Are Waterfall Countertops a Fad?

Kitchen decisions have been high on the priority list this week with picking a kitchen cabinetry color and now choosing the perfect countertop. You may already know, but we are big fans of quartz. We love the look of natural stone, but for us and the season we are in our lives, quartz is just a better option. We have both quartz and marble in our current home, so we have hands-on experience with both.

So, we know we are going with quartz. We also know we are leaning towards a marble look, lighter in color with veining. We feel this will work well with the darker cabinetry color. The question we are contemplating now is should we go with waterfall countertops on our island?

What are Waterfall Countertops?

Waterfall countertops drop vertically down the sides instead of stopping abruptly at the edge of a cabinet or island. It makes one continuous flow to the flooring with the same material. Here is a beautiful example of a waterfall countertop on a kitchen island.

Are They Just a Fad?

Some say yes and others say no, but with design most things are a fad or trend and will eventually go out of style. This cycle is what keeps home improvement stores in business. We are always updating our paint colors and home decor to fit the era we live in. As much as we would love to think things are, there are very few things on the inside of a house that are timeless.

Waterfall countertops are considered more of a modern style. I do feel its more likely to not go out of style if it’s based on a good, clean design. It’s almost a dramatic way of displaying a beautiful countertop. So, be picky about the countertop material you are choosing.

Why We are Considering Waterfall Countertops?

In our house, we are going for a mix of modern clean design, combined with some rustic elements like the warmth and texture of wood. We think a waterfall countertop is a great way to bring the modern side into the kitchen.

On the backside of the island where the bar stools will be, we plan on cladding it with a lightly stained oak shiplap and legs much like this one by Grand Tradition Homes. As you can see, they have mastered the rustic/modern waterfall island. We have been able to get so much inspiration from them for our new kitchen.

A sleek countertop is also easier to clean than a custom millwork island end. A countertop will also withstand bumps and dings more so than regular millwork.

Needless to say, we are leaning heavily toward going the waterfall route. But we need to make up our minds very soon!

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