American homes are filled with kitchens of all shapes and sizes. As the heart of the home where families gather, cook, eat, and spend quality time together, the kitchen should be both beautiful and functional.
According to the good folk at Bedrock Quartz, one of the most impactful elements of any kitchen is the countertop surface. Kitchen countertops see a lot of action and need to stand up to heat, spills, scratches, and everyday wear-and-tear.
Sleek and Seamless Design
Today’s coolest kitchen countertop styles embrace a streamlined, minimalist aesthetic. Countertops flow smoothly without awkward seams and align perfectly from one end to the other for a soothing sense of order. Popular seamless looks include:
- Concrete Countertops: Concrete makes an incredibly strong, sleek countertop when properly sealed. Concrete can be molded into any shape for built-in sinks and cooktops encased elegantly into one solid slab. The smooth, continuous surface is artfully imperfect with natural cracks and variations like marble.
- Quartz Countertops: Quartz has fast become one of the most popular options for modern kitchen countertops. Made from crushed quartz blended with resins and polymers, quartz counters are nonporous, stain-resistant, and nearly scratch-proof. Quartz comes in large seamless slabs perfect for clean-lined kitchen designs.
Innovative Textures and Finishes
While smooth countertops have an irresistible appeal, textured finishes add visual depth, dimension, and tactile interest. Modern textures include:
- Terrazzo: Once popular decades ago, terrazzo is making a major comeback in kitchen design. This composite surface contains bits of marble, quartz, granite, or glass mixed into cement. Recently, epoxy and bio-based resins have become alternatives to cement, allowing for thinner terrazzo in vibrant new color combinations and complex aggregate designs.
- Concrete Overlays: Concrete resurfacing products, like concrete overlay, create the look of true polished concrete over almost any existing countertop surface. Kits contain textured material that you trowel on just like plaster. The multi-layer system with detailed instructions allows DIYers to achieve the popular industrial style concrete look without tearing out old countertops. For an eco-friendly option, concrete overlays also come in low-VOC systems.
Advanced Performance
Improving strength, durability and maintenance has become a chief focus in kitchen countertop engineering. Driven by consumer demand, next generation options feature space-age materials that offer exceptional function in beautiful new looks and feels. Some outstanding innovations are:
- Heat-Resistant Surfaces: Kitchen countertops see high heat whether caught in steaming pots fresh off the stove or hot pans pulled from a scorching oven. New materials undergo extreme high-temperature testing to ensure colors stay true and surfaces retain integrity up to 535° F.
- Easily Restore and Repair: Accidents happen, especially in busy kitchen spaces seeing so much daily action. New epoxy countertops offer unbeatable malleability and restorative abilities. Intense gouges, chips and cracks can often be repaired seamlessly without a hint of damage both during initial installation and years down the road.
Made for Entertaining Kitchens
Open concept kitchens flowing seamlessly into living and dining rooms have never been more popular for casual gatherings with family and friends. Entertaining-friendly countertops offer enough space for buffet staging and multiple guests participating together in meal prep. Other design innovations include:
- Extra Counter Depth: Standard kitchen counters range 24-26 inches deep. Entertaining kitchens benefit from the addition of custom extended islands or specialty prep zones offering 28-36 inches of depth to spread out dishes and ingredients when cooking for a crowd.
- Self-Rim Sinks: Bar sinks traditionally need deck-mounted or under-mount installation. New self-rimming sinks have finish trim edge that allows the sink itself to countertop surface for a completely flush transition.
To conclude, whether your goal is a cleaner, minimalist look, eco-friendly recycled materials or next-gen entertainment amenities, today’s kitchens offer more design flexibility than ever before.