In the space of a year there have been a lot of changes in the world of kitchen design. The banning of engineered stone (one of the most popular surfaces for benchtops), a laser-focus on sustainability and a distinct move away from sleek, all white or beige kitchens.
Colour, texture and character have all moved from ‘bit players’ into the main arena.
Colour can take the form of saturated hues on cabinetry or the inclusion of bold artwork. Texture comes to the fore in tiles and burnished metallic tapware and handles, while character can be found in architectural detail or introduced via innovative renovations such as the exposed barrel-vaulted ceiling in the kitchen below.
Perhaps most importantly are the changes taking place in benchtop surfaces. The banning of engineered stone defying initial fears and leading to a greater choice in safe and sustainable surfaces for both consumers and designers. Crystalline silica-free surfaces have taken the place of engineered stone, with leading brand Caesarstone releasing a tranche of Mineral surfaces over the past 12 months. New arrivals include some of its much-loved textured concrete and marble effects.
In the kitchen above, Caesarstone Frosty Carrina, inspired by the delicate colour and patina of a classic marble, provides a sense of quiet luxury to complement the visual highlight that is the exposed ceiling. Introduced in its crystalline silica-free Mineral format in 2024, Frosty Carrina features an ivory white base, overlaid with subtle veining in powdery grey.
An alternative to the selected Mineral surface would be Caesarstone Porcelain Lucillia. Combining the luxury and translucency of marble with the patina of weathered stone, Lucillia features a warm white base washed with fine, icy veins that crackle across the entire surface. Porcelain offers the added benefit of being suitable for outdoor use, creating the opportunity for a seamless flow from interior to exterior kitchen/entertaining space.
With a palette distinguished by its subtle tonal variations within an achromatic scheme, the kitchen above exudes vibrancy and character thanks to the bold artworks and artisanal ceramics. The entire space is grounded by the semi-industrial aesthetic of Caesarstone Mineral Airy Concrete (the latest design to arrive in the crystalline silica-free format). Featuring the distinct textural markings and colour variation of honed concrete, its dove grey base is layered with bursts of ivory white, silver and slate greys. An alternative to Airy Concrete would be Caesarstone Porcelain Aluminous, a soft neutral grey surface with the appearance of fresh cement. Its subtle granular patina highlights the tonal mix of greys that enhance its highly tactile, textural surface.
Both Caesarstone surface materials, Porcelain and Mineral, are crafted from sustainable and natural materials, offering extremely high resistance to stains, heat and impact while carrying a lifetime warranty.
Caesarstone crystalline silica-free Mineral has undergone the most rigorous of independent testing, certifying the absence of crystalline silica and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Caesarstone Porcelain’s production process adheres to the brand’s reuse process, whereby up to 20% of a slab’s contents are the waste from the initial stages of production and 99% of all water is recycled.
