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An Architect’s Guide for Renovators and Dream Home Creators
When it comes to renovating your kitchen or designing an extension, the benchtop is more than just a surface — it’s the design anchor of the entire space. It influences your cabinetry, lighting, wall colour, and even how you use the room.
At Mark MacInnis Architect, we’re seeing a shift in benchtop styles in 2025 that reflects broader lifestyle values: durability, sustainability, and beautiful simplicity. If you’re planning your dream home, here’s what’s trending now — and what’s worth considering for the long haul.
🧱 1. Engineered Stone: The Timeless Favourite
Still a staple in Australian kitchens, engineered stone (like Caesarstone or Smartstone) offers a balance of affordability, aesthetics, and practicality.
🔍 Why it works: Heat and scratch-resistant, wide colour options, and low maintenance.
🌿 Sustainability watch: Look for suppliers with low-silica options or recycled content.
🪨 2. Natural Stone: Luxury with Personality
Marble, granite, and quartzite are seeing a revival, particularly for statement benchtops or island surfaces.
✨ Why renovators love it: Each slab is unique, with veining and colour that add real presence.
⚠️ Architect tip: Natural stone requires sealing and can be more sensitive to stains.
🦠 3. Porcelain Slabs: The Quiet Powerhouse
Porcelain is making waves as a high-performance benchtop material. Brands like Dekton and Neolith offer ultra-thin slabs that are nearly indestructible.
💡 Best for: Busy families, outdoor kitchens, or minimalists chasing that sleek matte finish.
🔥 Pro feature: Heat-, UV-, stain-, and scratch-resistant.
🌾 4. Timber Benchtops: Warm, Natural, Inviting
A go-to choice for clients seeking texture and soul in their kitchens. Timber works beautifully in combination with stone or laminate to create distinct zones in spaces.
🌳 Best used as: Feature sections like breakfast bars or islands.
🧽 Care tips: Needs regular sealing and gentle use to avoid water damage.
🧪 5. Laminates (That Don’t Look Like Laminates)
Budget-friendly doesn’t mean boring anymore. Laminates have upped their game with textures that mimic stone, concrete, or timber with surprising realism.
💲 Great for: Rental properties, laundry areas, or budget-savvy renovators.
🛠️ Bonus: Easy to install and replace.
🎨 Colour and Edge Trends in 2025:
Warm whites, soft taupes, and mushroom greys are in — cooler whites are on the way out.
Waterfall edges are still popular for islands, but thinner, square-edged profiles are trending for modernist looks.
Two-tone benchtops are gaining ground — think a stone prep area paired with a timber dining bench.
💬 Final Word from Mark
Benchtops are more than just materials — they reflect how you want to live. Whether it’s sleek and modern or warm and handcrafted, your benchtop can help set the tone for your entire home.
👉 Ready to design your dream kitchen? Let’s talk about your renovation or extension today.