Caesarstone’s 5820 Darcrest surface transforms Lauren Murdoch-Smith’s kitchen island into a bold centrepiece that effortlessly blends moody elegance with family-proof durability.
When beauty and wellness journalist Lauren Murdoch-Smith and her husband Ben began designing their dream kitchen for their self-build home in Hertfordshire, they had one goal: create a central hub that could support the rhythm of daily family life while also feeling considered and design-forward. At the heart of the space is a striking kitchen island clad in Caesarstone’s 5820 Darcrest - a dramatic design with a black base that instantly set the tone for the entire room.
With three young children, the kitchen needed to be practical and robust, but it also had to reflect Lauren’s personal style. “I always wanted a big kitchen island,” she says. “A place where the children could draw or do homework while I prepare food, but with enough space that we’re not in each other’s way.” Waterfall edges were key to the design from the outset, creating a seamless, sculptural silhouette that grounds the room and elevates the everyday.
The couple considered a wide range of surfaces, including marble and granite, but nothing felt quite right. “We looked at so many options but the colours never landed, and each material seemed to come with its own set of disadvantages,” says Lauren. It wasn’t until their visit to Caesarstone’s London showroom that everything clicked.
The London showroom offers an immersive space to explore full-size slabs and receive tailored guidance from the in-house team. Lauren and Ben arrived unsure of what they were looking for, but the process soon became clear. The Caesarstone team laid out the design materials already confirmed for the kitchen and compared them against various Caesarstone surfaces to find the right one. Being able to see the components together in person helped bring their vision to life. “As the house is quite masculine in its design, I never thought a darker worktop would be in the running,” Lauren says. “But as soon as we saw everything all together, we were certain of our choice. Our kitchen design is simple, so a dark worktop for the island just worked."
Designed by Caesarstone’s in-house team, Darcrest reflects a growing appetite for darker, moodier surfaces in kitchen design. Enhanced by a honed finish, it features a dark, earthy base with small spots and sediments, veiled by organic ochres and brownish greens reminiscent of erosion on a rocky hillside. It brings a grounding, tactile quality to the kitchen, offering a unique alternative to classic light-coloured stone.
Mor Krisher, Head of Design at Caesarstone, explains: “Dark colours are bold and dramatic. They can have within them so many different nuances, tones and tactilities that give them different character. They can be basic or sophisticated, daring or elegant, industrial or classic, traditional or modern. We look for inspiration everywhere and in order to design a series of products that truly captured the trend for dark interiors and kitchens, we turned our attention to the outside world, to the desert landscapes where natural stones are scorched by day and frozen by night, weathered by this endless cycle to produce the most wonderful patinas and textures.”
Dark surfaces like Darcrest add depth to a space, acting as a bold contrast to lighter materials. In Lauren’s kitchen, the surface is paired with stainless steel appliances, soft putty-toned cabinetry, and raw textures like wood and concrete, striking the perfect balance between sleek and lived-in.
While the layout came together smoothly - the advantage of building from scratch - installing the worktop was no small feat. “Our kitchen is on the middle floor of a three-storey house, so it took several people to carry the surface up the stairs, but it was completely worth it,” Lauren says. The Caesarstone team worked closely with their chosen fabricators, even using offcuts to create a bespoke chopping board and lining a hidden drinks cabinet for a cohesive look throughout.
The result is a kitchen that’s not only beautiful but built to last. “We couldn’t be happier. The durability of Caesarstone is incredible - it stands up to everything daily life throws at it. And the island is such a talking point, everyone comments on how unique it is,” Lauren says.
This peace of mind is underpinned by Caesarstone’s Lifetime Warranty, offering long-term reassurance that the surface will perform as beautifully as it looks, year after year. Knowing it’s backed for life adds an extra level of confidence, especially in a high-traffic family kitchen where wear and tear is part of the everyday.
Are you planning a kitchen renovation and feeling drawn to the dark side? Explore our collection to find the perfect surface to suit your style, and order a sample to experience Caesarstone’s quality first-hand. You can also use our Online Visualiser to see exactly how a dark surface could transform your kitchen.
Photography by Kacper Braun
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