Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2021 - 22

TRENDS
LEFT Adamina - part of
CAESARSTONE's newest
Whitelight Collection - boasts
three shades of sand for an
earthy complexion. Adamina's
natural fi nish has a slight
texture and a thickness ranging
from 10mm to 30mm. USD
is $75-$125 per square foot,
installed.
www.caesarstoneus.com
2ND ROW, FAR LEFT Silestone
by COSENTINO has launched
Sunlit Days, the fi rst carbonneutral
collection in the quartz
surfaces and engineered
stone industry. The collection
uses 99% reused water, 100%
renewable electric energy and
20% recycled raw materials
in its composition. Sunlit Days
is a collection of fi ve colors:
Faro White, Cincel Grey, Arcilla
Red, Cala Blue (shown here)
and Posidonia Green. Price is
available upon request.
www.silestoneusa.com
and exterior kitchens, " he said. " One of the biggest benefi ts of concrete countertops
is the variety of customization options. "
As the concrete is mixed, any color or feature can be added, such as stone,
glass or stainless-steel fragments. In addition, the shape of the countertop
and the edge profi le can be customized.
Solid surface - a slab of durable, hard plastic that carries the same color all
the way through - is another popular option, especially for clients looking
for customization. Most are seamless, non-porous, durable, easy to clean and
can be shaped to fi t virtually any concept with a limitless palette of hues from
which to choose.
" Th e possibilities are endless, especially with a versatile product that can
be designed to give the look of other natural elements like wood, stone or
marble while off ering increased durability at a more aff ordable price point, "
said Gerri Chmiel, residential design lead at Formica Corp.
GUIDING YOUR CLIENT TO THE RIGHT COUNTERTOP
With all these options, it can be a daunting task to choose the ideal surface
material. Evans suggests starting with thorough questions about the client's
lifestyle. Do they cook a lot? Are they bakers? How do they feel about some
maintenance with a natural stone? Are they hard on their surfaces in general?
" Once we can narrow down how they want to live in their kitchen or
bathroom, we can generally make a decision from there, " she added.
" It starts with a conversation about how our clients live in the space and
what their expectations are for the performance of these new surfaces, " added
Kadwell. " A good amount of time needs to be spent educating them on the
pros and cons of these diff erent materials. "
Ask questions to fi nd out each client's aesthetic and fi nd out how they
plan to use the space and what kind of traffi c that material will see. As their
designer, you are responsible for ensuring that their surfaces will not only
look excellent for years to come but will also perform in the best possible way.
22
A GREENER, HEALTHIER FUTURE
Along with durability and beauty, homeowners
are going to start asking for more hygienic and
eco-friendly options.
" Sustainability continues to be a major focus for
our industry, shifting manufacturing processes to
focus on recyclability and environmental impact, "
said Summer Kath, executive vice president of
design at Cambria.
This focus has not only been showing up in
improved manufacturing practices, but in thinner
profi les that emit less carbon in their production
and shipping and take less from the earth. It is
also important to the post-2020 consumer to have
hygienic surfaces. According to Maggie Ellis,
residential marketing leader at Corian Design,
biophilia is trending in general, and homeowners
want their countertops to refl ect that.
" Sustainability is likely going to have an
expanded presence in consumers' everyday lives,
and materials will need to be sourced responsibility
in addition to providing functionality and the
right look, " said Ellis. " Hygiene and sustainability
are driving factors. "
In choosing the right countertop for your
clients, aim for surfaces that are both durable and
beautiful. Th e material needs to suit your clients'
lifestyle and endure changing trends and the wear
and tear of daily use.

/ JULY-AUG. 2021 / KBBONLINE.COM / Th e offi cial publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)
2ND ROW, MIDDLE LG HAUSYS
is adding four new colors to its
Aurora Collection, bringing the
total colors available to nine.
Shown here, Aurora Midnight's
marbled veins cut across a
soft black backdrop, evoking
a still midnight sky. Price is
available upon request.
www.lghausys.com
2ND ROW, RIGHT ANTOLINI's
newest granite member of
the Exclusive Collection,
Feldspato Diamante -
translated to " Diamond
Feldspar " - features calming
pastel hues of blue among
a bold, earthy background.
Feldspato Diamante is
available in matte, lux and
leather. Price is available upon
request. www.antolini.com/en

http://www.caesarstoneus.com http://www.silestoneusa.com http://www.lghausys.com http://www.antolini.com/en http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.NKBA.org http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2021