Long the leading manufacturer and distributor of surface materials for residential and commercial interiors, Cosentino has broken the mold with its latest creation. Utilizing its innovative, trademarked Inlayr technology, the company has produced an entirely new category of mineral composites—one that’s soft to the touch but completely impervious to heat. For designers and architects specifying kitchens, pantries, home bars, bathrooms and more, the debut resets the standards for both aesthetics and performance. Safe, sustainable and visually stunning, Éclos transforms the sector.
“At the start of the development process, we had a long wish list of properties from our sales department,” says Valentin Tijeras, global vice president of product, R&D and quality at Cosentino. “It was like what a 10-year-old kid would ask for from Santa Claus; they wanted everything!” He expected that concessions would have to be made at some point—to quality, appearance or cost—but thanks to what he describes as a winning combination of hard work, smarts, curiosity and humility, the product team prevailed, checking off every box. “We had a lot of humbleness, recognizing all we didn’t know, then finding experts to help us,” he says. Along the way, each component, from the raw materials to the energy sources and the chemical equations, underwent fundamental changes. “None of the existing technologies could achieve our goals, so everything had to be invented almost from scratch.”
DURABLE AND DIMENSIONAL
Éclos is the result of 28,000 hours of research, conducted in part by 50 specialists in fields such as inks, coatings, engineering and assembly. Once the prototype was finalized, it was put through its paces—its viability for high-heat applications in high-traffic indoor spaces verified via an additional 1,500 hours of product testing. “We took the best characteristics of porcelain tile and engineered stone and put them together to create something completely different,” says Tijeras. “It was a long road, but rewarding at the end.”
Knowing that durability was only half of the appeal of a product introduction, Cosentino focused equally on Éclos’s appearance—making it part and parcel of its materiality. Elevating decoration techniques with advanced robotics, the company imbues the resin with unparalleled dimensionality. Through its exclusive Inlayr technology, the design is thoroughly integrated, with distinctive veining visible not just on the surface but through the core of the material—no more monotone edges. “It has such a unique presence,” says Richard Anuszkiewicz, founder and principal of Nashville-based Raith Design, an early adopter of the material who traveled to Cosentino’s comprehensive manufacturing facilities in Almería, Spain, to observe the technology in person. “Instead of a flat graphic on top of the slab, we see a fully embodied design. Even when you cut the stone, the colors transcend all the way through.”
To debut the material, Cosentino curated a concise offering of six colorways, anticipating the movement toward classic yet warmer tones. “Earthy neutrals are very relevant right now,” Anuszkiewicz notes of the palettes. “The colors feel authentic and welcoming.” A change from the cool whites and millennial grays of years past, the rich creams and browns—some with green undertones—are all hues found in nature. Coupled with the texture and finish of the material, the high-resolution appearance and the depth of the patterning complement natural substances like wood and tile. “Éclos has the look and feel of real stone,” says Tijeras.
MEETS THE HEAT
Composed of at minimum 50 percent recycled glass—up to 88 percent in some colorways—but completely free of crystalline silica, Éclos is manufactured safely and sustainably: two important attributes for many of today’s homeowners. Its unique configuration delivers increased flexibility, ductility and impact resistance, characteristics that make Éclos easy to handle from the outset. “For designers, contractors and builders, who are always mindful of the challenges of installation and integrating a new surface into the overall environment, that’s a huge win,” says Anuszkiewicz.
Once it’s in place as a kitchen countertop or island, let the stir-fries, cassoulets and cupcakes commence. Capable of withstanding temperatures up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius), Éclos’s superior heat resistance means it can manage direct contact with scalding cookware straight out of the oven or off the stovetop. In a bathroom, bring on the flat irons. There’s zero risk of burn marks, melting, indentation, yellowing or other discoloration. “You can put a hot tray on top of the material and it’s not going to be affected,” says Tijeras. “No chipping, no cracks, no thermal shocks.”
That durability gives designers and their clients incredible peace of mind, assured that their investment is ready for action from day one and will last long after. “You don’t have to be concerned about the delicacy of it,” says Anuszkiewicz. “Éclos is highly resilient while feeling soft to the touch, which makes it so warm and inviting within a kitchen or bathroom.”
Considering that, according to the company’s research, the global countertop market is predicted to grow at a rate of 3 percent annually up to 2028, with the United States representing the largest slice of that pie, Éclos arrives right on time to meet the increasing demand. It joins Cosentino’s existing ecosystem of surface materials, including Dekton, Sensa and Silestone, to offer designers and their clients a range of styles and prices. “We see Éclos as a complement,” says Tijeras. “Whether they like to cook or they intend for the surface to be at the center of lots of different family activities, customers can be confident that Éclos will look and perform beautifully for many years to come.”
This story is a paid promotion and was created in partnership with Cosentino.
Homepage image: Inspired by Taj Mahal quartzite, the Tajnar colorway of Éclos features feathery veining across a a welcoming beige base | Courtesy of Cosentino
