From warm tones and soft colours, to gentle curves and untouched-up beauty, we bring you an Artedomus Edit of extraordinary natural stone and porcelain slabs for kitchen benchtops. Explore these 10 designer favourites, featured in some of Australia’s most talked-about kitchen designs.
Kitchen benchtops are fast becoming a popular conversation for anyone seeks out a natural stone or porcelain alternative to engineered stone. As a benchtop material, natural stone and also porcelain offers plenty of creative potential thanks to the unique compositions and patterns inherent within each individual choice. They comfortably match this with functionality and performance to support your ultimate lifestyle, and preferred home cooking and cleaning regimes.
Lately we’ve been observing a lot of beautiful architecturally designed kitchens embracing warmer tones and softer colours through their benchtop choices – opting for the likes of Tiberio, Opus Rosso, Saria and Beton White (in fact a soft beige in tone).
In Australia, soft lines and gentle curves abound, sometimes appearing organic and welcomes, other times sculptural in statement. There’s also a growing appetite for using natural stones in all their raw, earthy-formed glory. “Particularly with travertine, we see our clients celebrating the stone in its original state. This authentic, untouched-up finish offsets beautifully against the polish and detailing of timber cabinetry, and more industrial materials of stainless steel and concrete,” comments Yas Bahar, Victorian State Manager at Artedomus.
Selecting the best stone or porcelain benchtop for your kitchen is surely the most enjoyable process of all renovations and new builds. You’ll find each option to be distinct from the next and there is one ultimate choice out there that matches your ideal aesthetic, functional needs and performance expectations.
“The team at Artedomus can help you pick out the perfect choice from our huge variety of stock, on hand in Australia and ready for purchase. Here are the latest 10 natural stone and porcelain slabs we’re all loving,” comments Yas.
1. Tiberio is notable for its blush tones and rich burgundy veining, a stone that will lift your space with beauty and warmth.
2. Travertine Zena is a lighter-toned travertine.
In the River House, Fiona Lynch Studio has used Travertine Zena, coupled with a green marble, to create a boldly curved and geometrically crafted dual-tone benchtop with a reverse half bullnose edge.
3. Zaragoza marble features an electric golden veining on a light toned base.
4. Opus Rosso is an extraordinary statement stone with naturally occurring red colouring and bold veining.
5. Elba is exclusive to Artedomus and highly coveted for its cool grey tones and soft brown markings.
6. Rocaro is a lightly speckled granite of light and dark grey tones.
Granite has been popular for decades due to its strength and robust qualities and is experiencing a style renaissance, with many opting for a curved edge, and brushed or honed finish, for a softer, sophisticated effect.
7. Cristanza is a quartzite with bold veining, featured in Habitus #60.
“The sheer beauty of the Cristanza slabs are literally breaktaking,” writes Sarah-Jane Pyke of Arent & Pyke in Habitus magazine, issue 60. “The way the crystalline vein runs through it, is graphically stunning. And the contrast of the swirly green with the sharpness of that white is such a beautiful contrast.” Thank you Sarah-Jane! We whole-heartedly agree.
8. Ocean Blue Travertine has incredible lineal veining of cool silvers, taupes and olive tones.
9. Artetech Beton White is more beige in tone, replicating the patterning and finish of concrete with an incredible durability unique to porcelain.
10. Saria’s sophisticated interplay of beige, pink, and red tones will imbue your space with sophisticated warmth and elegant beauty.
Like this article? Browse these 10 natural stone and porcelain benchtop alternatives to engineered stone.
Words by Alice Blackwood