Porcelain Countertop Design Inspiration with LX Hausys TERACANTO
Porcelain is a highly innovative type of ceramic that combines high-end aesthetics with high-performance capabilities. Porcelain comes in various sizes and colors, including popular large-format tiles or slabs that reduce the number of seams and grout lines for a consistent, smooth surface. Porcelain is a popular material for interior and exterior applications, including kitchen countertops, backsplashes, bathroom vanities, accent walls, kitchen islands, shower walls, and more.
Porcelain tiles are nonporous, hygienic, and highly durable, with extremely low moisture absorption rates, scratch resistance, heat resistance, and UV resistance. While porcelain offers excellent performance, its appearance is also highly valued. This article will explore porcelain aesthetics, including popular styles and colors and various designs and finishes that add to its appeal.
While porcelain offers excellent performance, its appearance is also highly valued.
How does porcelain get its color?
Porcelain is a type of ceramic made of highly refined clay that is fired at high temperatures to create a hard, dense, and compact material. The color of porcelain is determined by the type of clay used and the pigments added to the clay mixture prior to curing it in a high-temperature oven. The finer clay particles and high heat processing make porcelain more water-resistant, compact, and durable than ceramic.
Porcelain comes in many colors and patterns, depending on the pigments, clays, and visual designs used during manufacturing. High-resolution designs allow manufacturers to create porcelain tiles that resemble natural stone, including marble. Porcelain comes in intricate colors and patterns, and its beauty is often enhanced by various finishes or glazes.
Top porcelain countertop colors, designs, and finishes
Porcelain tiles get their look from the colors, designs, patterns, and type of finish applied to the tile. Finishes include polished, matte, satin, and others. A polished porcelain tile creates a glossy reflective surface, while satin creates a soft, smooth surface with less luster, and matte finishes offer a smooth but subtle texture. You can also find natural and unfinished tiles, as well as tiles with added grit for better traction and slip resistance for flooring applications.
Let’s take a look at some popular porcelain colors and styles.
Top porcelain countertop colors, designs, and finishes
Marble-Look Porcelain Tile
Porcelain countertops can be made to look like marble, which is a popular option for those who want the luxurious look of marble without the high cost and maintenance. Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario, and Pietra marble have inspired many porcelain tiles.
Marble-inspired porcelain features veining and colors resembling natural water, including white, cream, or gray backgrounds with various colors throughout. It’s important to know that while the color will be uniform throughout the tile’s thickness, the veining may not be, so if you chip or crack the porcelain, you may not see the veining underneath the surface layer. New through-vein technologies allow manufacturers to run the veins throughout the entire thickness of the slab, creating a more authentic look. Check with the manufacturer or your tile supplier to determine if the porcelain tile has veining throughout if this factor is important to you.
White Porcelain Tile
White porcelain countertops are a classic and timeless option that can complement any kitchen design. Some popular white porcelain countertops, including Bianco Carrara, Bianco Venatino, and Thassos, mimic white marble. These colors usually range from pure white to more creamy off-white hues with various short, line, thick, or thin veins running across the surface.
Calacatta Gold features perfectly balanced veins of rich gold and cool gray sweep across a polished white base, creating a refined, alluring, and classic aesthetic.
Calacatta Extreme
CALACATTA EXTREME from TERACANTO, LX Hausys
Calacatta Extreme includes gold and gray veining in generous thick lines across a polished white background, adding a sense of movement and drama for statement-making designs.
Statuario Bianco
STATUARIO BIANCO from TERACANTO, LX Hausys
Taking inspiration from the rare and highly coveted Statuario marble, Statuario Bianco offers quintessential and timeless elegance. Its subtle gray veining strikes the perfect note against the polished white background.
Wood-Like Porcelain Countertops
Porcelain countertops can also be made to look like wood, which is a popular option for those who want the warmth and natural beauty of wood without the high maintenance. Wood-inspired porcelain is a popular flooring option but can also make a stunning statement as a countertop.
Like the many species of trees, wood-inspired porcelain comes in a variety of styles and colors, featuring a variety of wood grains. Some popular wood-look porcelain countertop colors include Oak, Cherry, and Maple, ranging from light to dark.
Oak Wood Porcelain Tile
Oak Wood Porcelain Tile
Like marble, oak-inspired porcelain tiles bring timeless elegance to interiors and exteriors. Oak patterns can range from light to dark with various wood grains that can blend with just about any style, including rustic, natural, vintage, modern, and Scandinavian-inspired designs.
Black & Dark Gray Porcelain
If you want to add some drama or create bold contrast, black and dark gray porcelains can bring your design to a whole new level, adding visual interest, depth, and sophistication to your countertops. Black and gray porcelains often feature lighter gray or white veins that perfectly complement the darker surface.
Black & Dark Gray Porcelain
Versatile Porcelain Designs
We covered just a few of the many porcelain designs and colors available. However, that’s not where the design possibilities end with porcelain. Porcelain tiles come in a variety of sizes and shapes, including planks, tiles, and large format tiles. Porcelain gives you the opportunity to mix different color tiles into impressive styles, including chevron patterns.
However, if you want a more cohesive look, with fewer grout lines or a countertop that looks like marble, you’ll want large-format tiles, like those available from LX Hausys’ new TERACANTOporcelain.
Contact Us
If you’re considering porcelain tiles for your next design project, let’s talk. The experts at LX Hausys are glad to help you find the best countertop material for your interior or exterior projects. Use our contact formto get in touch with our team, and someone will reply promptly
