Thanks to advanced composition and manufacturing, the latest generation of quartz surfaces manage to replicate the beauty of natural materials with head-turning realism. And the effect is not just aesthetic – these surfaces feel like the real thing, too.

Caesarstone was one of the earliest pioneers of quartz and now its ‘Supernatural’ range, launched with just four colours – Emperadoro, Frosty Carrina, Dreamy Marfil and London Grey – just over two years ago, now counts six colours with five more to be released in July.

Calacatta Nuvo, in particular, has proved exceptionally successful. A faithful reproduction of Calacatta marble – right down to the tiniest of veins – it shows that where quartz was once considered a lesser choice, it now holds its own alongside the natural materials that inspired it. Gone are the days of quartz being associated with dense, dark coloured surfaces – often with metallic flecks. Today’s quartz palette is all about timeless, tasteful neutrals that will look as good in 10 years’ time as on the day they are fitted.

As David Beckett, Sales Director at Caesarstone, explains, quartz offers designers, specifiers and retailers flexibility and durability. “Quartz is associated with kitchen work surfaces but in reality it’s an exceptionally versatile material that can be used to clad walls, furniture and even for flooring. Skilled fabricators can mould it and it’s completely nonporous, which opens up many more specification options.

“There’s also none of the ongoing maintenance with quartz that you’d expect to be part of the package with natural materials. It’s very much a ‘fit and forget’ material – that works for everyone, from the fabricator to the consumer.”

South Manchester’s Simplicity Granite recently specified Caesarstone’s Calacatta Nuvo for a ‘modern-classic’ kitchen. The company’s Lee Jacob says: “The new generation of ‘marble like’ surfaces, such as Caesarstone’s Supernatural range, means that we can give customers the look and feel of marble with none of the drawbacks.

“The colours are very sophisticated. The cooler colours – Calacatta, London Grey and Frosty Carrina – work brilliantly with the pared down, modern, Shaker-style cabinetry that so many people favour, while the darker colours – Woodlands, Emperadoro and Piatra Grey – complement everything from classic schemes with lots of natural wood right through to industrially inspired schemes.

“Quartz is very flexible, so details such as upstands, splashbacks and drainer grooves are easy to achieve. Above all, our customers like the fact that it is so hard-wearing. A lot of people love the look of marble but lose their enthusiasm when they discover its limitations. With quartz, it doesn’t matter if the red wine gets spilled or if the kids are less than respectful. The fact that maintenance is nothing more than a spritz and a wipe is a bonus.”

The five new colours being added to the Supernatural collection this summer are being kept a secret until the launch, but it is the biggest release of new Supernatural colours since the range was debuted in 2013.

David Beckett: “One of the key reasons for the success of the Supernatural range is that both the quartz and the collection’s colours are completely in tune with the current design mood. From specifiers working on vast, thousand-home developments to the consumer selecting surfaces for their first apartment, the Supernatural colours just tick the right boxes. Post-recession, people aren’t interested in quick-fixes – they want quality, longevity and durability.

“We regularly supply retailers such as Martin Moore & Co with quartz for some of the country’s finest kitchens and bathrooms, but we also speak to fabricators who are cutting Supernatural surfaces for kitchens with IKEA cabinetry. At both ends of the market, the surfaces are prioritised – and it’s largely due to the impressive advances that brands such as Caesarstone have made.”

Lee Jacob concurs. “The latest generation of quartzes have never looked so good. Surfaces such as Calacatta Nuvo get people excited. They see swatches or examples of the surfaces in showrooms and decide they won’t settle for anything less. That only used to be the case for certain appliances but now surfaces are right up there, too. And when they look this impressive, it’s hardly surprising!”