What’s Currently in Style?

Wow! That’s quite a question.

The trite answer is whatever is in design magazines or on HGTV, but that isn’t necessarily correct. What’s considered stylish in Europe, US east coast cities, or southern California isn’t necessarily a favorite in Portland, Oregon. It depends on personal preference, house style, interior building materials, and color schemes.

We work in the greater Portland, Oregon area so we’ll limit our focus to what stone suppliers in our area carry or have readily available in the summer of 2017. They keep a close eye on design and material trends.

Granite and other natural stones are timeless and always in style.  Color preferences evolve and are generally reflected in showroom selections. It’s difficult to go wrong with natural stone, and its diverse characteristics provide an amazing array of unique “looks” to choose from.

Quartz, a manufacturer product, is popular and increasingly available in “stone-like” offerings that rival the sophistication of natural stone.  There are some benefits to quartz products, especially for busy families with children still at home.  In particular, the Carrara marble look is very popular, and quartz can give you nearly the same look without the maintenance or fragility associated with actual marble.

The newest products in the Portland market are the ultra-compacts like Dekton, Lapitec, and Neolith. These are manmade “metamorphic rock” produced in a variety of thicknesses from almost tile-like to traditional slab dimensions. All are sintered stone that visually resemble glass or porcelain but with much more strength. They are very popular in Europe and gaining attention in the US, particularly in more modern designs.

So, what’s really popular right now? There is something for everyone’s taste, needs, and unique applications. Visit the local slab supply houses and see for yourself. Give us a call for a list of suppliers if you’re not familiar with the market. We’ll be happy to help get you started toward the counters of your dreams.