It’s the surface you place your coffee cup on, the go-to space for food prep, the ultimate kitchen essential – here we celebrate the makers of the world’s most luxurious ceramic and stone worktops
Marazzi
Few brands are as dedicated to showing the possibilities of ceramic surfaces as Marazzi, which last year marked its 90th anniversary. Based since 1935 in Sassuolo, Italy, it pioneered the idea of large-format tiles as a design feature, working with architect Gio Ponti (he created the iconic ‘Triennale’ or ‘four curve’ tile) and fashion leaders such as Biki (Elvira Leonardi Bouyeure), Paco Rabanne and Federico Forquet.
Looking to the future, Marazzi has now collaborated with British designer Charlotte Taylor on ‘An Imagined House’, a space where ceramic surfaces become the protagonists. ‘I carefully explored the collections, examining different shapes, types and tones, imagining how they would look in various spaces,’ says Taylor, a conceptual AI artist (and the talent behind a concept cover predicting the ELLE Decoration of the future for our own 35th-anniversary issue) renowned for her exhibitions at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen and London Design Festival last year. ‘It wasn’t difficult – the products are versatile and work beautifully together.’
A highlight of this dream home is the kitchen (pictured top). ‘It has something traditional and original at the same time. The central hood and horseshoe-shaped counter may recall kitchens from long ago, but the black tiles from the “Crogiolo Lume” collection immediately transport us to a more contemporary context,’ she adds. The countertop is ‘Stone Look’, part of Marazzi’s ‘The Top’ range; the hard-wearing porcelain, here artfully disguised as ‘Breccia Imperiale’ marble, is impervious to temperature changes, water, abrasion and chemical agents. marazzitile.co.uk
Florim
Ceramic worktops can create a perfect interpretation of a material, but what if you’re more interested in imperfections? This is the key question that forms the basis of Florim’s recent collaboration with innovative design firm Gensler. The result is ‘Formatech’ – a collection of porcelain surfaces that aim to convey the raw textures of concrete (‘Cast’), metal (‘Forge’, pictured) and plaster (‘Cure’) thanks to highly advanced decorative technologies, including pad printing (a process that’s also known as tampography), and chromatic and three-dimensional digital applications. Each design is available in three thicknesses to suit any project and represent, says Florim, ‘a meditation on material truth’. florim.com
Porcelanosa
Since it was founded in 1973, this Spanish brand has acquired other companies to become an undeniably influential player in the world of porcelain surfaces. Key to its reputation is a need for realism, whether that’s by imitating the texture of wood, marble or, in the case of its most recent launch, limestone. Named ‘Navona’, this unique new design is part of the ‘XTone’ range, which is primarily for worktops, and features delicate markings and intricate cavities that represent the traces that would be left in nature by water trickling or flowing across it. The slabs can also be bookmatched to ensure continuity if used across larger areas. porcelanosa.com
Caesarstone
Since pioneering the UK’s adoption of quartz worktops when it was founded almost four decades ago, this brand has expanded into producing mineral and porcelain surfaces. It’s the latter that is the focus this season, with the launch of five new designs in its ‘Porcelain’ collection, all ideal for countertops. They are each inspired by nature, from the fossil-dotted ‘Fossillia’ to ‘Travina’, which replicates the tactility of travertine, and the marble-look ‘Dolcivio’ and ‘Antikella’. Perhaps the most intriguing, though, is ‘Onyxa’. We have spotted a growing obsession with the luminous qualities of pale onyx, which the warm white and translucent beige tones of this ceramic alternative accurately mimic. caesarstone.co.uk
Antolini
Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, this Italian stone specialist is the place to find some of the most jaw-dropping natural varieties, such as the dramatic ‘Dalmata’ stone. But it is the maintenance of beauty, not just the offering of it, that is key for this brand. That’s why Antolini developed ‘Azerocare Plus’, a process that amplifies the stone’s veining while providing permanent protection from stains and etching – you can leave lemon juice uncleaned for up to 12 hours without adverse effects. It is essentially an invisible nano-tech layer that can be applied on top of the company’s ‘Matt’, ‘Lether’ and ‘Lux’ finishes. Statement marble without any of the normal challenges? Game-changing. antolini.com
Margraf
True marble is unique, like a fingerprint, telling the geological story of a region or, in the case of this exclusive stone from Margraf, a particular quarry. In this case, the site in question is an open-air location in Udine, Italy, where the company (founded in Chiampo in 1906) mines ‘Fior di Pesco Carnico’. The marble’s name, which translates as ‘Peach Blossom’, is derived from the tones of its distinctive veining, which vary from light grey to a pink blush. Yes, it’s a high-maintenance option for a worktop (susceptible to staining from oils, lemon juice, vinegar and the like), but its impact is clear. Opt for polished, honed, brushed, bush-hammered or sandblasted finishes to make a lasting statement. Price on application, margraf.it
Atlas Plan
Established as a separate brand from renowned Italian surface company Atlas Concorde in 2017, Atlas Plan concentrates on large stone-effect porcelain countertops, cladding and more. Its surfaces are highly regarded thanks to the implementation of technical advances, perhaps most notably ‘Natura-Body Tech’. This particular innovation ensures aesthetic continuity no matter what happens, as the veins and organic-inspired shifting shades of surfaces such as the new ‘Nyra Ambrosia’ run throughout the entire thickness of each slab. If, heaven forbid, there should ever be an accident and your worktop becomes chipped, then the naturalistic effect will not be ruined. £104 per sq m, atlasplan.com
