With summer now fully upon us, it is the busy season for home remodeling contractors. And this year, we’re seeing a new trend in terms of color design: earth tones. The fantastic thing is that you can freshen up your own kitchen and countertops with a new earth tone color scheme. You don’t have to fully remodel.
Earth tones can work very well with a variety of different countertops. Believe it or not, they work extremely well with both granite and marble. Don’t shy away from earth tones if you otherwise appreciate what they look like. At least consider them in a kitchen with a marble or granite countertop.
Modern Farmhouse Is Fading
The rise of the earth tone color scheme is a direct result of the modern farmhouse style beginning to fade. Modern farmhouse as a style has been a mainstay of American home decorating for more than a decade. But like so many other design and style trends, nothing lasts forever.
Modern farmhouse involves a lot of white. Homeowners are now deciding they want splashes of color. Nothing too bright, mind you, but color, nonetheless. So earth tones have emerged as a trend for the summer of 2024.
Earth Tones and Granite
Granite countertops are known for their rich, earthy shades. A typical slab of granite offers a brown, gray, or similar color scheme. Beige and tan are pretty common too. Granite countertops are especially breathtaking when veining and speckles create depth.
Normally, people don’t think that granite works well with earth tones because of the variations in color. But really, the key is finding the right earth tones in the right shades. Earth tones on the walls and cabinetry can really make a granite countertop come alive. Some of them more popular types of granite for an earth tone color scheme include:
Right now, sage green and terracotta are attractive to earth tone lovers. A sage green would look good with most granite countertops.
Earth Tones and Marble
Quartz and quartzite tend to have a lighter base color, similar to marble. Various shades of white and cream are pretty typical. As a result, veining patterns tend to look more bold in these materials. The best veining colors for matching with an earth tone scheme are browns, golds, and grays. The right base color and veining create a uniquely organic look.
This is the type of look you want to complement an earth tone color guide. Some of the quartz and quartzite options that immediately come to mind are Crema Marfil, Emperador, Calacatta Gold, and Breccia Oniciata.
Quartz and quartzite countertops can look completely different when enhanced by earth tone backsplashes and cabinets. Imagine a terracotta backsplash against a creamy quartz countertop with gold and brown veining.
Warming Up Cooler Tones
At this point, you might be wondering what it is about earth tones that work so well with marble and granite. We like to think of it as warming up cooler tones. Think about it. Stone countertops – particularly granite and marble – tend to offer a cooler visual experience even with darker base colors.
Earth tones have a unique ability to warm up the visual coolness stone is known for. With earth tone complements, a marble or granite countertop can look a lot warmer and more appealing. On the other hand, too much white can make the same countertop look even cooler than normal.
If you are looking for a new design scheme in your kitchen, think earth tones. Don’t shy away from them just because you have granite, quartzite, or quartz as your countertops. Come on down to one of our Utah showrooms and select your custom countertop in person.
