Your home’s countertops should be a pairing of beauty and durability—after all, they are one of the most frequently used surfaces in the house. Here are a few of the latest options available from some of the most popular manufacturers in the business.
Rich Neutrals (clockwise from top left)
Khaki coloring along with diagonal white and cream veining gives Caesarstone’s new “Urban Safari” an abundance of visual appeal. Advanced Bath & Kitchen, advancedbk.com; Arkansas Granite & More, (501) 315-4500; Countertop Solutions, countertopsolutionsar.com; Distinctive Kitchens & Baths, kitchensofarkansas.com; Gold Medal Flooring, goldmedalflooring.com; Inside Effects, insideeffects.com; Kitchen Distributors, kitchendistributorsinc.com; New Century Counter Tops, newcenturycountertops.com; The Countertop Store, thecountertopstorear.com
Dekton® XGloss’s solid surface collections are highly stain-resistant surfaces that feature a luminous shine. “Lumina,” one of five new colors for 2016 is shown here. It features a brown hue with warm, earthy undertones. Advanced Bath & Kitchen, advancedbk.com; Alpha Countertops, alphacountertops.com; Arnold’s Flooring, arnoldsflooringlittlerock.com; Inside Effects, insideeffects.com; Kitchen Tune-Up, kitchentuneuplittlerock.com; New Century Counter Tops, newcenturycountertops.com; The Countertop Store, thecountertopstorear.com
Cambria’s new Oceanic Collection features four distinctive patterns that are influenced by the rhythmic movement of the sea. “Oakmoor,” an earthy and organic choice features shades of cream, tan, gray, and caramel in a formation that appears to have been aged to perfection. AHI Stoneworks, ahistoneworks.net; Distinctive Kitchens & Baths, kitchensofarkansas.com; Gilmore’s Custom Kitchens, gilmoreskitchens.com; Kitchen & Bath Concepts, (501) 225-5221; Kitchen & Bath Ideas, kitchenandbathideas.biz; Kitchen Tune-Up, kitchentuneuplittlerock.com; Lumber 1 Home Center, lumberonehomecenter.com; New Century Counter Tops, newcenturycountertops.com; Peter’s Flooring & Paint, petersflooringandpaint.com; Ridout Lumber, ridoutlumber.com; The Countertop Store, thecountertopstore.com
Livable Colors (top to bottom)
With pink veining and mother-of-pearl accents throughout the pattern, “Anatolia” is a subtly colorful new option from Wilsonart’s quartz line. Arnold’s Flooring, arnoldsflooringlittlerock.com; Kaufman Lumber Co., kaufmanlumber.com; Lumber One Home Center, lumberonehomecenter.com; Ridout Lumber Co., ridoutlumber.com; Whit Davis Lumber Plus, whitdavis.com
Well-known potter and designer Jonathan Adler’s collection with Formica features playful patterns and colors that are perfect for playrooms, craft spaces, or even laundry rooms, including “Grasscloth,” shown here in Lime. Bath & Kitchen Gallery, rayluskplumbing.com; Gilmore’s Custom Kitchens, gilmoreskitchens.com; Kaufman Lumber Co., kaufmanlumber.com; Ridout Lumber Co., ridoutlumber.com; Whit Davis Lumber Plus, whitdavis.com; Woodunique, (501) 767-6216
Nature’s Best (top to bottom)
While manmade options offer consistent patterns and slabs, natural materials—including granite, marble, and quartzite to name a few—have an unrivaled appeal. If you’re looking for naturally made selections visit one of the retailers listed below to view slabs and consult with a professional. In addition to the retailers noted here, many of the businesses mentioned throughout this feature also offer natural choices.
“Taj Mahal” quartzite has a creamy white look that can work well in traditional or contemporary spaces.
The gray hues of “Super White” quartzite make it a popular choice for baths and kitchens that have cool undertones.
For deep color, try “Notte D’oro” granite. As with other granites, it can be honed to your specifications. The piece shown here has a leathered finish.
Acme Brick, Tile & Stone, acmebricktileandstone.com; AHI Stoneworks, ahistoneworks.net; All Natural Stone, (501) 280-9777; Arkansas Granite & More, (501) 315-4500; Casa Blanca Granite, casablancagranite.com; Pacific Shore Stones, pacificshorestones.com; Triton Stone of Little Rock, tritonstone.com
Light Choices (clockwise from top left)
“Calacatta” from Granite Transformations’ Trascenda line is comprised of natural quartz and recycled glass to recreate actual veins and patterns. It is modeled after Calacatta Oro marble, but has all the benefits of an engineered surface, including resistance to stains, scratches, and heat. Granite Transformations, granitetransformations.com
Inspired by limestone, Dekton™ by Cosentino®’s “Sarey” features a range of soft, creamy tones alongside dramatic veining and variation in hues. It has a high resistance to scratches and stains and absorbs very little water. Advanced Bath & Kitchen, advancedbk.com; Alpha Countertops, alphacountertops.com; Arnold’s Flooring, arnoldsflooringlittlerock.com; Inside Effects, insideeffects.com; Kitchen Tune-Up, kitchentuneuplittlerock.com; New Century Counter Tops, newcenturycountertops.com; The Countertop Store, thecountertopstorear.com
Inspired by the sleek sophistication of marble, Silestone’s new “Ariel” color from the Nebula Alpha quartz surface collection is a mix of warm whites with light gray veining. Silestone natural quartz products are non-porous, eliminating the need to be sealed. A-1 Granite Man, a1graniteman.net; Advanced Bath & Kitchen, advancedbk.com; Alpha Countertops, alphacountertops.com; Arnold’s Flooring, arnoldsflooringlittlerock.com; C&F Flooring and Rug Gallery, candfcarpet.com; Casa Blanca Granite, casablancagranite.com; Countertop Solutions, countertopsolutionsar.com; Distinctive Kitchens & Baths, kitchensofarkansas.com; Gold Medal Flooring, goldmedalflooring.com; Inside Effects, insideeffects.com; Kitchen & Bath Concepts, (501) 225-5221; Kitchen & Bath Ideas, kitchenandbathideas.biz; Kitchen Tune-Up, kitchentuneuplittlerock.com; Lumber One Home Center, lumberonehomecenter.com; New Century Counter Tops, newcenturycountertops.com; Ridout Lumber Co., ridoutlumber.com; The Countertop Store, thecountertopstorear.com
With graceful, swirling subtleties of gray, Zodiaq’s “London Sky” is an excellent choice for transitional spaces that have both modern and traditional influence. Gilmore’s Custom Kitchens, gilmoreskitchens.com; Kitchen & Bath Concepts, (501) 225-5221; Kitchen and Bath Ideas, kitchenandbathideas.biz; Kitchen Distributors, kitchendistributorsinc.com; New Century Counter Tops, newcenturycountertops.com