Creating Your Ideal Kitchen With Marble

If you love spending time in the kitchen, creating a space that is both functional and beautiful is essential. Designing your dream kitchen involves careful planning and thorough research.

One of the most important decisions you’ll make for your kitchen is selecting a high-quality work surface. Pristine marble worktops are a popular choice among homeowners for their elegance and durability.

Here’s what you need to know about marble worktops and the key factors to consider when making your selection.

Marble & Porous Stones

Marble is a metamorphic rock primarily composed of recrystallized calcite or dolomite. Historically, it has been used in the construction of cathedrals, statues, and homes. Today, marble is also popular in interior design, especially for kitchen worktops and bathrooms. However, marble is considered a ‘porous’ stone.

When we refer to marble as ‘porous,’ we mean it has tiny pores through which air and liquids can pass.

Microscopic Pores in Stones?

Yes, marble contains microscopic pores, which is an important factor to consider when choosing worktops:

The wrong combination of stone and spillage can potentially damage your new kitchen worktop.
While the porous nature of marble contributes to its beauty, it also carries some risks. There are ways to mitigate these risks, such as selecting a robust and resistant finish or researching less porous types of marble.

If you want to avoid these risks altogether, quartz is an excellent alternative. Quartz is non-porous, which means it doesn’t absorb liquids, making it a durable and low-maintenance option for worktops. We highly recommend considering quartz for its resilience and aesthetic appeal.

Honed Matte or Shiny & Polished Finish?

Choosing the right finish for your marble worktop is an important decision that affects both the aesthetics and functionality of your kitchen.

Shiny, Polished Marble Worktops: These provide a pristine shine, adding a touch of glamour and luxury to your kitchen. Polished finishes are more resistant to stains and spills due to an extra protective layer, but they can also show scratches more easily.

Honed, Matte Finishes: These are better at concealing imperfections and scratches, offering a sleek and calming aesthetic to the room. The Carrara Marble range, for example, features honed matte finishes that look stunning in any kitchen setting.

Both finishes have their unique advantages, so consider your kitchen’s design and your lifestyle when making a decision.

Other Uses of Marble for Your Home

Marble is not limited to kitchen countertops; it’s also an excellent choice for bathrooms, flooring, and decorative elements. Its wide range of colors and patterns, along with both matte and polished finishes, make it versatile for various applications, bringing a unique and timeless beauty to your home. Whether you’re looking to enhance your bathroom, add elegance to your floors, or incorporate decorative accents, marble offers an elegant solution for any design style.

History of Marble

Marble has been prized for its beauty since ancient times. The Greeks were among the first to develop techniques for extracting and shaping marble for construction. Marble quarries in Greece, particularly in the Paros and Naxos regions, date back to the 3rd century BC.

Anatolia was another significant center for marble, using it extensively in trade and construction. This region played a crucial role in the marble trade during the Roman and Ottoman empires. Italy also has a rich tradition of marble use, especially in the construction of cathedrals during the first millennium AD.

Today, advanced cutting technology and tools have made marble more accessible, allowing us to craft beautiful, long-lasting structures and decorations with this timeless material.

Marble Worktops FAQ

Should I Install a Marble Kitchen Worktop?

Natural marble worktops are an excellent choice for adding elegance to your kitchen. They are durable, stylish, and heat-resistant, offering a lifetime of use if properly maintained.

Do Marble Worktops Stain Easily?

Marble is a porous stone, making it susceptible to staining if not properly cared for. The most significant threats include citric acids (from lemons, grapefruits, oranges, etc.), oils, curry sauce, and red wine. To prevent staining, wipe up spills immediately and ensure the surface is properly sealed. Regular sealing, about once a year, helps maintain the marble’s durability and appearance.

Is a Marble Kitchen Worktop Resistant?

Marble worktops are highly durable but can be prone to spills and scratches, especially with polished finishes. To maintain their resistance, it’s essential to seal the worktop annually, preventing liquids from penetrating the stone. Additionally, avoid placing hot pots directly on the surface to protect it from extreme temperatures.

Are Marble Worktops Expensive?

The cost of marble worktops varies significantly based on quality and availability. Premium stone is rare and challenging to refine, which can make these worktops more expensive. However, the investment is worthwhile for the beautiful and durable finish that marble provides.

What Colours Are Available?

We offer a wide range of marble colors, including popular choices like black, white, and grey. Additionally, we have striking options such as green, cream, purple, and pink. We also offer marble effect worktops that mimic the look of quartz.

Marble Worktops: The Perfect Statement for Your Home

Marble worktops bring a bold and elegant touch to any kitchen or bathroom. These beautiful natural stones are not only aesthetically pleasing but also durable and versatile. They also add a luxurious appeal to commercial projects. We offer a wide range of colors and patterns to suit your design preferences, whether you’re looking for classic whites, bold blacks, or unique greens and browns.

What About the Colors?

Marble is a natural stone known for its variety of beautiful colors. Choosing the right color for your kitchen worktop can significantly impact the appearance and ambiance of your space. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect marble color for your home:

How to Choose the Right Color

When selecting a marble color, consider the overall design of your kitchen. The worktop should complement your cabinets, floors, and other elements. Think about how much natural light your kitchen receives, as the color can either enhance or diminish the brightness. Some collections offer detailed options to make your decision easier.

Black Marble Worktops

Black Marquina

Carrara Noir Black

Sahara Noir Marble

Urban Black

Grey Marble Worktops

Alaska Gray Marble

Fantasy Grey Marble

Thunder Grey Marble

Thunder Grey Polished

White Marble Worktops

Calacatta Royal Marble

Calacatta White Marble

Frozen White Marble

Statuario Royal Marble

Gold Marble Worktops

Calacatta Viola Marble

Calacatta Violaú Marble0

Brillient Gold Marble

Soft Jade Marble

What is Marble, and Why Should You Consider It?

Marble has been a prized material since ancient times, renowned for its beauty and durability. Its luxurious appearance and feel make it a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. The stone’s unique patterns and colors can bring elegance and sophistication to any space.

Polished vs. Matte Finish

When selecting a marble finish, you can choose between polished and matte. Polished finishes create a shiny, reflective surface that adds a touch of luxury but may highlight scratches. Matte finishes offer a softer, more understated look that conceals imperfections more effectively.

Carrara Marble

Functionality

Carrara marble is celebrated for its durability, making it a top choice for kitchen and bathroom worktops. Its robust nature ensures long-lasting performance, especially when installed professionally. Carrara marble can handle high heat, so it’s suitable for placing hot pans directly on the surface, though using a wooden board or heatproof mat is still recommended.

The marble remains cool, which is ideal for baking, as it prevents ingredients from sticking and maintains the desired temperature. With proper maintenance, Carrara marble worktops can last for many years without needing replacement.

Additionally, Carrara marble is highly resistant to water damage, making it a great option for kitchens, bathrooms, and spas. Its combination of durability and easy-to-clean properties makes it a popular choice for a variety of applications.

Versatility

Carrara marble is highly versatile, effortlessly complementing a range of decor styles, from classic to modern. It enhances both dark and light cabinetry, contributing an elegant touch to any kitchen. Available in both glossy and matte finishes, Carrara marble adds sophistication to a variety of spaces.

Its versatility extends beyond countertops to include flooring for kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and spas. Additionally, Carrara marble is used on walls in some of the most luxurious properties, showcasing its adaptability and appeal in high-end interior design.

Availability

In the UK, Carrara marble is imported regularly, with large blocks sliced into slabs upon arrival. Carrara marble is relatively soft compared to other stone types, making it easier to cut and shape into various sizes and profiles. Custom fabrication allows for specific requirements, such as edge profiles and cut-outs, to be precisely met.

This flexibility makes Carrara marble a favored choice for bespoke kitchen designs, providing tailored solutions for sinks, appliances, and other kitchen features.