Should you use marble in the kitchen?

Should I use marble in the kitchen? It’s one of the most common questions for today’s kitchen design! Read all about the pros and cons of marble countertops as well as what it is like living with honed marble countertops in a household with kids.

Using marble in the kitchen and on the countertops- Maison de Pax

When we remodeled our kitchen almost a year and a half ago, I had plans to use a marble-look quartz. Instead, I chose a honed Carrara marble, and at least weekly I get questions from readers and followers about the marble: should you use marble in the kitchen? How is it holding up? Do you need to seal marble in the kitchen? How do you seal marble in the kitchen? What is it like living with marble and kids? So today I want to share with you why I chose marble over quartz and what it is like living with marble countertops in the kitchen – in short, an honest review of marble countertops.

Baking on marble countertops- Maison de Pax

Why I chose marble over quartz

I’m sure what everyone wants to know is would I choose marble again? The short answer is yes!  But here’s the full story…

I chose marble over quartz for two main reasons: the look and the price.

The beauty, warmth, and character of a natural stone gets me every time.

marble island, backsplash, and countertops in a gray and white kitchen- Maison de Pax

We began with this island that has a natural stone top (pretty sure it’s marble, but what kind exactly, I don’t know). My husband gave it to me for my birthday after we moved into this home, and I absolutely love it. I also knew that I wanted marble subway tile as a backsplash (for the full story on that, see here). So I started collecting marble-look quartz options…
And they all looked fake next to the real marble.

I tried, y’all, really. I brought home probably 20 different samples of quartz from various manufacturers, but they all either looked too pink or too yellow or – most of all – too uniform. They simply didn’t have the natural variety and irregularity of our real marbles. I’ve seen some incredible homes that use all quartz, and it almost looks like real marble, but as soon as I brought in the real stone island and backsplash (which were non-negotiables for me), it began to look fake. And then I priced the difference and realized that in our area, marble was going to save me a couple thousand dollars… I was sold.

The pros and cons of marble counters

First, we need a quick lesson on the different materials for countertops and which material is best for your kitchen. The main benefit of quartz over marble is durability. Quartz is a man-made product that is non-porous (so stains cannot set into the stone) and incredibly durable – basically scratch proof. Granite (the other top countertop material) is not as durable as quartz, but is still more stain and scratch resistant than marble. Marble is porous – allowing oils and stains to seep into the stone – and softer than granite or quartz, allowing scratches and chips. It also is soft enough to allow etching, which simply means that water and acids can leave marks that are barely visible on the surface (usually only seen if looking at the surface from a particular angle). There are obviously other countertop options, as well, such as tile, wood, and laminate, but for today’s purpose, we are going to stick to comparing marble to quartz or granite.

Once I had done my research on all those factors, I still chose marble (I’m such a rebel 😉 ) because I thought the pros (look and price) outweighed the cons. And I can honestly say that I would make the same choice again today. But the cons of marble are not to be ignored:

  1. porous (can stain)
  2. soft (can scratch, chip, and etch)
  3. expensive (more so than wood, laminate, or tile)

Do marble counters stain?

Thankfully, my countertop fabricator recommended an excellent sealer. And I cannot urge you enough to SEAL YOUR MARBLE. I will be sharing more about that soon when I share my tips for caring for marble (UPDATE: here is the post on how to care for marble countertops), but for today I’m just going to say that staining hasn’t been an issue at all. We have spilled wine, tomato sauce, very colorful baby food, coffee, and more (and even left drops overnight or longer), and not a one has made a single colored stain in almost a year and a half. The only thing that has left some marks is oil. I once rolled out cookie dough directly on my kitchen counter. If I had make the cookies immediately and removed them, it probably would have been fine, but I took at least an hour taking pictures (for y’all! ha!) and by the time I removed the dough, there was a grease mark in the stone. I was able to lessen it (more on that to come in my tips for caring for marble post), but it was definitely still visible… for about a week. After a week or so, it disappeared. Seriously. Grease stains will absorb farther and farther into your marble and (often) eventually disappear; it’s kind of amazing. In conclusion, if your marble is sealed well, I don’t think staining is really a major danger.

Pumpkin crème brûlée- Maison de Pax

Is marble too soft for kitchen counters?

The scratching and etching is more of an issue. We have noticed three main causes of scratching: the spots where we opened cans and wine bottles has some circular scratches (and I’ll be sharing more about how to soften those later).

scratches on marble countertops: Should I use marble in the kitchen? - Maison de Pax

The place where my four year old used a knife to saw into the edge (yes, that really did happen) can be seen as tiny little white spots along the edge of the marble in the image below. And the surface as a whole can show spots or rings when you get down to counter height and look from certain angles.

Wearing along marble countertops- Maison de Pax

Why scratching and etching on marble counters is not a problem:

I’m a perfectionist. I need things lined up properly and I don’t like even one pillow out of place on the couch… but the scratches and etches on the counters don’t bother me for several reasons. First, you would never see any of them when walking through or even using the space. I have brightened and sharpened this image as I do all my photography, but I have not edited any scratches or marks out of the countertops.

etching and marble countertops- Maison de Pax

You have to stand directly above even our biggest scratch to see it.

scratches on the marble countertop- Maison de Pax

Second, the longer you allow the countertops to etch, the less obvious it will be. It’s like the first little mark on new wood floors: it shows up. But after some time, your wood floors will have a beautiful, slight patina over the whole thing, and you can’t find that first scratch even if you look hard for it. Can the wood floors get too worn? Of course they can. If you don’t care for them, they can be scratched until they look tired and need to be refinished. The same is true with your marble countertops: if you don’t care for them, they could become etched, worn, and stained. But with proper care (wipe up spills, use cutting boards, dry them after you use them), the entire surface will gain just a slight patina that will hide that original first scratch or water ring and simply look lovely.

Beautiful gray and white bar area- Maison de Pax

I will add that none of our counters sit directly beneath a window. I would imagine that if you had light shining that direction onto your counters it might make the etching appear more severe, but I don’t know for sure as our kitchen isn’t laid out as such.

Polished marble vs. honed marble:

While on the topic of etching, I have to address this distinction. Polished marble is just what it sounds like, a polished surface that is smoother and glossier and reflects more light. Honed marble is a little rougher and less shiny. As such, honed marble is more forgiving when it comes to scratching and etching. BUT it is less forgiving when it comes to staining because honed marble leaves the pores of the stone more open, allowing them to absorb oils and stains more readily than polished marble. So if you choose honed marble (which we did for both the backsplash and the counters), be sure to seal it properly. And if you choose polished marble, you will need to be more careful not to scratch or etch the surface.

Marble subway tile- Maison de Pax

Is marble too expensive?

This is obviously a personal question. I believe that setting your budget and sticking to it is extremely important (see here for all my kitchen renovation budgeting tips), and natural stones are obviously on the more expensive end of countertop options. That said, many marbles are equivalent to some of the less expensive granites, and most are less than the majority of quartz options. So don’t assume that marble counters will be too expensive. Price the materials in your area and see. Note that Carrara (which is the kind we have – more gray than some and characterized by lots of gray veins) is usually one of the least expensive marbles you can find.

Living with marble countertops (and kids)

As I mentioned, I am working on a post and tutorial for caring for marble countertops… but I can say now that I don’t do much. I try to keep them clean (which seems like a good choice whatever your countertop material), and I have tried to teach the children not to saw at them with knives (also a good general rule of thumb, don’t you think? 😉 ). We don’t use markers or paints on them, but that’s more because there isn’t a good space for that in our kitchen. I do try to keep the coffee pot area clean – I think that’s important because of the acidity of the coffee. And I make sure to use a cutting board, especially if I’m cutting something acidic. Otherwise, I really haven’t changed my habits at all from when we had granite or ceramic tile counters. I can be much less careful than I had to be when we had butcher block counters (those are much more susceptible to stains, scratches, and water damage in my experience).

protecting marble from stain- Maison de Pax

I should probably add that I cook. A lot. And I let my littles help me in the kitchen, too. And our garage door (where we enter our home almost every single time) opens right into the kitchen. I say all this to show you that we use our kitchen. A lot. Stuff gets set on the counters, dragged across the counters, spilled on the counters, and stuck to the counters. And while I have tried to be sensitive to the potential damage that could be done to our countertops… I’m pleased to say that none of it seems to happen and it hasn’t hindered our lifestyle or taken significant maintenance time.

living with marble countertops with kids- Maison de Pax

Bottom line: would I put honed marble countertops in the kitchen again? Yes! Should you use marble in the kitchen? That’s obviously a personal decision, and you’ll need to weigh look, budget, durability, and personal taste… but I definitely think it’s a great option.

Because readers always ask, here are the products (or similar) for our kitchen:
This post contains affiliate links. Click here for my full disclosure.

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Pros and Cons of using marble countertops- Maison de Pax
A detailed experience from a family with marble kitchen countertops! Should I use marble in the kitchen?  It's one of the most common questions for today's kitchen design!  Read all about the pros and cons of marble countertops as well as what it is like living with honed marble countertops in a household with kids. #carraramarble #marblebacksplash #marblecountertops #marblecounters #marblekitchen

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109 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for this, and I can’t wait to read the follow up on the care/upkeeping. We have soapstone countertops (it also collects character over time), which I love love love, and we’re still deciding on a marble backsplash, so the sealer is going to be key.

  2. Rachel – I couldn’t agree with you more about going for marble! We have honed carerra in our kitchen, countertops and backsplash. We went back and forth too many times, but ultimately went for it. The scratches, chips and water stains don’t bother me (too much). I will also add that you can always have your fabricator back to regime to get out any imperfections. If you are a perfectionist, I would recommend however if you don’t mind signs of life, it is a great and beautiful option!!

      1. Hi Rachel! I was wondering, I recently moved into a new home with my husband and we are planning to get new counter tops, but I am not sure where to start! your post helped me a lot, but I was thinking, do you know how marble compares to Granite or Quartz? Is it easier to take care of or is it a huge price difference between them? If anyone can help, please do! Thanks!

        1. I’m glad you found it helpful! Granite and Quartz are both harder than marble (so they scratch and stain less), making marble the highest maintenance of the three. Granite and marble are both natural materials, while quartz is actually manmade. Price depends on lots of factors, including the manufacturer, the specific color you choose, and the installation choices you make. For example, we were actually able to get Carrara marble for about $2000 less than the quartz I was considering at the time that we did this renovation. But that will depend on the choices you make and the area you live in, so shop around before you decide for sure. I hope this helps!

      1. I’m afraid I haven’t any experience with that one in person, but it looks beautiful online. 🙂

  3. This is so timely for me. We have added a marble topped table/counter to our kitchen and I’ve had all these questions! Looking forward to the tutorial! Thank yoou!

  4. Hi Rachel,
    I have Danby Marble counters in my kitchen and no kiddos here. Perhaps the difference might be Carrera opposed to Danby, but these counters are a nighmare. Anything, even a glass of water, has a coaster under it. They waterspot, and of course, anything acidic. I love the look of these counters but would have to find a look alike alternative were I to do this again. I’m constantly wiping them down, and right now they are due to be sealed again. I do this about twice a year. Oh well… I’m glad you are having a better experience with yours (except for the knife 🙂 ). They are beautiful tho aren’t they?? Thanks very much for your post! I love your blog….

  5. Your kitchen is beautiful. I went with quartz, but mostly because I’m not as diligent as you about keeping things clean, and I was worried about marble staining (i.e., I’m kind of lazy).

  6. This information was just what I needed to hear. We are contemplating new counter tops in the future and I am partial to Carrara Marble for all the reasons that you mention; there’s a richness to it that I like. Thank you, Rachel. I feel more informed as to making the right decision for our family

  7. I found a new product called “Stone Coat Countertops”. We couldn’t afford the high end looks of marble or granite,so we went this rout. Unlike other materials, you can choose color and look of your countertop. Some of the bonuses are, you can do it yourself, inexpensive, and you can change it for another style and color at anytime without spending allot of money.

  8. Thank you for your honest and most informative information on marble…I have dark granite and wish I would have gone with the marble…next reno. 🙂

  9. Your I’m a stone restoration specialist, And I have to say; you are right about everything you said, plus if the marble counter tops get to the point that you want them to look like new again they can be re-hone or re-finish.
    FYI. The top in the island is calacatta marble.

  10. Your kitchen is beautiful. I love the gray lower cabinets and the colorful rug, along with the marble. If I had an old house, that’s what I would choose over quartz.

  11. Thank you so much for this information. That is pretty much the secret to anything we have taking care of it, we scotch guard a nice piece of furniture. I just wish i could put something on my white cabinets so my grandchildren couldn’t get spills down them, after Christmas i keep finding all kinds of stuff on them.I want to change some things around in my kitchen and then top it off with marble.

    1. Children are a blessing, but they sure are messy! Mine have held up with even with four kiddos, but I totally understand your concern.

  12. Love your kitchen! We are building and I have been stressing so bad about marble vs quartz and like you, I just couldn’t find a quartz that I loved. Can you tell us more about the sealer? I want to make sure I understand everything before I sign the papers.

    1. I’m working on that video now! But in the meantime, here’s a quick version: I just used the sealer that my fabricator assured me was the best, and we haven’t had a single stain issue! Here is an affiliate link to the product (and yes, I realize that it says for granite – I expressed the same concern and he still told me to use it; I haven’t been disappointed!): http://amzn.to/2rubsee . They applied it once before installation, and he recommended that I repeat several times over the next few months. After that, he said that every six months or so would be plenty. You just put some on a rag and wipe it on… so easy (but smelly! open the windows!). Hope this helps!

  13. I have had honed Carrara marble in our kitchen for seven years and have treated it gently. It still looks wonderful. That being said, we are remodeling a new place, and I am seriously considering marble-like quartz this time around. The counter top material was my biggest decision when remodeling our current place, and I see that it is gong to be a biggie in our new place. I really want to relax a little about using my counters.
    This is my first visit to your blog, and I will be back.

    1. Thanks Janette for your feedback! I know the temptation to quartz is strong, and if it fits your budget, than I’d go for it!

  14. Beautiful kitchen and great post! We used polished Carrara marble in our new kitchen and it is both my favorite and least favorite thing. It’s absolutely stunning UNLESS the light hits it just right or you tilt your head just so…and then all you see is a mess of water spots and rings. 😢 And I am a perfectionist and neat freak who is extremely careful with it and cleans up any little spill the moment after it happens. Is there anything that can be done in your opinion? Would having it honed help (and is that even possible?)? Thanks so much!

    1. Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found this helpful. Like I mentioned, the placement of your lights (and windows) can make a big difference in how noticeable the etching is… so that’s a little tough. I will say, though, that the etching is less obvious on honed marble than polished. We had polished marble in our bathroom at our last house, and it definitely showed the etching and water spots more distinctly. I’m not super familiar with this process, but my understanding is that you can have stone refinished even after it’s installed. You might search for fabricators in your area and see if anyone would give you a quote for refinishing it with a honed finish? It still won’t be perfect; honed does show the spots, but they are not as distinct. Just a thought… So sorry it’s driving you crazy!

      1. Thanks for your thoughtful reply! I just might have to look into having it refinished but so I don’t go crazy. 😉

  15. I am so happy that I stumbled across your blog! I have some mad love for marble countertops and everyone (kitchen designer, friends, family etc) have been telling me that I’m mad for wanting it. All I hear is “it stains” “It chips” “it scratches”. None of these people even have marble. My countertop coordinator told me today to not listen to anyone but myself! She said they LOVE doing marble kitchens and that I should surf for blogs about the pros and cons. The funny thing is I KNOW that it will do some or all of the above! And I’m ok with the eventual patina! After reading your experience I’ve decided that I know what I want and no one has the right to steer me otherwise! Tomorrow I will be choosing my slabs at the stone yard! Yay! Honed Carrera it is! Thanks so much!

    1. Tasha- that is so, so true! I think a lot of people are afraid of marble, but for the wrong reasons. It’s a great choice!

  16. Hi Rachel
    Thank you for your true post. I wish more people could come forward and do the same. Unfortunately the internet is flooded by blogs sponsored by the quartz industry that invest very heavily in marketing to sell a product that is very much inferior than any natural stone and cons is never show or explain to home owner.
    Quartz or Engineered Stone is a composite material made of crushed stone or silica 65% bound together by polyester resin 35% by volume. Chemical suck UV absorber, stabilizer, fire retardant, NVO`s, color pigment among others are added on the mix.
    As fact the polyester resins are not completely UV stable and should not be used in a room with natural light. Continues exposure to UV light will breakdown of the resin binder and you will end up with a countertop that looks like a think board of plastic in a couple of years.
    The main difference is that, the marble age beautiful and get the marks that make you remember the good moments you have around your kitchen with family and friend and the other not.

    1. I love this post and how you explain how quartz will look like plastic in a couple of years. Even more, I love how you talk about how the marks in the marble will be a memory of good times. I went to a stone yard yesterday where the owner who is Italian told me that they have been using marble in Italy for centuries without all this angst, and I should get marble if I want that clean white color and just enjoy it. 🙂

  17. I love it. Were you have with the earth tones you had in the tile. We have many customers that over order by 10% to ensure they have enough to remove the 10% of Earth Tones that come with the product.

    I also like the way the veining is positioned, you did not install box to box, you spread the veined tile well with non-veined.

    Makes for a great look, again as long as time is taken to review the product and design it correctly before sticking anything down.

  18. Hi Rachel, you did a great job of explaining that marble is not that expensive. We’re having a home renovation before the end of the year. I am planning to include this part in the kitchen. You are right, having these marble countertops may require a little maintenance but it may be worth it. Thanks!

    1. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered marble was less expensive than quartz! It made the choice easier, even if there is more maintenance involved.

  19. Hi Rachel
    Thanks for your post. It is exactly my dilemma quartz vs honed marble. the guy i am getting a quote for the honed marble assured me that the quarry where the stone comes from makes a difference and that people who are not familiar with marble will ‘fear it” i’m glad i stumbled upon your article. I have a question for you though. With the spalshback since it is close to the stovetop, do you have problem with that area staining with oil? Thanks!

    1. Since it is also honed marble, I actually sealed it with the same product I used to seal the countertops, and I haven’t had any issues so far! I hope this helps. 🙂

  20. Hello & thank you for all of the information!!!! Can you please tell me the brand of sealer you use and recommend?

      1. Thank you so very much for your quick response!!! Can you also tell me what if any placemats have you used without damage to your counters???

        1. You’re welcome! We haven’t actually used any placemats on these counters as we don’t have an eating counter in this kitchen. I would probably avoid wooden placemats, but I would imagine that anything cloth or softly woven would be fine. 🙂

  21. Hi Rachel,
    Thank you for your post. It is very informative. We have recently purchased a townhome in pre construction phase and we will be soon in the process of choosing our upgrades and finishes. My husband and I are a bit apprehensive of going for the marble instead of quartz for our countertops and backsplash. We use a lot of spices and cook food like curries a lot. After reading your post on honed vs polished marble, we think that polished marble would suit us better as it is less prone to stains . Am I correct?
    But despite all the cons, the beauty of classic marble is unbeatable and we might choose marble after all!! 🙂

    1. Hi Carine! It really is beautiful! I think no matter what, choose a good sealer and be sure to reseal when appropriate (set a reminder in your computer or planner so you don’t forget).

  22. Hi Rachel,
    My husband and I stumbled on your post last week when we were doing research into what type of stone countertop to use in the kitchen of our new build. Because of a lot of the preconceived notions we had about marble, we thought we’d have to settle on a granite or quartz that resembled it. After reading your article on the pros and cons, and your personal experience with marble, we decided to go ahead with the real thing. We picked out our slab a couple days ago and we couldn’t be happier! Thank you for this very well written and informative post.

    1. Tina, thank you so much for your comment! I’m so glad I could persuade you to make the choice to marble!

  23. I have always LOVED marble and remember going into old homes with marble counters…I love the feel and coolness of the stone…I always thought it held the test of time…even with monuments in cemeteries…so it was interesting to read your article and hear your thought…thank you for sharing them!!

      1. We love the look of marble. We are in the process of choosing countertops for our kitchen and our eye is always drawn to marble however I do a lot of baking and make fresh pasta. Would rolling the do out on marble counter cause stains from dough
        Looking forward to your feedback
        Dianne

        1. That’s a great question, Dianne! I do think that marble counters can absorb oils from homemade doughs and pastas, but I’ve only ever had the problem when I left the dough on the counter for a full hour while I photographed it for the blog. Ha! You might try getting a marble cutting board and experimenting with it for a while to see how it responds to the various doughs and pasta you usually make.

  24. I am about to pull the trigger and go with marble, but I am very curious how the marble is doing around your cooktop? Are oil splatters an issue at all? Our cooktop will be in our peninsula so that area will always be within view. Thanks for the great info!

    1. Good question! Thankfully, I have not had any issues with splatters around our cooktop. Since we have a glass cooktop with just four burners, though, it captures much of the splatters itself (because the burners are surrounded by quite a bit of glass before the marble begins). Our cooktop is also pretty far away from the windows, which could help hide some spots… but we haven’t seen any. I hope this helps!

  25. Hi Rachel,
    Thank you for your beautiful and helpful article. You also mentioned that you have some feedback regarding porcelain but it was a different subject. Would you please let me know what are your thoughts re durability. Thank you

  26. I’m so happy to have stumbled upon your article. Lately, everyone’s going crazy over quartz. Everybody thinks marble requires too much upkeep and maintenance just because they saw it on the internet. I hope everyone who thinks of upgrading their kitchen countertop gets to read this post first. Beautiful kitchen, btw! 🙂

  27. Do you think that polished Danby marble kitchen countertops would be more forgiving with showing scratches, etching etc. as it is a darker marble (brown, grays with some white) with lots of movement?

    1. That’s a good question, Sandy. I’m afraid I’m not familiar with Danby marble, so I’d be afraid to speak to something I have no experience with. I will say, though, that more movement tends to hide more as a general rule! 🙂

  28. Okay dying to know… How are you liking your countertops another 1.5 years after this post?? Any other great tricks you’ve picked up? I have read all your posts on your marble multiple times as we are considering getting it ourselves and dealing with the naysayers. I’ve been here so often, If you’ve noticed a weird jump in stats… it’s me! Haha I’m kidding (mostly)

  29. Hi there Rachel!
    Love your posts, love your marble! We
    have white modern cabinets and I love white marble with flecks of clear white sparkles. It looks so natural and modern! It’s the first product I fell in love with. All the white quartz looks so fake. Of course I keep hearing I’m out of my mind going with white marble!! What’s your thoughts? Thanks so much!!

    1. As a stone, I personally love marble, but the veining gives it that natural look and feel. All white marble is so beautiful, but it will show crumbs and food so you do have to wipe it regularly. That might work well for your lifestyle though. It sounds beautiful!

  30. I am 78 years old and doing this for the first time. I love marble – have lived with antique marble top tables and dressers in black, white, rose – love them all. I want marble counters and have been told the cons. What if a hot pan from the stove was put on marble – would it crack? I was told that granite wouldn’t but quartz would but do not know about marble. Not that we would intentionally do it but just in case wondering what would happen. Thank you so much.

    Reply

    1. It sounds like you’ve had some wonderful experience with marble, Dorothy! I have never actually put a hot pan from the stove directly onto my marble. I just throw a towel or hot pad down, so I’m not sure what it would do… I’m sorry I don’t have experience with that!

  31. Can you tell me the thickness of your marble. My contractor wants to do 3cm, but the 2cm can be made to look thicker. Thank you for all your posts and helpful to see everyones comments!

    1. We have 3cm marble. You are right that the thinner material can be made to look thicker, but you might look into the cost of that. It usually involves a mitered edge which can be quite pricey for the labor. I hope this helps!

  32. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who has been doing a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me lunch simply because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this matter here on your site.|

  33. Hi Rachel,

    We just decided today to go with Satinato marble! We were fully decided on a brushed quartz until we saw this slab walking out of the warehouse. Like a beautiful watercolor painting we could not resist its natural beauty. Thanks for the reassurance that it can be live-able! I can’t wait!

  34. Rachel, I echo all the comments on this blog when I say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for sharing your very helpful and honest knowledge about using marble as your chosen kitchen counters. I have been pulling my hair out, trying to hunt for the look of Carrara marble in quartz or other surfaces, and every time, it just doesn’t compare. But until I came across your blog, I too had the same pre-conceived notions about the horrors of having marble in your kitchen! I love the Italian perspective that it’s a material used there for CENTURIES without the angst that we uptight Americans have :D. I’m jubilantly forging ahead with my marble decision!!

    1. It’s so true! It’s a solid surface and has been around for centuries! If you don’t mind some mild upkeep, it’s worth it.

  35. I cooked professionally in a prior life, so will only use granite around the cooking area. Quartz melts (I’ve been told you have 2-3 seconds to get the hot pan off it before it is ruined). Installers have told me that I can just use trivets, but I already know that. It is not I who is the problem but rather any cooking “helpers” who set extremely hot pots, pans and other vessels on top of the counters. So quartz will never be an option for me as I’d rather shatter a glass baking dish than melt and ruin $5000 worth of quartz countertops.
    For those who really don’t do that much cooking, or those who don’t have “helpers”, quartz would be a fine option. With quartz, I just worry that, like “cultured marble” from 20-40 years ago, the “marble-look” quartz will also look dated at some point.
    I, like you prefer the look of natural stone. I’ve thought about marble. The staining and scratching wouldn’t bother me because, to me, it adds to the “patina” of the surface over time, (unless it’s a red wine stain that got left for 24 hours or so).
    Needless to say, your kitchen design is stunning. Thank you so much for sharing.

    1. Thanks for your feedback! It’s true that marble has been used for thousands of years and will always be classic! We have used quartz in our other designs, but I love the feel and patina of marble as well.

  36. What a helpful blog and testimony about marble!
    I am working as Design Consultant at a Stone Comoany and I get tons of clients who would love to use marble in the kitchen but too concerned with the stains and otehr issues.
    Very few are brave and most of them turned to quatzite which you can’t get the same whiteness as the marble.
    With that said, thank you and i will share this on on our platforms!

  37. Hi there! Your kitchen is lovely! I have purchased a marble herringbone mosaic for my kitchen backsplash (arabescata carrara honed) which I just love. However, I am now wondering how it will hold up behind my cook surface. How has your cooktop backsplash held up since installation? Do you think I should I consider an alternative behind my range? Thank you!

    1. Hi Sandra! I have no regrets. I do clean up spills and splashes after use, but I still recommend marble as a backsplash.

  38. Hi, there!

    I realize this is an older post, but I love your backsplash. I read through your post and the comments and realize the majority of the discussion was about marble countertops, but I was wondering what kind of marble backsplash you have? We’re currently looking to install marble backsplash, and I really like yours! Secondly, is it honed or polished?

    Thanks in advance, sorry if this was already discussed, and I missed it!

    1. We love our marble backsplash! It’s honed Carrara, and though I bought it in store (which I definitely recommend for natural stone so you can hand pick the color and veining you prefer), I am pretty sure this is the same product. You can read more about our backsplash adn kitchen here. I hope this helps!

  39. I love this post! I am in the planning stages of a kitchen renovation. I have always dreamed of having marble counter tops. I mean really dreamed! But my designer as well as stone salespersons are trying to talk me out of using marble (buzz kill!). I cook a fair amount, and we do some baking as well. But I wouldn’t say our kitchen gets heavy use…it’s just the two of us. I have two antique wash stands with marble tops that are both well over 100 years old. Do they have stains? Yes! Do they have scratches? Yes! But they are absolutely beautiful. After reading your post I’m more convinced than ever that marble is the choice for me also! Thank you!

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