Marble is best known as a medium for sculptures, palaces and ballroom floors. Widely used in Europe and the Far East, it became the stuff of royalty in Great Britain, and then moved across the pond to the New World. American homeowners and designers can reflect this tradition of luxury with marble countertops, fireplace mantles and visual accents in residential or commercial spaces.
Sensual or shiny, marble draws the eye, making it the perfect material for countertops that highlight kitchens and baths. General contractors work with stone importers to secure slabs or tiles and then install them in new or remodeled homes, restaurants or hotels.
For all the naysayers who consider marble too high-maintenance or aesthetically risky, the Europeans have a cure: Don’t worry about it.
What Marble Is and Does
Marble is a metamorphosed limestone that is quarried around the world. Largely composed of calcite, marble’s veins and swirls are formed when the limestone is crystallized by weight, force and time. The color variations are caused by impurities in the rock, such as clay, silt or iron oxide.
The result is a porous and almost translucent stone that offers rich, creamy depth, shot through with a darker or more colorful matrix. It was truly one of the original designer materials.
First popularized in architecture and artistic renderings by the Greeks and Romans, the lovely stone became a favorite building tool in Europe. Marble countertops have been in use there for millennia, and are considered part of the family to some Europeans.
Americans don’t harbor the same sentiments, so marble more often ends up topping bathroom vanities than kitchen counters. Are we perfectionists for the wrong reasons? We begrudge marble its porous properties in favor of a consistent, unblemished aesthetic. In contrast, European cooks embrace the evolving character of marble counter tops, placing great value on their individuality. They seek perfection in decor everywhere but the kitchen countertop.
Who Needs a Marble Countertop
Marble releases pastry dough without hesitation and makes bakers very, very happy. Even those who don’t bake will adore the look and feel of a marble counter top in the kitchen. An impressive slab lends an air of permanence to a room that sees a lot of change. A cook and a marble countertop can mature together. Those who want instant gratification might shop for other materials.
Homeowners who seek a stately frame for a bath vanity or fireplace may choose marble in a variety of colors and finishes. Carry your decorative theme through with subtle pink, gray or yellow-hued marble countertops, or lend a dramatic touch with deep reds or greens. Minimalist white is never boring in marble, with its unpredictable swirls of gray, black or gold.
Builders who employ marble columns or window framing can unify the overall design with marble counter tops in kitchen and baths. Selecting stone from the same source in different shades or finishes is an understated way to integrate style.
Marble Benefits Every Room
Because marble is amenable to many building applications, it would be a shame to relegate it to just the kitchen or bath. But those are the places marble shines.
Polish, however, isn’t necessary or even desirable on marble counter tops for food preparation. Sure, it looks great, but function must trump form in this case. Cleansing and drips from acidic liquids will harm highly polished marble, so opt for a honed finish instead for a kitchen counter. Nontoxic sealant will protect it from stains and make a safe work space.
While other stone countertops have better antimicrobial qualities, they don’t have the Old-World appearance. Some bakers claim that no surface surpasses a marble counter top, though some make do with a large marble tile set into a surface of another material.
Bathroom vanities may be smaller and more budget-friendly toward marble. Acidic reactions from liquid are less likely in the bathroom, making a marble countertop there more practical, to some people. When used in combination with a contrasting support material, marble stands out in the bath with quiet dignity.
Stone decor can be extended throughout the home with marble edging for mirrors and wainscoting. Fireplace mantles can employ polished marble countertops, without the water worries of kitchen and bath. Firelight will dance and dazzle off a shiny marble surface, putting polished stone to its absolute best use.
Risks
Yes, marble is subject to wear and tear, but what is beauty without the beast? Marble’s greatest enemies are water, oil and acidic liquids. Soap and rough handling are unfriendly to the vulnerable stone also.
Marble may:
- Pit
- Chip
- Crack
- Scratch
- Shatter
- Become dull
- Be etched by acids or abrasion
In Europe, they would say: C’est la vie. There are services that resurface and repair marble counter tops, or one can simply live with some imperfections. These are what give marble its uniqueness anyway.
In the bath, guard against standing water, and reseal marble countertops often. Limit cleansing marble with detergent soaps, as this dries out the stone and dulls its appearance. Follow the manufacturers directions for keeping vanity countertops clean.
Follow this advice in the kitchen as well, and be sure to wipe up spills as soon as they happen. Drips can pit marble, or, depending on your point of view, add dimension.
