Kitchen specialists have claimed that homeowners are placing a growing premium on countertops, as they demand both higher functionality and sharper style in their surfaces.In its recent Counter Effects product trend report, Kitchen and Bath Design News (KBDN) indicated that demand was growing for versatile countertop design and materials, reflecting the new importance of the kitchen as a multi-purpose area.Designers speaking to KBDN claimed that mix and match countertop materials, involving two contrasting materials like stone and wood, were coming into vogue, as people sought a distinctive style statement that also proved versatile.Maureen McGeehan, marketing manager of DuPont Surfaces, told the site With the kitchen continuing to earn recognition as the hub of the home, consumers today are looking for surfaces that multi-task, meaning that they are both gorgeous and easy to care for.Other countertop specialists explained that the choice of materials was not limited to stone and wood, with many other adventurous designs involving granite, quartz and even concrete. Sinks with slick and assertive design could fit in well with an adventurous countertop set-up, making Astracasts choice of stainless steel, composite, ceramic, sylex and teflite models well adapted to evolving trends in kitchen design.