Caesarstone think outside (or inside) the bench top in Milan

Last night, I went to a beautiful Caesarstone event in Milan as part of the international furniture fair Salone del Mobile. The crowning glory of the installation was a 19-metre long, super sleek and modern ‘island’ for cooking and food prep, looking striking in the middle of one of the historic Palazzo Clerici’s ornate old rooms, with a lemon tree springing from its centre.

Two further islands, also made of various Caesarstone surfaces, comprised a table tennis table and a stunning bath with built-in record turntable!

Islands is a collaboration with London-based Raw Edges designers Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay. In their eight years, the young duo have designed for Cappellini, Established & Sons, Moroso, Kvadrat, Stella McCartney, Arco, Mutina, Lema and more, and their many works have been showcased in museums and exhibited in expos in Milan, London, Paris and New York.

The main idea was to look at the Caesarstone product differently; beyond simply a surface that you put things on top of. The main island had cut-outs for sinks, dishes, chopping boards and much more, showing just what’s possible. The only limit is your imagination!

Caesarstone Australia marketing manager Andrew Dixon explains the idea is to really inspire people to think outside the box, and while it’s unlikely many customers will go as far as putting a turntable in their bathroom, the many possibilities available to customise the flexible and super strong product are not fantasy.

“We’d like people to think ‘do I really need all these cupboards?’ for example. Caesarstone is so user-friendly and so much more than just a bench top. I personally love the idea of creating a raised appliances station on top of the bench top where you keep appliances out, but out of the way of the main preparation surface,” Andrew says.

“Innovation is really important to us and we like to provide the customer with direct inspiration.”

Two exciting new products should hit the market around June/July: Sleek Concrete and the marble-inspired Calacatta Nuvo (I’ve seen it and it’s great).