The Beauty of Marble Kitchen Countertops

Marble exemplifies elegance whether it is a hallway floor or a kitchen countertop.  Of course, few of us can afford real marble when we contemplate our countertops.  For all the beauty of marble, the question goes beyond affordability.  The real question has to do with the practicality of marble in one of the most used areas of the house, the kitchen.

Many homes have a marble slab as a part of the kitchen work station, not so much for the beauty as for the usefulness.   Every gourmet cook knows that rolling dough for pastries or making good old southern buttermilk biscuits requires a marble surface for ease.  Dough rolls smoothly and is less likely to stick to marble.  But, is that a good enough reason to pay the high cost of marble as the topper of all our kitchen cabinets?

Even if the family budget allows for the expense, when considering marble kitchen countertops there is more to consider than initial affordability and beauty.  As mentioned, the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house.  The countertops receive some of the hardest wear in the home.  While it is unlikely that marble, once installed properly will break with use, it is worth noting that polished marble will scratch.  Extended use is one area over another will begin to loose some of the polished luster.

However, perhaps the most important thing to consider when contemplating the surface is spills.  For families with children, marble may not be the best choice.  Being a porous rock, marble will absorb the liquid and will certainly stain.  Imagine the disappointment of discovering a stain left from red wine or grape juice on a white marble surface!  Unfortunately, unlike some of the look-alikes such as Corian, a stain on marble will not be polished away.

Of course, as an alternative to solid marble slabs as countertops, one could entertain the idea of using marble tiles.  It is easier and less expensive to replace a single tile than an entire slab of marble.  And, when considering the countertops in the kitchen area, one should consider that a kitchen cabinet is a piece of furniture that is built in.  It will not be as easy to remove as a free standing cabinet or table.

When making the final decision, one must decide between a kitchen that looks as if it belongs in a magazine layout or a kitchen that is designed for the cook.