When it comes to renovating a kitchen, few decisions carry as much visual and tactile weight as the choice of worktop. New findings from the 2025 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study reveal a clear priority: the look and feel of a worktop now top the list of influences among homeowners when choosing their new surface.
In fact, 65% of the homeowners that were surveyed placed the aesthetic appeal and tactile experience above all else, including durability, ease of cleaning and even cost.
Worktops as design anchors
The modern kitchen has evolved from a strictly functional space into the familial and social heart of the home – it’s a place for creating wonderful recipes, entertaining friends and expressing your personality. As such, worktops aren’t selected solely for their performance but, instead, they’re chosen for their aesthetics and the emotional response they evoke.
A cool, silky polished finish, a richly veined mineral surface or the subtle texture of a matte design can completely transform the tone of a kitchen. Homeowners want surfaces that feel luxurious underhand, complement their cabinetry and reflect their personal style. Whether paired with contemporary minimalism, bold colour contrasts or timeless traditional design, the worktop is where many homeowners start planning their kitchen renovation.
4043 Primordia used, above, as a worktop with a waterfall edge in Seabreeze, a new Grand Designs home in Camber Sands. An important part of the design was that the inside and outside worked harmoniously together; this was partly achieved by using Primordia to create synergy between the two spaces.
“Primordia really stood out to us,” explains Mitchell Burton, Owner and Founder of Portrait Kitchens. “Nothing else in the market has the same look, feel or quality. The grey base colour, flecked and veined with rusty reds and light yellows all reflect the stones and sand of the beach outside the home, bringing these natural elements into the space. Primordia is such a tactile surface and works in all of the various areas of the space we needed to use it - kitchen worktops, kitchen backsplash, cladding under the fire and tv unit, and the windowsill.”
Durability and ease of cleaning still matter
While look and feel take precedence, that doesn’t mean performance is left behind. Durability was the second most important factor in the Houzz study, with 44% of homeowners prioritising it, and ease of cleaning followed closely behind at 38%.
Caesarstone worktops are engineered to meet these demands without compromising on style. Our surfaces are exceptionally resistant to stains, scratches and heat, making them ideal for daily use. They’re also fantastically easy to clean and only need minimal maintenance to keep them looking their best, and come with a lifetime warranty for complete peace of mind
A heritage of design innovation
What sets Caesarstone apart is our unique approach to surface design. Every slab is more than a worktop, it’s the result of decades of craftsmanship, innovation and design evolution. With deep roots in material science and a relentless pursuit of design perfection, we’ve led the way in premium surfaces that meet both form and function since 1987.
Each Caesarstone design is inspired by natural landscapes, timeless architecture and global design trends. From the soft elegance of off-white marbles to the industrial edge of concrete-inspired textures, our collection allows homeowners to create a space that is completely personal to them.
A timeless choice in a trend-driven world
According to the Houzz study, engineered quartz remains the top choice for worktops (42%), more so than wood or laminate which both scored 14%. This suggests that homeowners want quality surfaces that offer not just an aesthetic but performance and longevity too. With Caesarstone, you're not just choosing a worktop — you're making a design statement backed by decades of expertise and a commitment to quality.
5110 Alpine Mist, a new ICON surface
This knowhow and excellence extends to all our worktops, not just our quartz line. Our new range, ICON, is made from ~80% recycled materials to the highest fabrication standards, using the latest patent-pending technologies. This means ICON yields superb results both in test labs and your kitchen, giving it exceptional longevity and low maintenance. Our mineral and porcelain surfaces are both also fantastically easy to maintain, highly durable and come in a range of stunning designs.
If you’re planning your new kitchen, take a look at our collection of quartz, mineral and porcelain worktops, order a free sample or visit one of our studios to find your perfect worktop.
