TOUCH POINTS

The choice of material can be the critical component of any interior project. We round-up some of the very latest options for achieving the most sumptuous surfaces

Surface specialist Königstone has introduced its Rio Blanco surface. The light background is combined with copper, gold and brown swirls which vary in colour and shape across the surface. It is part of the KönigQuartz range which aims to offer the look of granite with the hard-wearing properties of quartz. Königstone / konigstone.co.uk

The kitchen in this home by Brussels-based Bruno Vanbesien Architects fits into a shared space with the living area. A large island running the length of the entire space divides the two areas, utilising HIMACS Alpine White S028 for a strong contrast between the white surface and the dark grey floor. The functional part of the kitchen – with an induction cooking area and hood integrated into the wall unit – was deliberately almost ‘hidden’ behind the cupboard doors. When these are opened, the heart of the kitchen reveals the dark polished larch finish, contrasting with the bright white of both the island and the doors. HIMACS / himacs.eu

Francisco Sutherland

Architects were commissioned to refurbish the interiors of an penthouse duplex in London’s Barbican. They worked with materials distributor James Latham to select Decospan Querkus Oak Natural panels for the bespoke wardrobes, as well as bathroom finishes using HIMACS Alpine White. James Latham / lathamdigitalshowroom.co.uk

Durasein solid surface, available exclusively from IDS, offers 60 curated decors spanning onyx, concrete and marble effects that mirror the natural material, plus plain and particle-based whites and accent colours. Pictured is Durasein in Blush. Durasein / durasein.co.uk

Lundhs Antique Silk was utilised in this kitchen design by A-FORM, working closely with architects Lund Hagem. The project was a new build cabin in Oslo, Norway. The customer wanted a kitchen in solid oak wood with a worktop in natural stone, with the aesthetics and feel to be in harmony with the architecture of the cabin, as well as with its remote location – which required all materials to be delivered to site by boat. Lundhs / lundhsrealstone.com/uk

SilverKoast Salina is part of the Dekton by Cosentino range of surfaces. It has a polished finish that aims to recreate the salt patterns left by the low tide on the sand and rocks. Delicate white crests materialise as an asymmetrical pattern of grey veins on a white background which reinterpret the elegance of Carrara marble. Dekton / cosentino.com/dekton

This year’s Surface Design Awards attracted 130 entries from 12 countries across a number of categories. Included in the finalists for the Housing Interior category were three British projects: Wiltshire Farmhouse by Emil Eve Architects, Southwark Brick House by Satish Jassal Architects and Spitalfields House by Common Ground Workshop (pictured), plus India’s Earthitects Private Residences by Earthitects. Surface Design Show / www.surfacedesignshow.com

“Natural stone surfaces are popular for the kitchen and bathroom due to the luxury look they create, but the downside of these can be the level of maintenance required to keep them looking their best,” says Ben Bryden, Sales and Marketing Director at RAK Ceramics UK. “Natural stone-inspired surfaces, such as the ceramic and porcelain ranges from RAK Ceramics, provide a suitable alternative for designers to suggest to their clients.”

“For the bathroom, tiles are still very much the go-to surface, particularly for walls but also increasingly for floors too, creating a seamless flow. A key trend in bathroom tile design is a move towards large format tiles. These are popular due to the stylish and minimal look they create, with less grout creating a clean and uninterrupted finish. Style-wise, nature-inspired designs are popular for creating a sense of tranquillity.”

Preziosi from the RAK Ceramics Signature Collection is a porcelain surface that is inspired by the natural beauty of marble. The porcelain tiles are available in a choice of five colourways as well as a range of sizes and thicknesses. RAK Ceramics / rakceramics.com/uk

DESIGNER MAGAZINE / DESIGNERATI.CO.UK