39. Inside Cosentino: How Stone Innovation Is Redefining Surfaces

<p>Most material decisions are still driven by aesthetics. But the real shift is happening in safety, performance, and sustainability, the layers a renovator or end user often doesn’t see, and rarely gets guided through. That’s the conversation missing across the broader industry.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with Erin Payne from Cosentino to explore how one of the world’s leading surface manufacturers is reshaping the future of architecture and interior design.</p><p><br></p><p>From engineered stone to zero silica innovation, this is not just a conversation about benchtops. It is a conversation about responsibility. How materials are evolving, how decisions are made, and what designers need to understand to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting industry.With over 20 years as an interior designer before moving into the supply side, Erin brings a perspective most conversations miss. She understands both the creative intent and the commercial reality, and where they often do not align.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, we also covered this:</p><p>• Why “all stone is the same” is one of the biggest misconceptions in design</p><p>• The real difference between engineered, natural, and ultra-compact surfaces</p><p>• Zero silica and why this shift matters globally, not just in Australia</p><p>• How performance is becoming as critical as aesthetics</p><p>• What true sustainability looks like at a manufacturing level</p><p>• The role designers play in educating clients and where it often breaks down</p><p>• Where surface design is heading next and what to pay attention to</p><p><br></p><p>If you enjoyed this episode, follow Behind the Design for more conversations unpacking the people, processes, and ideas shaping the design industry.</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Erin Payne and Cosentino</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/erin_payne_design/</p><p>https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-payne-a99783121/</p><p>https://www.cosentino.com/en-au</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Unfolded:</p><p>https://www.unfolded.com.au/</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_</p>