Sintered stone: A new case goods trend?

At least three case goods manufacturers will place a big emphasis at the upcoming High Point Market on sintered stone, a newer material in the furniture realm.

Resembling quartz and marble, sintered stone is a synthetic material with the texture of natural stone but without the porous surface. It’s resistant to scratches, stains, water, heat and UV light, as well as being durable, strong and easy to clean. It’s typically used in countertops, flooring and in wall cladding, but it’s beginning to see traction in furniture – primarily in the form of tops for dining and coffee tables.

Suppliers across the price spectrum are reporting success with the material. Promotional to mid-priced supplier Coaster will introduce three new dining collections this fall, all of which are made of sintered stone.

“For one thing, we are seeing consumers gravitate towards sustainable manufacturing,” said Christie Siu, Coaster’s product manager. “Materials such as engineered stone or quartz typically use resins or other chemicals to bind materials together. Made of plastic and crude oil, such chemicals are harmful to the environment and unappealing to eco-conscious consumers. Sintered stone doesn’t use any of these chemical binders, and with its 100% mineral composition, it’s also recyclable.”

One of the new collections – Acadia – features a table with a 12-millimeter sintered stone tabletop resembling white marble. The top is supported by a circular base with reeded details and a poplar wood veneer.

Higher-end home office specialist Eureka Ergonomic entered the dining category last Las Vegas Market, and sintered stone had a strong showing, the company said.

“Our main focus is to expand into new categories,” Vice President of Sales Josh Carter told Furniture Today. “We’ll have living and dining expansions this fall after introducing them last Vegas. Dining is getting a big push. It all got a strong reception in Vegas, particularly our items in sintered stone. We will build those up in October.”

One of the highlights is an expandable dining table with a top crafted from sintered stone and tempered glass. The piece seats eight when extended and sells for around $3,299. The company also offers coffee and end tables made from the material.

Finally, high-end domestic manufacturer Copeland Furniture‘s main push will be to expand its successful Butterfly dining collection. It’ll add three round tabletop sizes, with two being available in sintered stone, which it called “a durable and sophisticated alternative to wood and glass tops.” Sintered stone tops are also new for Market for the company’s better-selling Entwine, Lisse and Exeter collections.

See also:

• Low-risk, high-end items that excite at retail: Eureka Ergonomics talks new strategy
• Copeland heads to High Point with new geometric solid walnut dining line