Home Kitchen Trends for 2011: Wood vs. Stone Trends change every year but the kinds of materials rarely do. Wood and stone are two of nature’s biggest exports. We use them in nearly everything we do and they’re the perfect materials for just about every style. But which is going to be the trend setter for 2011: Wooden Finishes – Dark finishes: reddish-brown, dark and natural, looking maple finishes are going to be the in thing for cabinets. Natural looking solid woods are becoming very popular again and experts believe the trend is a reflection of the movement from traditional styles to a transitional type – a kind of fusion between contemporary and traditional kitchens. Bamboo flooring: Twenty years ago you’d expect a kitchen renovation to consist of carpet and linoleum. Then, ten years ago it was laminate flooring. The most recent style focused on stone tiles above wood or carpet. It brought a natural feel but remained contemporary. However, the trend is changing again – now with a focus on real wood flooring. Eco friendly materials are key in 2011 so bamboo flooring is a must have for any trend setter with an eco-conscience. Stone Finishes – Granite: Absolute Black and Impala Black are the most popular countertop surface choice and will most likely remain so during 2011. It is hard wearing, hygienic and beautiful – the perfect combination for a new kitchen. Quartz: Granite and marble can be a little too fussy for most home owners. They require a lot of attention to keep them looking clean and shiny. Quartz offers the perfect alternative – it is low maintenance but still looks great. It is now so popular that 85 per cent of National Kitchen and Bath Association designers are incorporating Quartz into their designs. In the battle between wood and stone there is no definite winner, in fact the winner is the two combined. This year’s top trends, and hopefully a trend for years to come, are the mixture of high quality eco-friendly solid woods and high quality stones like quartz and granite. You may not find these in every showroom or catalogue so it might be a good idea to get online and try out SN Collections interactive kitchen tools. Author: SN Collection is a UK based kitchens company selling top of the range contemporary and country kitchens, as well as a fantastic range of storage solutions. If you’re interested in purchasing quality wooden worktops visit SN Collection’s website.