KBB - September 2014 - 20

TRENDS

Living on the Edge
When it comes to countertops in contemporary-style kitchens, thin
is in.
"Let's just say countertops have had a major makeover, and they've
lost a few pounds," said Guillaume Gentet of Décor by Guillaume Gentet.
"Many modern kitchens right now have ultra-thin countertops as most of
the material is being lowered inside the cabinets."
Inlaid countertops also are popular. Gentet recently completed a
Manhattan kitchen with a rubbed-bronze frame around the countertops
with a ¼-in. thickness showing the top and sides with an inlay of Corian. In
another kitchen project, he applied a 45-degree angle "so that just a thin
line was seen between the countertop and cabinets," he explained. "The
end result was a very smooth, minimalist design."
Similarly, Formica has been seeing a retro revolution - a product of
"modern and mid-century-style kitchens gaining ground [with] clean
lines and straight edges," added Chmiel. To that end, she notices simpler
bullnose countertop edging generating preference over fancier edges,
along with the return of self- and square-edge counters.

Top left: Panorama, a textured laminate line from Arborite, celebrates
the true scale and veining of original stones. The pattern (pictured in
Tuscan) recreates the signature pits and troughs of an Italian travertine. Circle No. 203 or visit kbbonline.com/freeinfo
Top right: The Merge collection from designer Erin Adams breaks
the mold of traditional flat tiles, combining arts-and-crafts colors with
three-dimensionality. The raised shape provides a subtle accent on
a crisp backdrop. Circle No. 204 or visit kbbonline.com/freeinfo
Bottom: Homeowners are turning to white kitchens for their pristine, often
minimalist look. In this kitchen, Werthan supplied Caesarstone Nougat
6600 with a square-edge profile in standard 3-cm thickness, complemented by wood millwork and monochromatic tile walls. Photo Credit:
Beckwith Interiors. Circle No. 205 or visit kbbonline.com/freeinfo

In addition, knife-edge countertops are being used in a wrap or apron
application in which the top is not only on the horizontal surface but also
surrounds the base cabinets or island on the vertical surfaces.
"The surfaces are mixed, so you might see a white marble laminate
surrounding wood cabinets, quartz surrounding painted finishes or wood
surrounding antiqued metals," explained Chmiel.
Some designs, however, still call for a thicker profile.
"Two and three centimeters have always been the standard thickness
for countertops, but today homeowners are gravitating away from the
norm by going with an extra-thick appearance," said Werthan."Extra-thick
countertops complement minimalist designs very well and become a
focal point in a kitchen."

Finishing touches
As with edging, manufacturers and fabricators are presenting more
choices for finishes. For wood countertops, "hand-planed surfaces are
increasing in popularity for transitional and contemporary designs," according to Grothouse. "The planed areas are accented with black glaze
and provide a textural and tactile surface that enhances designs."
Low-gloss finishes that mimic leather and suede are on the rise in
stone and quartz.
"Improvements in technology have allowed us to create surfaces
that offer a beautiful matte finish without jeopardizing performance and
risking staining," said Marquez.
Laminates also have leapt forward in the finish department. Stone
slabs are digitally scanned, picking up all of their natural attributes.
"Going back 10 years, whatever you saw in the 2- by 3-in. sample chip
is basically what you saw across the whole countertop," said Teresa Gentile, marketing manager at Arborite. "Now we are able to offer designs
that capture the essence of the stone or wood grains, and they are true
to scale."
A finish is added to the printed laminate, "which adds to the realism
and gives it another dimension," noted Gentile. "It makes it look less like
your mother's kitchen from the 70s."
Texture is making a play in backsplashes as well.

20

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K BB

September 2014 / www.kbbonline.com / The Official Sponsor of KBIS www.kbis.com


http://www.kbbonline.com/freeinfo http://www.kbbonline.com/freeinfo http://www.kbbonline.com/freeinfo http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

KBB - September 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - September 2014

KBB - September 2014
Contents
Online Contents
Editor’s Note
Show Director’s Note
People & Places
Dealer Dish
Trends
KBIS Countdown to Design & Construction Week
Products
2014 Design Award Winners
Miracle Working in a Tight Space
A Tall Order
Start Spreading the News
The Usual Suspects
From Dull to WOW
Home Run
A Classic Plan
On the Beaten Path
KBB - September 2014 - Intro
KBB - September 2014 - KBB - September 2014
KBB - September 2014 - Cover2
KBB - September 2014 - 1
KBB - September 2014 - Contents
KBB - September 2014 - 3
KBB - September 2014 - Online Contents
KBB - September 2014 - 5
KBB - September 2014 - Editor’s Note
KBB - September 2014 - 7
KBB - September 2014 - Show Director’s Note
KBB - September 2014 - 9
KBB - September 2014 - People & Places
KBB - September 2014 - 11
KBB - September 2014 - 12
KBB - September 2014 - 13
KBB - September 2014 - Dealer Dish
KBB - September 2014 - 15
KBB - September 2014 - 16
KBB - September 2014 - 17
KBB - September 2014 - Trends
KBB - September 2014 - 19
KBB - September 2014 - 20
KBB - September 2014 - 21
KBB - September 2014 - 22
KBB - September 2014 - KBIS Countdown to Design & Construction Week
KBB - September 2014 - 24
KBB - September 2014 - 25
KBB - September 2014 - 26
KBB - September 2014 - 27
KBB - September 2014 - 28
KBB - September 2014 - 29
KBB - September 2014 - Products
KBB - September 2014 - 31
KBB - September 2014 - 32
KBB - September 2014 - 33
KBB - September 2014 - 34
KBB - September 2014 - 35
KBB - September 2014 - 36
KBB - September 2014 - 37
KBB - September 2014 - 38
KBB - September 2014 - 39
KBB - September 2014 - 40
KBB - September 2014 - 2014 Design Award Winners
KBB - September 2014 - Miracle Working in a Tight Space
KBB - September 2014 - 43
KBB - September 2014 - 44
KBB - September 2014 - 45
KBB - September 2014 - A Tall Order
KBB - September 2014 - 47
KBB - September 2014 - 48
KBB - September 2014 - 49
KBB - September 2014 - Start Spreading the News
KBB - September 2014 - 51
KBB - September 2014 - 52
KBB - September 2014 - 53
KBB - September 2014 - The Usual Suspects
KBB - September 2014 - 55
KBB - September 2014 - From Dull to WOW
KBB - September 2014 - 57
KBB - September 2014 - Home Run
KBB - September 2014 - 59
KBB - September 2014 - A Classic Plan
KBB - September 2014 - 61
KBB - September 2014 - On the Beaten Path
KBB - September 2014 - 63
KBB - September 2014 - 64
KBB - September 2014 - Cover3
KBB - September 2014 - Cover4
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