We spoke two local stone distributors regarding which trends they are seeing in countertop selections and specifications lately. 


Paul Hilborn of Minnesota Tile and Stone here is his input on trends of countertops: 

The most recent trends in stone counter tops are quite varied.    

Leather Finish- Granite

Textures are hot. We are seeing more leather or brushed surfaces than in the past. The use of polished and honed surfaces are quite common but the strongest growth is in textured material 

•  A honed finish offers a matte look, that has more of a dull appearance and is non-reflective in nature. It is also fairly popular, but the honing process does make the material more susceptible to staining and scratching.    

• A satin finish is somewhat similar to a honed finish, but offers a smooth, softer look with a vibrant, non-reflective finish.

• A leather finish offers a smooth, yet soft look and appears slightly more polished than a honed finish, but with a slight texture. This finish has the same care recommendations as say a honed finish but is much more forgiving (i.e hiding crumbs and fingerprints)

Vermont Danby White Marble.The sales of white marble in kitchens is also quite strong but the problem has been White Carrara is not a great performer in the U.S. Sales are quite strong for White Carrara but the new trend is the Vermont Danby Marbles. These stones are much better performers and have soft veins of tan and black similar to Calcutta Gold but at a very reasonable price. With softer and warmer looks it has become the next “Thing” in white kitchen counter tops. 

Vermont Danby White Marble

 If Marble scares you in a kitchen the look to “Super White” a granite with soft blends of gray and white with varied layers which produces a “dreamy” effect to the looks but performs as most granite’s have done, very well.

Super White Granite Barb of Paramount Granite shared the following tips regarding trends she is seeing in  countertop sales:  Exotic Colors—While most people have heard the phrase, “Keeping up with the Jone’s,” when it comes to countertops, consumers may want granite, but they may not want the same color, as their neighbor, or someone else they know. Many consumers are willing to pay a little more for a stone that is unique and speaks to them. *Amazonia Bamboo Granite                        *Typhoon Bordeaux Granite- Leather Finish Multiple Color Combinations—Some consumers, these days, are mixing and matching colors for their countertops. With the multitude of colors available, some people like variety and are choosing one color for an island, and another color for their perimeter tops. We have seen others that mix it up even more, choosing 3 or more colors, depending on the kitchen layout. Backsplash Variety—3-1/2″ high backsplash runs are still quite popular, but many consumers are also adding tile. With hundreds of tile options and varieties, this combination makes it easy to tie a variety of colors together with their countertops and other decor.

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