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Building Stone magazine has put their finger on the pulse of some stone countertop designers to get a feel for the latests trends:

What's hot in stone counters?

New finishes. That's the observation of Joe Percoco of Percoco Marble and Tile Company. 'Clients are asking for something new, something different. We had been doing quite a bit of river-wash finish, but that has been replaced in popularity by a leather finish.'

To achieve a river-wash finish, stone is flamed or bush hammered and then polished with brushes to smooth the sharpness of the surface. The process takes out some color and makes the surface more porous. A leather finish can do the opposite. 'It begins with a honed surface that is then worked with diamond brushes; the process brings back the color and closes pores, making the stone denser. The result is similar to the finish achieved by using a 300 or 400 grid. It has a nice sheen and is less porous than a honed finish.'

In fact, Percoco said that more inconsistency in the stone betters the process. 'The process is successful on soapstone and certain limestone, too.'

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Labels: Countertop Material Options, granite counters, Stone Counters