GRANITE WORKTOPS AND KITCHEN DESIGN TRENDS SUMMER 2017
It doesn’t seem very long since I was writing about new trends for the start of 2017, but here we are already almost halfway through the year. In that time a number of the trends we reported on at the start of the year – both for kitchen design and for worktops – have been consolidated, and we thought it would be good to have a roundup of the latest kitchen design news.
Classic San Vincente quartz worktops in this very on trend, multi-zone space in Ditchling, West Sussex
As we open incoming worktop inquiries at Affordable Granite we are still seeing a lot of kitchen plans which involve extensions and major building work. In many cases this is to create large open plan living/dining/family areas. The emphasis is on simplicity, even minimal designs, with definite zoned areas for recreation, cooking and eating.
Classic Marbre Carrara Quartz, used for worktops and splashbacks in this Westminster kitchen, also forms the cupboard shelves.
Larders and bespoke storage solutions seem to be making a big come back. From big corner larders to beautiful hand-made wood dresser style units with marble/quartz inserts. Carrying your granite or quartz over from the worktops into the cupboard is a growing trend – coordination throughout!
To create a cohesive look between the larger scale zones in an open plan space, accent colours from the living area often also feature as accessories in the kitchen. The same granite worktop material used in the main kitchen can be carried through into the living area as a coffee table or on units as a TV stand. Bare brickwork is also a common unifying theme which brings warmth and a traditional feel into the space.
This Hampshire barn conversion offers extravagant space and an opportunity to integrate cooking, eating, relaxing and working areas in one two level room.
Warm, traditional metallic tones are the top trending accessory colours. That means copper, with a resurgence of brass and gold. Arts and crafts style lighting with a contemporary twist adds a focal point to the living space. Multiple light-sources mean multiple glints in classic granite worktops, as well as more highlights in contemporary sparkly quartzes.
Back in the kitchen… complete banks of tall units to house appliances remain popular, with maybe one or two runs of standard units and a central island.  Although tall housings are popular for ovens and microwaves, the Range cooker remains exceedingly popular and is, according to surveys, the item that people most want that they don’t have. This is particularly the case in traditional-style kitchens, where faux-marble quartz worktops are now dominant.
Two colours of worktop on one colour of unit – another way to give variety and yet hold it all together.
Once again, a large, multi-purpose space. More info here.
Steel Grey Granite Worktops holding together a mixed colour kitchen in Cuckfield. The big open plan kitchen runs through into dining and general family living areas. See here for more.
A look that is still really hot this summer is to have two different cabinet colours; one for the bank of tall units and another for the island. The use of two different greys with one light worktop and one dark worktop is really popular. We are starting to see more really dark blue and navy units, which look stunning with the marble-look quartz worktops. Where two different colours of work surface are used, customers are often choosing a really bold statement granite island with a much simpler quartz or granite worktop elsewhere – perhaps mixing Cosmic White with Quarella Blanco Paloma quartz or Zimbabwe Black granite.
Bang on trend… we predicted at the beginning of the year that earthy naturals would be popular, and sure enough we are now seeing a resurgence in brown toned worktops e.g. Cambria Wellington, Cambria Hampshire, Radianz Miramar Bronze etc., as well as our own, in-stock, Silestone Iron Bark.
Radianz Miramar Bronze in a semi-open plan, traditional kitchen in Horsted Keynes, West Sussex
Silestone Bianco Maple, two level island
near Wokingham
Islands remain large, and often have two distinct areas; one for cooking and one for eating. These may be on two levels, sometimes using two different materials for the work surface: hard-wearing quartz or granite worktops for cooking and prep functionality, and wood to create softness and warmth for the seating area. Away from traditional islands and peninsulas, banquette style seating is making a comeback around stylish circular tables.
As we approach the half way mark of the year, then, we at Affordable Granite have every reason to be positive. Whether it is to be a contemporary kitchen with high gloss units, or a traditional kitchen with factory-made Shaker or bespoke in-frame doors, the worktops, be they in granite or quartz, are going to be the most eye-catching, unifying and exciting part of the design. Send us your plans – even early-stage – for a no-obligation quotation. And have a great summer!
Naomi King – Sales Manager 
