Worktops are often key to making your kitchen stand out, but designers and manufacturers have been talking about the importance of practicality in this months Kitchen Bath Design News. Bonnie Hufnagel of kitchen company Ulrich said form follows function when designing counters and different homeowners have different needs in the kitchen. A large family with busy parents will have different requirements from kitchen surfaces than a retired people who frequently go out for dinner, she said. Current design trends include islands and worktops with customised worktops made from genuine fossil stone, according to the article. Douglas Miller of New York-based Fossil Interior commented on the inclusion of kitchen sinks and taps when finding the ideal piece of ancient stone. Since the fossils are naturally occurring in the stone, we need to find slabs that contain fossils in locations that enhance the shape of the countertop or island and avoid the sink cutouts and faucetry, he explained. This months issue has another article with a natural theme, on how kitchens can be built using sustainable materials.