This Countertop Material Is More Durable and Colorful Than the Boldest of Marbles

It’s available in any hue imaginable.
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blue kitchen island
Photo Courtesy of K&H Design

When designers started putting Calacatta Viola in their kitchens a few years back, we thought countertops had reached peak boldness. We were wrong. What’s more colorful, more eye-catching than purple marble, you ask? Lava stone. 

The natural material comes from—you guessed it—volcanoes, and its seemingly endless perks have been capturing the hearts of interior designers. After it’s quarried, the volcanic rock is glazed at extremely high temperatures, which makes it super-durable: It’s nonporous, so it doesn’t stain or scratch easily, and it won’t damage if you set a hot pan on top of it. But probably the biggest draw of all is that it comes in just about every color imaginable. We’ve spotted shades from lemon yellow and soft lilac to cobalt blue and cherry red. 

The only catch is, lava stone isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s more expensive than fancier slabs of marble, coming in around $250 to $300 per square foot. The expense stems from the cost of shipping. Most lava stone comes from France or Italy, specifically near Auvergne and Mount Etna. The most prominent companies manufacturing and selling lava stone right now are Pyrolave (in France); Danish brands Made a Mano and File Under Pop, both of which source from Sicily; and Ranieri Lava Stone, also in Italy. If you’ve got room in your budget for a splurge, we highly recommend going this route. 

Lava stone’s vivid hues and high-shine finish add instant personality to kitchens and bathrooms—especially ones where the cabinets and walls are white. Here are some of the most creative applications of lava stone countertops we’ve seen so far.  

A Gateway to the Rainbow

colorful kitchen
Photography by Laure Joliet; Styling by Mieke Ten Have; Design by Reath Design

Who says you need a cohesive color palette? Francis Merrill of Reath Design proves a funky lava stone countertop (this lilac one is from Pyrolave) automatically forces you to have fun. At least, that’s exactly what she did when she chose yellow Bruno Rey chairs, a red 1953 Chambers stove, and trim boasting Farrow & Ball’s Cook’s Blue.

A Statement Island 

blue island
Photography by Simon Brown; Design by K&H Design

“Most people now don’t really want their kitchens to look like kitchens,” Katie Glaister, the cofounder of K&H Design, says of her decision to go with the unexpected material for this London home’s kitchen island. The aqua is a much-welcome hit of color in a space where gray cabinets dominate.

A Monochromatic Scheme

Copenhagen’s Matrikula Studio matched all the lower cabinets in this space to the minty green lava stone counters, including the fluted trim that runs underneath the worktop. The surface came from Made a Mano, which already offers 64 different colors, but for this kitchen, the designers opted for a bespoke shade. 

A Perfect Partner for Brass

yellow cabinets and counters aroudn stove
Photo Courtesy of Københavns Møbelsnedkeri

Danish custom kitchen builder Københavns Møbelsnedkeri frequently utilizes Made a Mano’s lava stone products in its projects. In this kitchen, the designers chose a honey mustard hue for both the worktop and large-format backsplash tile that nearly matches the brass metal accents (peep the range hood) in the space. 

A Minimalist Take

gray kitchen cabinets with black counters
Photo Courtesy of Made a Mano

Not all lava stone countertops are out-of-this-world bold. In this room, which also features a Made a Mano slab, a glossy dark black surface makes the space feel cool and relaxed. Psst: Even the floor tile is lava stone. 

A Red Hot Bathroom

red bathroom vanity
Cowley Manor Experimental Photographed by Mr. Tripper; Interior Design by Dorothée Meilichzon

Dorothée Meilichzon went wild with lava stone from Pyrolave in the bathrooms at Cowley Manor Experimental. Each space stars a different hue, but this classic red might be our favorite. She didn’t stop there: The side tables and bar in the lobby are also made of lava stone, reminding us that kitchens and bathrooms are just the beginning for this trend.

Lydia Geisel Avatar

Lydia Geisel

Home Editor

Lydia Geisel has been on the editorial team at Domino since 2017. Today, she writes and edits home and renovation stories, including house tours, before and afters, and DIYs, and leads our design news coverage. She lives in New York City.