of the country, it has already been around for a handful of years. \u201cWe took an interest in that maybe four to five years ago,\u201d said Duran. \u201cI just always like that look of miters and clean lines. From a personal standpoint, I want to impose that in our showroom. Pretty much, it\u2019s more of a foresight in people\u2019s minds. I was ahead of the trend when it came to miters in natural stone. We partook in mitering way before people took an interest in it. Now that there\u2019s an interest in it, it\u2019s like second nature to us. If you look at people who are trending, their choices are directed towards quartzite or stones, and those are complemented by mitered edges.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Farr agrees that his shop is seeing more of the mitered edge. \u201cIt\u2019s coming, I will tell you\u201d, said Farr \u201cIf folks are not prepared, they better start to [get prepared]. [But], I think it\u2019s just a trend. That\u2019s part of the reason for us buying a new CNC saw \u2014 it\u2019s more efficient. Our old saw didn\u2019t miter, and this one does. It makes it simple.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n \n Polished verses honed<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n While many people tend to veer towards a polished finish, which is highly reflective, displaying the vibrancy and character of the stone\u2019s natural colors, it really depends on the type of material being used and its application. \u201cIf I\u2019m working with marble, it\u2019s most likely honed,\u201d said Farr. \u201cThere are some people that want the polished look. I\u2019d say it\u2019s probably a 70 to 30 ratio. About 70% want a honed finish and 30% want a polished finish.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Duran said most of his customers are looking for the same things. \u201cHoning is advantageous to having marble \u2014 people will drift towards honed tops,\u201d he said. \u201cIf it\u2019s marble, I\u2019m almost positive they\u2019re going for a honed finish; there\u2019s probably a 3-to-1 ratio they\u2019re selecting honed over polished. The polished finish \u2014 people are going just for the look of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n According to Fanelli, she believes the two finishes are equally popular. \u201cIt was always honed, but now it\u2019s 50\/50,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve even done polished materials in the kitchen in porcelain. Before it was honed, honed, and honed. Now, it\u2019s a combination of both.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n From Capra\u2019s standpoint, she\u2019s seeing the opposite, with the polished trend standing strong. \u201cIn this case, I am finding the tradition that kind of stays, for the most part, is polished countertops,\u201d she said. \u201cNot a lot of people are doing honed countertops. They keep trying the honed trend, but I don\u2019t think it is happening. A shiny piece of stone in your kitchen contrasts so nicely. Most cabinets are wood, so I think it creates a beautiful, stunning contrast to have that polished top. I really don\u2019t get asked for honed as much as I do for polished.<\/span><\/p>\n \n \n The future of stone<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n A couple of years ago, people were really looking for ways to save on stone products, while also being able to accomplish an upscale design. Today, the trend has totally shifted. Now, instead of worrying about cost, people are starting to indulge in the luxury items they really want, looking at it as an investment.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe future is in semi-precious stones and the ultra-high-end market,\u201d said Duran. \u201cThe luxury goods market is basically coming out of its shell. We\u2019ve been predicting that for about a year now that there is a call now for a luxury product that is beyond white marble, exotic granite and engineered stone. We feel that luxury is coming back. People, again, are sort of having what they desire, instead of what is common. Granite is attainable and common \u2014 and people are looking for opulence and luxury \u2014 and that\u2019s what is with a semi-precious collection. It\u2019s got qualities that make it look so unique \u2014 as unique as the individual wants to be. People say, \u2018This is what makes me different \u2014 having this surface. Not everyone can afford it.\u2019 And that market is starting to bloom. It\u2019s becoming fashionable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019m seeing with kitchen backsplashes are a lot of stone with mirror, stone with gold, stone with platinum \u2014 a lot of mixing with exotic materials,\u201d said Fanelli. It\u2019s different these days; they have upscale feelings. People are saying to me, \u2018The Kardashians did it,\u2019 so you have this mindset of \u2018the celebrities did it, now I can do it.\u2019 It\u2019s an interesting way of looking at it. If they have to spend $4,000 to $5,000, they will now. They\u2019ll say it\u2019s an investment; before, it was ridiculous, now it\u2019s artwork, a specialty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n Heather Fiore, associate editor of TILE Magazine<\/span><\/p>\n www.stoneworld.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When it comes to the kitchen \u2014 the most popular space in any residence \u2014 quartz and white marble remain growing trends, while mitered corners are also often requested for countertops When it comes to aesthetics, homeowners are usually looking to incorporate what\u2019s trending and what\u2019s \u201chot\u201d on the market to make each space unique. … Continue reading Quartz and white marble remain growing trends of kitchen design<\/span> ![\"ys](\"http:\/\/en.youstone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/ys-1.jpg\")
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