An Interview with Cosentino - Part 1

I was thrilled to be granted an interview with Juan Antonio Pardo of Cosentino.

Cosentino was one of our amazing sponsors for Modenus Blog Tour Milan.  Cosentino is the leading brand for Silestone, a non-porous quartz countertop surface.  We have used it in many projects, namely, this kitchen that will be featured in Better Homes and Gardens Kitchen and Bath Makeovers this fall.

Cosentino Eco Series Polar Cap Quartz (One of my favorite in the series).  It has a diamond sparkle that has a magical, radiant appearance!

Juan Antonio Pardo

1.      What is your position at Cosentino and how long have you worked for the company?  Where are you based?

I work as the Promotion & Loyalty Manager in the Marketing Dept. of Cosentino.

This great experience at Cosentino started more than 13 years ago and I’m based in our Spain Headquarters.

 2.      Can you tell me a little bit about the history of the Cosentino family?

In 1940, Eduarda and Eduardo Cosentino, parents of the current owners of Cosentino Group, began their activity of quarrying and the basic manufacturing of marbles in Macael (Almería). The Cosentino family experience in the marble industry led the second generation of the family to establish in 1979 Mármoles Cosentino S.A. But the Martínez-Cosentino brothers, Paco, Pepe and Eduardo, were aware that their activity could not be restricted to the extraction and processing of the "White Macael" marble and decided to pursue a strategy of diversification and international expansion, through research and innovation. Currently, Cosentino Group is a global third generation family-owned company that produces and distributes natural stone and high value innovative surfaces for architecture and design: SILESTONE (worldwide leading brand in quartz surfaces), ECO, SENSA, Prexury… and of course our latest innovation: DEKTON.

Silestone (Pulsar) image via Cosentino

Honestly, we’re all so excited about DEKTON. We’d like people to know that DEKTON is an innovative surface with an impressive performance and endless design possibilities. It’s the result of a very hard work on Research, Development & Innovation. It will actually make the vision of many architects and designers come true, and we consider that it will create a new path in the world of K&B countertops as well. DEKTON’s exclusive Sinterized Particles Technology represents a real technological and industrial leap, capable of generating a revolutionary material and a leading product, of course.

DEKTON images via Cosentino

Characteristics of DEKTON:

UV Resistance - DEKTON is highly resistant to ultra violet light and will not fade or time making it perfect for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Scratch Resistance - DEKTON is the most scratch resistant surface on the market.

Stain Resistance: While other surfaces are stain resistant, DEKTON is completely "stain proof".  Even the most stubborn stains like wine, coffee and even markers can easily be removed.  It is also chemical resistant, think bleach, drain cleaners or oven degreasers will not harm Dekton.

Heat Resistance: DEKTON withstands high temperatures without burning, scorching or cracking.  Hot pots and appliances like crock pots can be placed directly on the surface with no worry of damage.

Abrasion Resistance: DEKTON is even more resistant to abrasion than granite, making it an ideal surface for commercial applications and high traffic areas such as flooring.  While other surfaces show wear over time, Dekton's finish will last for the life of the product and never needs to be re-surfaced or re-finished.

Cold Resistance: DEKTON is resistant to ice and thawing makes it perfect for use in even the coldest environments.

3.  What do you think are the key differences in Kitchen and Bath design in Europe versus the United States?There would be many aspects to keep in mind when it comes to this question, but design wise, European kitchens are based on a more streamlined approach, aiming for a minimal look but also sophisticated at the same time. For instance, most of the European kitchens have frameless cabinets and handle-free design, which confers a more contemporary look to the whole concept. US kitchen models use framed, which have a face frame that is visible from the front view, while unframed cabinets are attached directly to the corner of the cabinets, not to the front frame. Most of US consumers prefer a traditional look in their kitchens. However, in some areas like East Coast and West Coast, people are embracing the European kitchen style. The open concept kitchen is more popular in the US. In Europe, most of the kitchens are in separate rooms. But a couple of years ago a new trend came up, by mixing both kitchen & living room modules and elements, in order to make the kitchen to be a part of the living room.After my visit to KBIS 2014 in Vegas, I noticed that a new style is emerging in the US as a result of mixing American and European design concepts: the transitional kitchen. Kitchens have a streamlined profile, generally made of wood rather than a contemporary material such as lacquer, with simple paneled doors and sleek hardware, classic and contemporary elements in the same kitchen model, neutral colors and matt but textured surfaces, natural materials mixed with industrial ones, etc.

Image via Thermador Kitchens

4. You are so polished and stylish.  Now, for the most mportant question - What is your favorite italian shoe brand - Ferragamo, Prada or Gucci?

Wow, that’s a good one. All these three brands are part of the Italian culture. When it comes to Gucci, the current Creative Director, Frida Giannini, is making Gucci go back to the roots of this company, by including original elements that were created in the initial designs, somehow bridging the past and present of the brand and balancing new fashion elements with Gucci’s heritage. Anyway, I really liked Tom Ford’s work while he was on board, since his approach to design was quite futuristic and sophisticated. Ferragamo specializes in shoes and accessories, while the other brands have a bigger range of clothes collection, etc. Salvatore Ferragamo invented the platform in women shoes, making them feel comfortable and look stunning. But personally, I like Prada a lot, since some of their designs are quite minimal, cool and iconic; you can everywhere see and recognize the Prada red stripe on their shoes. Miuccia Prada is able to utilize minimalist designs to achieve a traditional style with modern influence.

Thank you Juan Antonio!  - click HERE to see Juan Antonio included in my "Men of Italy" Blog!

As you can see Cosentino is an impressive and innovative company. We appreciate their sponsorship of Blog Tour Milan.  Stay tuned for another interview with Lorenzo Marquez, Marketing VP of  Cosentino North America.

Joann