40 Luxe Kitchens With Gorgeous Waterfall Countertops
From the Property Brothers to Architectural Digest spreads, you've definitely spotted the biggest trend in home kitchen design — the stunning waterfall countertop. Most often seen in luxurious marble and quartz, waterfall countertops can be built out in any material and fitted to your personal style and home décor style, says Marble Renovation. Unlike a standard countertop, the cascading waterfall style has no visible seam, which is visually pleasing and makes cleaning a breeze since there's no space for crumbs and spills to sneak into.
We've put together 40 of the best waterfall countertops to inspire you to build or redo your kitchen with this cover story-worthy design trend. Whether your style is French country chic, ultra-modern, or rustic farmhouse, waterfall islands are a gorgeous addition to the kitchen. Butcher's block, wooden slabs, marble, and even concrete can make stunning cascading countertops, and we'll also provide plenty of ways to make your kitchen island pop.
1. Luxe and rustic
Classic white and gray marble gets a rustic edge with dark walnut cabinetry and modern leather barstools. Perfect for a luxe cabin or warm modern home.
2. Midcentury chic
Instead of going for the ultra high-end and classic marble, choosing a quartz material paired with rich wood cabinets is perfect for midcentury modern lovers.
3. Tried and true
If you want a classic kitchen style with a ton of resell value, going with a white and gray streaked marble waterfall countertop paired with white cabinets is a solid choice.
4. Peachy keen
Influencers like Elsie Larson from A Beautiful Mess have made the white-washed, rose-hued ash wood look a distinct aesthetic all on its own. Using an off-white marble countertop makes the kitchen feel warm and playful, like the design seen here.
5. Modern luxury living
Stainless steel appliances look sleek against robust wood cabinets and the timeless white and gray marble countertop — ideal for modern luxury.
6. Choose unexpected marble
If you find yourself drawn to the glossy finish of marble but find the distinct gray stripes to be a tad predictable, consider choosing a different slab style. This matte-washed countertop gives the space a subdued but serene vibe.
7. Mix in unstained wood finishes
Relying too much on white against your marble waterfall countertops can cause the kitchen to feel sterile and uninviting. Having unpainted countertops or barstools helps to make the space a bit warmer.
8. Sage green with envy
Brass knobs and pale green sage paint make this angular waterfall countertop feel distinctly modern and luxurious. Great for those who want a little color but still a neutral kitchen.
9. Get glossy with it
Glossy cabinets in a cool, muted blue help the marble in the kitchen to really pop out. We are also a huge fan of extending the marble into the backsplash and kitchen wall for a seamless waterfall effect.
10. Industrial edge
Using a slate gray but glossy waterfall countertop is a great choice because it can be made to look ultra modern with chrome finishes or given a rustic twist with some rich wood and leather accents.
11. Make the countertop of your dreams
Even if you haven't found your dream marble slab, or you have and it's just not in the budget, you can still create a stunning waterfall countertop with a faux marbling paint kit. This will allow you to customize the streaking and color choices in the countertop.
12. Embrace quartz
Marble is definitely the go-to for many home renovators and builders, but it's not always the safest choice, especially if you have spill-prone loved ones, given its porous nature. On the other hand, quartz is ultra-durable, easy to clean, and just as sleek.
13. Choose an asymmetric design
If you want a more architectural edge for your kitchen design, choose an asymmetric countertop design. Making one side thicker and the other extremely thin is visually appealing, as it plays with the stone in interesting ways, making one side feel weightless.
14. Concentrate warmth
Super warm tones of wood with visible grain look beautiful underneath a glossy white marble waterfall island and make the space feel less cold.
15. Paint your cabinets in a contrasting color
Mixing marble, natural wood finish, and a modern but sophisticated paint color is a winning combination that will make your kitchen look magazine-worthy.
16. Shiny and sleek
While matte, satin, and natural wood finishes are quickly becoming the norm, we can't help but love ultra-glossy walnut cabinets under a white quartz waterfall countertop.
17. Preppy chic
Making a kitchen that feels modern, glam, and cozy can be tricky. Gold and brass hardware are helpful accents that don't overpower the super clean and sleek finish of the countertops.
18. Flush the cabinets
Instead of placing your cabinets in the recess of the waterfall countertop, lay them flush against the edge for a unique, customized look.
19. Keep it simple
White, black, and wood tones are simple and sleek, combining modern, clean lines with rustic, warm details. We love the roundness of the teardrop lights that soften the kitchen area.
20. Go for retro
Super sleek red, white, and black kitchens used to be thought of as cutting-edge and ultra-modern but now almost have a fun, kitschy, and playful throwback vibe.
21. A tiny private island
While huge kitchen islands are popular in many suburban homes, you can still have your dream waterfall countertop in a small space. As long as two bar stools fit, you've got plenty of room.
22. Make it more than surface area
Adding a stovetop to your waterfall countertop is a great way to make it more than just storage and countertop area. You can also consider adding a sink if your island is where you want to be standing most often.
23. Play with your kitchen space
Make the waterfall island at dining table height for a unique countertop area. Then it can work as a prep area or intimate dining area for entertaining.
24. Coastal and clean
When your views speak for themselves, don't overpower them with bold, distracting kitchen designs. Instead, keep it simple and classy with white marble and black barstools.
25. White, gray, and blue
Looking for a clean, modern neutral but tired of all-white everything? Consider painting the cabinets around your waterfall island in an eggshell or satin pale gray.
26. Wood on wood on wood
Some white marble kitchens can feel a bit stark and bright, so warm yours up with plenty of wood tones. Walnut and teak are excellent choices for the kitchen.
27. Slate grey simplicity
Make a statement with flush cabinets and hardwareless doors. This is also a clever way to hide less than stylish appliances in your waterfall countertop, like the dishwasher or wine fridge.
28. Magnificent matte black
We love the dramatic edge of a black countertop, but the elegant fall of a waterfall tends to soften this somewhat bold and brash hue.
29. Use multiple materials
Your waterfall countertop does not need to be made of a single piece of wood or stone. Consider playing off a marble block with a wooden waterfall slab like the one seen here.
30. Melt into the floor
Building your waterfall countertop and floor out of the same material is a sumptuous treat for the eye and gives the illusion of the kitchen countertop and floor being carved out of a single slab of marble.
31. Go against the flow
There's no reason for the waterfall cascade to just fall over the side. For a contrasting profile view, have the waterfall curve extend over the front instead of the sides.
32. Play with levels
Using multiple materials and different levels adds a ton of visual interest to the kitchen, which can sometimes be a bit generic. This is a great way to show off some architectural interest.
33. Add open-shelving
By leaving cabinet doors off part of your island, you can have an additional display space for things like fine china, bouquets, and favorite pieces of kitchenware.
34. Try tone-on-tone
We are fans of high-contrast designs, but the newer trend of tone-on-tone is also a sophisticated way to create dimension in your kitchen. Try black-on-deep gray or cream-on-white for modern plays on color.
35. Good as gold
Even if a true waterfall slab isn't in the cards right now, consider lining your island with a metallic bar. It gives a pop of glamour and femininity to any kitchen space.
36. Classy concrete
Concrete is an affordable and gorgeous material that has only recently entered the kitchen sphere. But with proper food-grade sealant, concrete countertops are a fantastic addition to kitchens and an affordable way to get the waterfall slab of your dreams.
37. Don't close it off
Open shelving has become extremely popular for kitchen walls, so why not in your kitchen islands as well? Build doorless, recessed cabinets for practical storage or fun displays.
38. Forgo the white marble
Love marble but want something a little different for your countertops? Try out black with white milky way streaks for a dramatic and out-of-this-world vibe.
39. Plain but pretty
White-on-white kitchens are classic and timeless for a reason — it's stunning, clean, and can fit with nearly any design style.
40. Give it an industrial edge
Pair your white kitchen with galvanized metal barstools, stainless steel appliances, and clean lines for an industrial take on the waterfall countertop.