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26 | OCTOBER 2017 Kitchens integrated into the design," says Pierce. This might mean an accent island, a pop of colour inside a cabi- net or a vibrant bank of cabinets. "Colour is a personal choice that simply does not have a wrong answer, but blue, particularly a deeply saturated blue like Diamond Cabinetry's Maritime, is a complementary colour that works well with this trend," adds Pierce. If sticking to one accent colour isn't for you, no prob- lem. "We are also seeing that it is more common to mix kitchen countertops; people are becoming adventur- ous and combining different designs, colours and tex- tures," says Filomena. "The combinations to mix and match are endless." The "tuxedo kitchen" trend – pair- ing darker lower cabinets with white uppers – is one prime example. Colour or texture isn't the only way to make a kitchen pop. "There are also more risks being made this year when it comes to patterned backsplashes," says Filomena. Marble herringbone may be used as a backsplash, floor planks might be laid in a diagonal formation and contrasting grout could add a graphic element to plain subway tiles. But there are also tiles and countertop materials that incorporate pattern right into the design itself, like Formica's Silver Oak Herringbone. "It's inspired by one of the hottest trends in flooring today – porcelain tile that looks like real wood," says Alexandrova. "No longer limited by size or colour, this pattern takes trend grey and pairs it with a natural oak wood to create a pattern so innovative, it has unlimited possibilities." R O M A N C I N G T H E S T O N E Alexandrova also points to classic, "high-movement" stones as making a comeback. "After years of austere white marble, quartz and porcelain, we're now seeing strongly veined stones in multi-colour splendor trend- ing for countertops." And good news: stone itself is an eco-friendly product – no chemicals, harvested with natural procedures – so using that is an easy way to increase the green factor of a kitchen. "Definitely the limits are being pushed with regards to quartz products and designs," agrees Morrissette. That means marbles, granites and other stones are on the rise. "The stone industry right now has a hot new product that is similar to the ceramic or sintered products. In my opinion it is going to be the next quartz or Caesarstone," says Quinn Prince, president at SSC Countertops. "The reason for this is because natural marbles like statuario and calacatta are becoming extinct. Porcelain slab and products like Dekton are printing marble-like patterns on the face of the slabs to replicate and match some of the most beautiful mar- bles in the world." Those looking for an alternative to stone, how- ever, will find aggregate and manmade materials are increasingly popular as well. "Breccia stones and engineered surfaces inspired by nature offer unique colours and patterns for today's homeowners who might prefer something different from those tradi- tional granites and marbles," says Alexandrova. It's all part of a larger trend towards bringing the outdoors in. "We see many kitchens featuring spots for plants and herbs; living walls and greenhouses," Alexandrova says. Trend-setting off-white cabinetry from Merit Kitchens. MasterBrand PureStyle Aristokraft cabinetry. Edmonds Appliance.indd 1 2017-01-04 12:14 PM