CHICAGO — Countertop space is steadily increasing as both an aesthetic and functional component in today’s kitchens, with homeowners exhibiting a growing willingness to invest in an ever-widening array of materials, colors, patterns and finishes.
That is among the key findings of a nationwide survey conducted by Kitchen & Bath Design News among nearly 300 design professionals, who report that countertops are an increasingly integral part of modern-day kitchens, serving not only in their traditional roles of food prep, dining, cleanup and entertaining, but as spaces for schoolwork, hobbies and crafts, work-from-home projects, and other activities.
Countertops, at the same time, are reflecting a continued trend toward more daring and personalized kitchens, while offering homeowners exciting new ways to express their unique needs and sense of style (see related story).
KBDN’s online poll, conducted in early February, found that roughly 66% of the design pros surveyed said that countertop space for the kitchens they are currently designing is larger now than in past years. In contrast, less than 5% report that countertop space is smaller, while roughly a third say it is about the same (see Figure 1 above).
“Countertop acreage is increasing for both new builds and major renovations,” one designer told KBDN. “My clients want room to do ‘everything’ in the kitchen. It’s becoming a hybrid kitchen/workshop for all kinds of culinary and decorative experiments.”
The use of multiple countertops has also become a distinct trend in today’s kitchens, design pros say. Specifically, nearly 60% of the dealers and designers surveyed by KBDN report that they typically incorporate more than one countertop in the kitchens they design. 55% say they typically incorporate two tops; 5% say they incorporate three or more (see Figure 2).
“Kitchen design is embracing a blend of classic and contemporary trends,” another design pro said. “From the natural and elegant to the bold extremes of minimalism and opulence, new colors, materials and styles are shaping the future of kitchen aesthetics.
“Black kitchen countertops are emerging as a bold choice, offering an untraditional yet stylish appeal,” another designer reported. “This once unimaginable idea is now gaining popularity, thanks to its modern and sophisticated look.”
The trend for 2024 also includes so-called “dusty colors” – muted, matte shades with subdued luminosity, including gray with hints of green, blue, violet or brown – aimed at creating a special ambiance in the kitchen, according to a survey respondent.
Durability a Key
As in past years, durability and ease of maintenance are the countertop properties most in demand, although other key factors include color selection, sustainability and antimicrobial properties, the KBDN survey found (see Figure 3).
“Most clients are looking for durability, but nice-looking,” notes on designer. “Some want large movement in natural stones, others want no movement and quartz tops. Homeowners are requesting easy maintenance and sustainability.”
According to those surveyed, engineered quartz is, far and away, the countertop surfacing material that is growing most in demand among kitchen consumers, followed by quartzite, granite and a wealth of other options, including solid surface, marble and wood (see Figure 4).
Among the colors and patterns that are most popular for countertop surfaces, marble looks along with subtle patterns lead a wide range of popular options, kitchen dealers and designers report (see Figure 5).
Considering the natural stones garnering the most attention, quartzite, followed by granite, marble and soapstone, head the list of popular choices (see Figure 6).
In terms of countertop finish, matte surfaces lead glossy finishes by more than double (see Figure 7).
Among the observations from surveyed design pros were the following:
- “Quartzite and granite are still the top stones in all my projects, with custom wooden butcher block tops incorporated for preparation as well as beauty. Utilizing wood to enlarge a center island beyond the dimensions of a natural stone is another detail we incorporate for those large entertainment spaces.”
- “Clients typically want a bright white or soft white background (depending on what works best with the other materials like cabinets and tile) with veins either in a light gray, dark gray or sometimes a color like a deep blue. Some clients have also been interested in added metallic flecks. Engineered quartz is the 99% favorite, due to low maintenance and no sealing required.”
- “I’m seeing a lot of interest in engineered quartz, as well as quartzite and other natural stone countertops. People are interested in the sintered tops and large porcelain tiles, but the increased cost of fabrication seems to deter them. I’m also noticing that most of the increased countertop area is part of an island, and the perimeter countertop is often pretty limited. While white or light tops with subtle veining is still the most popular in my area, there are hints that people are moving back toward more interesting natural stone tops in other colors. On budget jobs, we see more interest in butcher block, as well.”
- “Porcelain slabs will gain traction in the U.S. residential market because suppliers are aggressively educating fabricators to adopt new cutting procedures. In the past, fabricators have made it difficult to see porcelain slabs because they had been doubling the price due to breakage, and buying extra slabs to do the job. Plus, new technology in porcelain-slab production has also improved, making the product more durable and less fragile on CNC machines.”
- “There are so many options for countertops, and that makes design more creative. One thing that clients nix are quartz countertops that look too perfect! They want the natural look, more like stone, but with the qualities of quartz.”
- “I’m noticing many more clients are choosing a timeless counter option. They think ahead and don’t want to select something that looks too trendy or is too flashy. This is why choices like marble and porcelain are becoming even more popular. They are classic.”
- “There are still a lot of marble looks being selected, however with matte finishes and gold/brass tone veining as opposed to the gray of the last 10 years. More people would like natural stone, although maintenance and cost are often prohibitive. There’s very little interest in porcelain options in my market. It has not taken hold the way engineered quartz has.”
- “On the higher end, clients seek exotic stone, typically quartzite. The middle market is holding strong on quartz, with a few adventurous souls dipping their toes into porcelain. Entry-level homeowners are carrying the granite and import-quartz market. These buyers are seeking a ‘designer finish’ at a consumer-friendly price point.”
- “While textured materials are of interest to homeowners, there are not enough samples to see them, and few quartz products offer that as an option. Quartzite is popular because of its relative ease of maintenance, as well as its variety and beauty as a natural stone.”▪