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Countertops By Kim Berndtson Creative countertop designs can add drama and inspiration, tie a space together, enhance functionality and act as a focal point for the kitchen. C ountertops can help set the tone for an entire space… whether it's modern/contemporary, traditional or somewhere in between. And when it comes to inspiration, material selection alone can provide nearly limitless opportunities with everything from natural stone, such as granite and marble, to solid surfaces to wood, glass and recycled materials changing up the look. Coupled with design elements such as waterfall edges, interesting angles, LED lighting, etc., no two countertops may ever look the same. This month, Kitchen & Bath Design News spoke with several designers whose kitchen projects can serve as inspiration for your next project. Photos: Douglas Hill Photography Designer: Troy Adams, principal, Troy Adams Design, Los Angeles, CA Materials used: Caviar Pyrolave glazed lava stone (tabletop); Pebble Caesarstone (island and perimeter) Desired look: Criteria for the high-rise condo in Hollywood was a black, white and gray theme: muted, soft materials in the gray tones with black and white for the more stark elements. Challenges: Space was at a premium. The 5' square raised peninsula table – which is anchored to the island – serves as the dining table for the entire unit, saving valuable foor space and eliminating the need for a second eating area. It also serves as a centerpiece for the space, positioned between the living room and kitchen. Achieving the look: "We wanted a jewel element, something with sparkle and character, with a bit of organic appeal," he says. "The lava stone is perfect as this centerpiece. It is also very durable and easy to maintain, with a stain- and scratch-resistant surface that will maintain its glossy fnish. "Combining the lava stone with the Caesarstone allows the lava stone to stand out. I refer to it as a piece of jewelry. If you wear the same piece of jewelry on each fnger and hand, nothing stands out. Adding the Caesarstone became a way to introduce another material, in a solid color, mixing it into the palette. It serves as a muted backdrop to make the lava stone pop for added drama. "Adding a waterfall efect to the sides as well as the back of the island (as it faces the living room) gives it a geometric form. We wanted it to look like a block of Caesarstone to anchor the lava stone." Most creative aspect: Material selection, as well as the ability to get the lava stone as one piece in a slab, adds a creative element to the space, according to Adams. "The lava stone gives us the ability to design with a porcelain type of fnish in a slab form," he says. August 2013 ForResidentialPros.com | 41