Color Trend: Kitchen Counters

In Kitchen & Bath Design News there is an article on the trends for kitchen counters. Here’s what they had to say about colors…

So, what’s the latest buzz on counter color trends?

While there are always designers and homeowners looking for the latest color trends when choosing countertops, neutral colors and earth tones are currently the most popular choices, albeit with tone-on tone variations, stone-like particulates and other textural elements that take neutrals from boring and blah to wow.

Not surprisingly, nature-inspired designs and colors remain a key trend.

Indeed, “Countertop surfaces that impart the complexity found in nature are extremely popular right now,” says McGeehan. She adds, “Consumers are using their home environments as vehicles of self-expression, and are particularly drawn to materials that lend warmth, personality and character to a room and reflect natural movement and colorations.”

New Colors in Dupont’s Corian Line

According to Mandell, “Color trends in countertop materials haven’t changed radically in recent years.” Instead, earth tones and shades of white have been jazzed up to give them more textural appeal. Of course in some markets, bright colors and patterns with showy metallic accents or even embedded precious stones are turning up as a way to personalize the space. But ultimately, he believes, while there are always those looking for something unique, he maintains that “warm neutrals continue to be the first choice for the majority of homeowners,” since these are both easy on the eye, and easy to use with a variety of design styles.

Staron Surfaces

Calvo concurs. While he agrees that there will always be a market for those who want something bolder and brighter in the color department, there’s still a strong contingent of consumers who will opt for the “best color for resale,” or something neutral that will be less likely to become dated over time. He says, “Color and pattern trends are very personal, and [our sales of different choices] vary from quarter to quarter, but the highest percentage of Silestone sales is the neutral color sector.”

Silestone Neutrals

Of course, earth tones are inherent in the wood countertop category. According to Hewing, the darker blends, including red tones, are very popular for wood surfaces. Buch points to increased sales in the medium brown tones to very dark tones, which dovetails the general trend toward darker woods in cabinetry. This, too, can be tied to the growing interest in nature-inspired spaces that incorporate a sense of warmth, with natural materials mixed and matched to provide texture and aesthetic appeal.

John Boos Butcher Block Countertop

Dunham predicts that texture will be one of the hottest trends in the coming years, and believes that countertops of the future will feature colors that look like “concrete or suede, and feature sophisticated textures and patterns.” He also says that color is one of the features that will continue to drive designers looking to create distinctive kitchens, as well as homeowners looking to differentiate themselves from their neighbors.

Read the entire article at Kitchen & Bath Design News…