Let’s Get Moving: Working with Movement in Cambria Design

Instead of letting other elements in the space defer to the island, Marlowe added more bold elements, like blue-hued cabinetry, gold hardware, and fixtures, a contrasting wood island inlet accented by Burled Co., striped stool cushions, and black window trim. The effect wows.

“To add continuity to the home, I have repeated the bold black and white theme of our Bentley island in almost every other room of our house. Black and white rugs, art, and wallpaper help the statement-making kitchen island feel so natural and consistent,” said Marlowe.

When working with designs that have bold movement, like Bentley, remember to have a conversation with your designer and fabricator early on in the process to discuss your goals in terms of flow, seams, and final layout. Let your fabricator guide you toward achieving the desired end result and be prepared with sets of drawings or other visuals to help focus the conversation.

“Your fabricator should always tell you both what you can and what you cannot do with slabs that you’ve selected, especially those with bold and busy designs,” said Tchorz. “They are not easy to work with but are incredibly beautiful when done right.”

A Bold Kitchen Island Featuring Clairidge™

Another statement kitchen by Kyla Herbes of House of Hipsters, fabricated by MGT Stone Inc., features two Cambria designs with movement: Clairidge and Ironsbridge™.

Clairidge’s graceful striations of tan, walnut-brown, cream, black, and gray flow in parallel layers with dark veins that cut across the grain on the space’s waterfall island with a wood inlay—made to mimic the look and feel of brass—while the blend of liquid honey accents beautifully merge the warm and cool tones in Ironsbridge, which sits pretty on the perimeter countertops.

Herbes relied on digital renderings to visualize the pairing in the space in advance of the final installation.

“In the early 2000s, when customers wanted to see how their counters would look once their slab was cut into separate pieces, they had to take the time to travel to our facility to lay wooden templates onto each separate slab and move them around until they felt like it worked, or tape out—with the ‘blue tape’ that everyone is so familiar with—the layout of their kitchen counters to get an idea of which parts of the slab they want to use for kitchen perimeter and which for the island,” said Tchorz.

“But were they really able to fully visualize how their counters would look like in the actual kitchen, especially how the movement would look? Or if the vein will perfectly match on the seam? The answer is very simple: No.”

Now, thanks to advancements in technology and digital computer software programs like Slabsmith, we can take a look at the proposed layout before the stone is cut to ensure a perfect match.

At Faithful Countertops, Tchorz and his team do layouts in 2D with seam placement included. 3D versions are created for custom residential jobs, such as kitchen islands with stone waterfalls, full-height backsplashes, bookmatched fireplaces, and shower walls, as well as in commercial work with lobby entrances, front desks, and staircases.

See work by Faithful Countertops on Instagram.

A Glam Brittanicca Gold Warm™ Kitchen

Vanessa DeLeon of Vanessa DeLeon Associates curated her own Edgewater, NJ, kitchen with matte black cabinetry, including a matching True Residential refrigerator with contrasting copper hardware and corner details.

The matte black Brizo faucet and pot filler add a modern aesthetic against the massive island and backsplash in striking Brittanicca Gold Warm, with warm earth tones against a temperate white background, to complete the unique look.

Statement-Making Tabletops

At Tac/Quila restaurant in Palm Springs, striking marble-like Annicca™ dining tabletops feature a neutral white background and gray veining with gold and purple flecks throughout.

Pren Featuring Brittanicca Gold Warm

In the debut Room & Board | Cambria’s furniture collection Pren, the versatile series of dining and conference tables, desks, coffee tables, console tables, and storage and bar cabinets are all finished with Cambria quartz surfaces in stunning designs.

Each intricately detailed piece is available with a solid Midwestern walnut or Appalachian white oak wood base, sustainably sourced within the US where selective harvesting allows surrounding trees to flourish, and with 1cm quartz tops finished with modern rounded corners to mirror the form of each design. The movement ensures your piece will be one-of-a-kind.