Today, when you can incorporate marble everywhere in your home, high-quality marble worktops aren’t as opulent as they once were. Now, we can have marble tiles in our bathrooms or even on our walls, as well as marble decorations throughout our homes.
However, although not as rare as they once were, marble worktops still bring a healthy dose of elegance and luxury to your kitchen. When it comes to kitchen work surfaces, natural marble, granite, and quartz are the top picks among homeowners who have decided to tackle the task of redoing their kitchens.
But if you’re thinking of installing marble worktops, there are a few things you need to know. Marble is extremely elegant, and it will make a statement in your kitchen. However, it’s far from a perfect material. So, let’s see what a marble kitchen has to offer, shall we?
Marble 101
Before we actually get into the nitty-gritty of marble worktops, types of marble, and marble finishes, let’s see what kind of a stone marble is.
Marble is basically limestone that was put under extreme heat and pressure (by Mother Nature) for an extended period of time. It’s a metamorphic rock, and the majority of marble is actually recrystallised carbonate minerals. During the transformation process (from limestone to marble), the veining patterns and various spots of colour appear throughout the stone.
These patterns and colours are actually what makes marble so distinct and easy to spot in a crowd. It’s also what makes it so appealing to people.
The carbonate minerals that make up marble are dense and make the stone durable. However, they are also quite sensitive to acids. That’s why we don’t recommend cleaning your marble worktops with lemon juice or other acidic solutions.
Cleaning and Maintenance
And, speaking of cleaning marble, unlike granite worktops and the artificially made quartz worktops, marble isn’t as easy to maintain. Generally speaking, marble is as easy to clean as other worktops. However, it’s also more susceptible to staining.
Staining agents that are usually a huge problem in homes that have wood kitchen surfaces are also something you should consider as well. Since marble is more porous than granite and quartz, it’s sensitive to wine, oils, and various juices. These can easily seep into the stone.
So, getting white marble kitchen worktops might seem like a marvelous idea, but what happens when you leave a wine glass on it for too long and the red wine seeps into it?
Well, sealing marble, no matter if it’s glossy or honed marble, is always a good idea. Although versatile and beautiful, marble needs a lot of maintenance. So, even if you seal it, you might have to repeat the process frequently, especially if you cook often and use acidic liquids on your worktops. That can help you protect it from these types of mishaps in the first place.
Marble Worktops Finishes
Just like with granite worktops, marble ones can have different finishes. However, unlike granite, marble has only two distinct finishes for you to choose from:
- polished
- matte
Both finishes have their own advantages. First of all, you have to decide whether you’re going for that high-gloss look or a more subtle yet still impactful honed look.
If you can’t make up your mind, let us help with a few interesting facts:
- Polished marble won’t stain as quickly as a matte one
- The honed finish won’t show scratches as easily as the polished one
- However, honed marble is more prone to staining
- Polished marble might get worn down with time
So, depending on the type of look you’re going for, and how you plan on using your kitchen, you can opt for one of these two choices. The polished finish gives the marble a bright and shiny look, while the honed finish looks smooth and sophisticated. Making the stone so matte opens up the pores more, which is why we mentioned that matte marble worktops might be more susceptible to staining.
Available Colours
Because it’s a natural stone (just like granite), marble has the considerable advantage of being unique. Although you can pick and choose the colors, the end result will always be a worktop that’s cut from a specific slab of marble that looks like no other out there.
So, no matter which marble you pick for your kitchen, you’ll end up with something that is uniquely yours. Still, that doesn’t make choosing any easier.
Generally speaking, there are a few base colours to pick from:
- black
- white
- beige
- green
- red
- pink
If you’re having trouble deciding, don’t worry; you’re not the only one. Many of our customers come into our showroom completely stumped when it comes to colour choices.
Picking the colour of your marble depends on your overall design and your vision for your future kitchen.
What colours are your cabinets? Is there a colour that is dominant in your kitchen? If so, would you like marble worktops that match it or ones that would make a nice contrast to it?
A full white kitchen with Italian marble and a white background has been quite popular these past few years. However, if you think that requires too much maintenance (because it does), you can also go for a darker marble.
White marble will stand out in your kitchen. It will open up the space and make it look more inviting. On the other hand, dark or colourful marble will make the room more elegant. They’ll be the focal points that complement your cabinets and appliances.
The Wonderful Benefits of Marble Worktops
Marble is timeless and elegant. More importantly, it looks luxurious and is an ideal way to update your kitchen without ripping everything out and doing a full remodel.
However, just like in life, being pretty isn’t enough. Luckily, marble has some other benefits that will make it a perfect addition to your home. It’s durable and strong. It might need more maintenance than some other natural stones. But, on the upside, it’s still more durable than other materials.
Ideal for Bakers
Aside from being able to withstand wear and tear, marble is also an ideal surface for bakers. If you’re an avid baker, you know that a cool working surface is vital for some recipes.
Well, with marble worktops, you won’t have to worry about your pastry dough getting too hot. Marble is naturally quite cool. More importantly, it maintains that temperature no matter how warm your kitchen gets. With marble worktops, your working surfaces will always be below room temperature which is ideal for not only baking but also cooking.
Marble Worktops Add Value to Your Home
If you’re renovating your kitchen because you’re looking to sell your home, installing marble countertops might be a good idea. They are always a sought after feature. What’s more, they are a feature that might convince potential buyers to spend more money on a house.
Because marble is timeless and doesn’t lose value, it’s a big selling point. As any realtor will tell you, having an updated kitchen with marble worktops can only help you sell your home.
Heat-Resistant
As mentioned before, marble remains cool no matter what the outside temperature is. However, aside from that, marble is also quite heat-resistant. With a high temperature threshold, marble is an ideal kitchen surface.
However, keep in mind that you should still be careful. Placing hot pots and pans directly onto your brand new marble countertops is never a good idea. That can lead to discolouration or even thermal shock.
Cost-Effective
Depending on the type of marble you go for, this material can be quite affordable. Of course, marble isn’t exactly cheap, but some types, like the easily accessible Carrara marble, are more affordable than other, rarer types (like the Calacatta marble, for example).
But Don’t Forget to Consider the Downsides
Of course, as we already mentioned, marble isn’t perfect. The significant downsides of marble that you should definitely consider before instaling marble worktops are:
- high porosity that can lead to staining
- the fact that the natural stone requires high maintenance
- the fact that marble is more scratch-prone than other materials (such as granite and quartz)
Pick Your Marble Worktops at the BM Showroom
Just like many luxurious things in life, marble worktops demand high maintenance. However, they are absolutely worthy of both your time and effort. Installing marble worktops means creating a show-stopping focal point in your kitchen with one simple move.
The sheer elegance of this natural stone will certainly completely transform your kitchen. If you’re unsure which type of marble is the best for you or whether you’d prefer polished marble to a matte finish (or the other way around), give us a call or stop by our showroom. We’d be more than glad to put our decades of experience to good use and help you pick and design your ultimate kitchen!
+44 7714 657288
info@bucksmarble.com
