Using White Marble: Hot Debate Over a Classic Beauty

Judith Balis Mmmmm...Carrara...my FAVORITE!

patimac I love it. I have it in our farm kitchen as an island, looks like it belongs to the 1840's house. And in our more modern city town house and again, it isn't pristine anymore and seems to spell old comfort and elegance. As you say, New York or Italy: it's a no brainer so we have embraced that sensibility and are very happy with it.

woofwoof you've got some calacutta in some of your images, unless you're simply referring to where the marble comes from....although some calacuta comes from India. for what it's worth, calacuta is generally more expensive than carrera. We found an awesome slab of Calacuta that was just big enough to do my new master bath at a price of around $25 s.f., which is awesome compared to the $60-80 sf prices I had been finding. Now I have to decide on polished vs. honed. I like polished and I will love the patina.

sweet_emmelyne It would really help to see some pictures of what patina we can expect to see, over time.

mwoodworth I recently remodeled 2 bathrooms in my home and used carrara marble in both. I will never regret using marble, it is timeless!

Beth Dotolo, RID, ASID @patimac- I'm with you!! I love how it ages & patinas. I'd love to see photos!

Beth Dotolo, RID, ASID @woofwoof- you are very right! We've made some corrections. Thank you! You are lucky, lucky, lucky! What a great find!? Hope to see photos of the completed work.

Beth Dotolo, RID, ASID @sweet_emmelyne- It's hard to find these images because so many interiors photos are taken when the marble is newly installed. I did some quick search engine research and found a photo: http://www.countertopspecialty.com/carrera-marble-tile-shower-staining.html Hope that's helpful to you!

Beth Dotolo, RID, ASID @mwoodworth - Gorgeous!!! Thank you so much for sharing photos!

jillsk I agree, I never know what to picture when people say it can stain and age. Would someone with older countertops take a photo and show us what that looks like? Thanks!
PS I have Fireslate countertops that went beyond a simple "patina"--within months they looked ravaged and ugly. I love marble but I don't want to make that mistake again! Keep in mind what's really involved in products that require a sealer--you have to clean off your countertops completely, apply the sealer, and let it dry for at least 24 hours before you put everything back. With small kids and a constantly used kitchen, I find that isn't easy to do!

Beth Dotolo, RID, ASID @jillsk - Just posted a link in the comment above. Hope that helps! And, you are exactly right... Marble is not for everyone. Unfortunately, you've experienced something first hand, but now you're educated and can make the right choice for you! Though, you're experience sound exceptional. So disappointing!

freedom was married to a Tile man for years...when I thought I wanted white marble counters, he brought home a sample and I poured everything on it...tomato juice stains it and salad dressing ate the polish off.....opted for beautiful ceramic tile! white marble can also allow the adhesives--certain types-to bleed through so get a GOOD craftsman!

cheshirekaiju Most people I know opt for a honed finish in kitchens and polished in bathrooms. When something etches the marble, it shows up less on the honed finish because it is already a matte finish. Marble is beautiful, but not for everyone. The best thing to do is to get a sample and play around with it at home to see if it is really for you. A sealer will protect from most stains; however, the industry does not have anything that will protect from etching from acids.

John Whipple - By Any Design ltd. Make sure your marble for the shower or steam shower is purchased from an excellent supplier and that for added piece of mind you test for iron deposits before installations begin.

Many showers clad in white marble turn yellow and orange do to the large mineral content in the stone.

A wonderful product but hard to pull of in a steam shower or high flow shower.

John Whipple
By Any Design Ltd.

Sharon Barnard Marble is lovely...however, even water will create stains. I have used it several times in my own homes and had to have it cleaned & sealed about 3 times a year. It does not develop an overall patina..just spotty..here & there. I much prefer honed limestone.

Heather Newman I have seen some amazing faux marble porcelain tiles lately some in very large formats that would look great for architectural details. Porcelain doesn't have the maintenance concerns as marble but obviously you won't get a patina. What are other readers thoughts on faking it?

gwarring I put honed Calacatta marble in the kitchen 6 years ago. Staining has never really been an issue but etching has. Water rings and spots are probably the worst problems. However, they can be rubbed out and eventually I will have the counters re-honed.

The pictures are of the worst water rings next to the sink, and again I can always rub most of them out with a polishing paste or very fine water proof sandpaper, water and elbow grease.

I can't imagine living with high polished marble kitchen counters, any etching would be tough to look at, but a honed marble is pretty easy. One thing to keep in mind about marbles is that the lighter colored marbles (Calacatta and Carrara) are harder than the dark ones.

pentimento I have often wondered why marble is not resined as are so many granites. We have white Bianca Romano granite on our island for four years now...it is resined and absolutely bullet proof.
I assume that marble can't be resined for some reason...does anyone know why?

Jennifer Johnson I put polished marble on my kitchen island and did absolute black granite on the perimeter near the cooking surface (since it would do better near spattering oil and tomato sauce). I wouldn't change it since I love the look and the clean light wow factor.

The polished surface shows etched water rings and etched spots from juice or fruit, but I've had no staining. And you can only see the spots when looking from the right angle - most of the time you don' t notice it at all. So, polished = less staining, honed = less etching. Here are 2 photos of the same countertop at different angles and lighting.

lanehouse A plumber installed my bathroom faucet onto the carrera countertop using plumber's putty. It took a month of almost daily poultices (hydrogen peroxide and baking soda was the most used, but I went as far as bleach and cornstarch) before the dark grey oil ring lightened up to something I could live with. I will never again assume a plumber knows anything about marble!

mcmastri @woofwoof We have begun an addition to our home. I'm in the throes of searching for honed calacatta and am wondering if you would share where you got your slab from! I'm finding it in Chicago for $80-$129 a sq ft!

steff13 I have had two homes with marble on the kitchen counter... I have never had a stain that i couldn't remove ie, wine mustard etc.. however etching from lemon juice,vinegar,tomato.. anything acidic will do it almost instantly.. even those little bags of flower extender you get when you buy a bunch of flowers will etch marble.. so buyer beware!!!!!!

tikes01 Has anyone used DANBY Marble??? Supposedly-- while it is white marble-- it is less porous and therefore more forgiving and durable than the other marble options (specifically Calacatta and Carrara). I am trying to get more information on VERMONT DANBY---any feedback GREATLY appreciated!

murukeshvp Thank you vary much for sharing photos. white marble designs and application are excellent. Marable panel around the fireplace is an excellent piece of job. the shower room with marble lining and glass shower doors are clean design concept.
This design is dedicated to my P.M Memana for review.

Chic Decor & Design, Margarida Oliveira Beautiful. I love Carrara and have used it both with clients and also in my own kitchen backsplash where I combined polished (1"x2") with honed (2" x 4"). I think it looks great and it's a timeless look that never tires. My parents have a condo in Portugal where Carrara is prolific and the entire stairwell in the building is done in Carrara - it looks fabulous. In fact most stairwells and kitchens have Carrara incorporated into them and some have been around for centuries. The patina of age and use only adds to it's character.

poorgirl tikes01, The Vermont Danby is one of the hardest marbles in the world due to where it is quarried from. Unfortunately also one of pricer ones. Vermont stone can be used in exterior applications. There for the stone is very dense. But once again the product should always be sealed. Don't by your sealant in a big box store, pay up as there are different sealants. The impregnating sealants are the best.

collins design Etching is very difficult to capture in a photograph. I highly recommend that anyone debating using marble do two things: 1) get a sample of the actual slab of stone you like, take it home and put dabs of various substances on it to sit overnight (lemon slice, red wine, ketchup, etc.) so that you can see the effect in person. Keep in mind that a good sealer like Porous Plus will prevent stains, but nothing can prevent etching. 2) Visit the home of someone who has been using their marble counters for at least a year, again so you can see it in person. These two steps convinced me that I wouldn't mind the "patina" and I do LOVE my carrara kitchen counters!

Another tip: some true quartzites resemble marble but are much more bulletproof. Here's a photo of the Vermont White quartzite we used in my daughter's bathroom. I tested a sample with everything from sharpie market to nail polish and lipstick to ketchup. The only thing that marred it at all was Salycitic Acid acne treatment, which left a very slight etch.

tikes01 Poorgirl----are you saying that Danby should be a good option for the kitchen? Have you seen it in a kitchen before and do you know if it gets the same complaints/concerns of the other "white marbles?" Thank you in advance for your feedback.

lewlew to jillsk and hnewman...with a busy family sealing natural stone (i've granite on my floors in all baths and kitchen) is a BIG issue. how can i ask my family to not step on the floors for 24 hrs? I never thought of this issue prior to installation. For everyone else out there who feels like I do...too busy to maintain without some elbow grease maybe like hnewman... I'm with you on that one..porcelain tile is the way to go. I've seen some porcelain tiles that look like onyx if you can believe. Check out porcelain tiles ..they've come a long way and will be my next choice for flooring in kitchens and baths.

Mary Rose I did lots and lots of research and abused a test slab before choosing honed statuary marble for my kitchen. Statuary is like carrara, but whiter. I have a messy husband who loves to cook and two little boys, yet we still have no staining (unlike the white Caesarstone in our bathroom that has several stains). I have noticed a new etch on the marble almost daily. However, all I have to do is rub it with my finger, or if that doesn't work, rub the etched area with a Scotch-Brite scrub pad and the etching vanishes. While a pantina wouldn't bother me, so far, our counters still look pristine. And we are NOT neat freaks! I think marble has gets a bad rap here in America.

Elizabeth Dodson i have a full on traditional bathroom with marble counters and a marble shower. I love it, the look stands out and can be viewed as classic or contemporary. the cleaniness of the stone allows it to be used with a variety of colors that enhance the marble and with a nice sealant every year, you are good to go and it can remain as spectacular as when it originally was installed.

Diane Seiden has anyone had experience with Glassos? Would you use it again and would you recommend it for a kitchen counter top.
Thank you
Diane Seiden

toango what about greece thassoss white that is pure white? any ideas for using that?

s1nowy White carrera marble is used for the kitchen counters in our apartment building in Sydney Australia, and I've looked at at many whenever an apartment comes up for sale. They are ALL incredibly ring marked and splattered. Ours is the best I've seen, but we don't have children and I keep a runner on ours, (which is rather self-defeating) and we hone it back twice a year and seal, tI call that very high maintenance! It does depends on whether where the light comes from. The apartments all have a window shining along the counters. I would never recommend it as a kitchen counter material. You can't put a wine glass down, use the cooktop, or squeeze a lemon without leaving marks that will have to be polished out!

chikdoc I have honed calacatta gold marble countertops in my enitire kitchen...and I'm in love with them. I've had no issues with staining, even when left overnight. Just use a really good sealer. I thinking etching would be a major concern with a polished finish, but it's barely noticeable with the honed finish. If it's what you really want, I say go for it!

Kosta's Inc. I found 2 slabs of the calcutta gold for my kitchen counters and backsplash. It has a few black spots/dots on it. Is that a flawed piece? Would you purchase it for the kitchen counters?

Marie Murphy Thanks for all the posts, as I'm considering marble in our new kitchen. I went searching for some images of etched and stained marble so I can have a full understanding on how bad the damage can be. Well, I stumbled on this site with a blog on experimenting with marble. Hope this helps:

Part 1: http://www.granitegurus.com/2010/05/experiment-of-etching-marble-part-one.html

Part 2: http://www.granitegurus.com/2010/05/experiment-of-etching-marble-part-deux.html

freedom I spent many years with a tile setter/marble mason...and marble does stain. Even Italian salad dressing can eat that shiny finish right off. take a piece home and set it on your counter. then pour everything on it. I changed my mind from marble to tile right then!

poorgirl I responded to this post 13 months ago and didn't realize someone had asked me a question regarding the "Vermont Stone" Danby White Marble. Sorry about that.
This Marble is the hardest White Marble in the world. It used to be quarried by Georgia Marble & Granite but I believe it is now quarried by Vermont Stone quarriers. This Marble is a pure white, may not be as veining as the others and not as grey as the others. You still may be able to find this material, I know it was in great demand and the quarry was getting quarried out.
Possibly this might help some of you guys that are sitting on the fence as to using the softer materials if you can find it.
This would be good for all your countertops

monika2024 mwoodworth: What type of tub is that? Any issues getting in and out on a daily basis?

missangel99 Lots of talk here about carrara marble, what about the creamy marbles like botticino marble does it stain and turn color after time also? Getting ready to have new counters installed in my master bathroom and was going for this look now I am not so sure.

bi1ngo jillsk:

We are considering fireslate. Would you ever be able to share a photo or two of yours? As you say, it is hard to picture what it will look like once it's in use and what "patina" means for a specific material.

donnarosedetails Thank you all so much for the comments and ideas. I am planning to use carrera for my countertops. I recommend visiting a friends house who has marble countertops in their kitchens. Two friends allowed me to come and check out their kitchens. One had polished marble, had it for 6 years with family of 7; the other had honed marble, had it for 8 years with family of 6. When you look at the countertops it is pretty hard to just point out stains. I especially loved the look and feel of the honed marble...it made the house and kitchen feel loved and happily used.

cheecamama We have Carrara marble in our master bath. The look is lovely, clean, and inviting. BUT, be sure that you have a master of marble installation when you purchase. Ours was not sealed wel to start, and I cannot get the installer back out. Second, the 12 inch squares of marble on our floor have started turning brown.....eventually I guess the whole floor will turn brown. It is the craziest home problem I have ever seen. We will have to rip out and start over on the floor. No idea what has caused this as it is turning from the inside out, not staining.

John Whipple - By Any Design ltd. @ Cheecamama - can you post a picture of this? Where are these tiles located in the home? When you say turning brown could they be turning a rust colour instead?

It could be that your installation is getting water from below or above and the moisture is causing the iron deposit in the stone to rust out - this effect is common with many lower quality Marble tiles.

It is so important to soak a lager sampling of tile and monitor the effects once removed from the water and to buy the product from a supplier with a long relationship with his supplier.

Sorry to hear about your instal issues....

JW

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch Hello cheecamama,

John could be right however to me it sounds more like insufficient preparation work and or the wrong setting material and maybe also the wrong setting technique.

Did the tile guy installed the marble tiles directly on the wooden (plywood) floor ??? Could you give us a bit more input what exactly your installer did and what setting material he used. Was it white? And maybe you can also provide us with some pictures. And in what area is the marble starting to turn its color? Is it close to wet areas like your shower or bathtub ore near your toilet bowl?

!!! Installing natural stones and especially marble is DIFFERENT than installing ceramic or porcelain tiles !!!

Regards.

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch
Maple Ridge, BC (Greater Vancouver)
http://www.3D-Tile-Design.ca

Your New Home LLC Maple butcher block counters require the same level of rationalization. Cooks love them, the patina is fantastic, but the imperfections over time are an acquired taste. I like both for my own home but not for a house I'm renovating for resale.

cheecamama John , I cannot figure out how to post my pictures on houzz , but can email them to you to see and share. The color started changing on one tile, then another and another. The darkest are near our tub, but some are not ever even damp. We do not have a shower in this bath, so it does not get humid in the room. We did get a "great deal" on these tiles from a vendor that my builder located on internet. He had not used them before. The gentleman that laid all of my tile in three bathrooms ( this is the only only with marble) works for the most notable granite and tile people in our area, so I assume he knew what he was doing. Will try to post pictures from my PC instead of Ipad.

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch Hello cheecamama, can I get the pictures too please?

My email is: houzz@3D-Tile-Design.ca

Thanks, Bertram

John Whipple - By Any Design ltd. So far I have not received any pictures. Do I have your permission to repost them here?

JW

cheecamama John whipple....what is your email? I really am fairly skilled on my technology, but cannot find you.

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch Hi cheecamama, thanks for emailing me your the pictures.

And as far I can see is the miscoleration probably caused by the "underground". As you can see the shape of the "stains" is continued over a couple tiles. This is usually a typical sign when the marble was installed directly on the wood floor (hopefully plywood) without installing any waterproofing membrane before. The "ingredients" from the plywood dissolve when the wood gets wet/dump and travel upwards through the marble tiles.

Marble is very porous and act like a sponge. How porous it is can you test by yourself when you hold a flashlight behind a bright marble tile. You will see the light spot on the other side. It looks like the marble tile is glowing.

!!! And this is the reason why you have to use ONLY special setting materials when installing marble no matter where! Furthermore is this setting material always white ! - Regardless whether it's thickbed or if it's thinbed mortar.

The scenario which John described would cause more "dotted" spots on each marble tile. This pattern would look different.

Regards.

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch
Maple Ridge, BC (Greater Vancouver)
http://www.3D-Tile-Design.ca
.

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch Here are a couple examples for "glowing marble". You can create nice effects by knowing this. Look at the sink. Doesn't it look exquisite?

cheecamama Thank you for the input on my floors and for posting my pictures. The floor was installed directly to a new slab. I do not know the setting materials used. One way or the other, I am sure we will need to replace at some point, which of course is frustrating. Our renovation is only 1 1/2 years old.

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch Even concrete contains sometimes "ingredients" which dissolves when the concrete gets wet/damp. And especially when used "uncleaned/unwashed" sand to prepare the concrete. It's called "humus ingredients" which are organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of plant material by soil microorganisms.

!!! Therefore it is mandatory to prepare the floor properly and also to use ONLY special setting materials when installing marble to avoid such problems.

sandylorne I'm unclear what is different about the various white marbles, i.e. cheap marble vs expense. We are planning to install marble over existing large tiles and we plan to use the material to bond the two together but were also adding a heated floor. After reading all the pro and cons I'm seriously thinking of using tile instead of hex marble flooring. We have a master tile guy who does high end homes and the rest of the bathroom will be marble. What would a pro do between using tile floor vs marble? Also the Marble slab store recommends a special sealer that they claim will last 15 years. The installers must attend a special training class before being certified to use the product.

SandyB

poulet I did my first bathroom in marble (last year). Polished carrera on the counter top of vanity in adjoining dressing area, polished Ming Green in the shower with gorgeous seaglass colored glass accent, and 1" square mosaic HONED marble (from Tileshop--Biltmore) so it wouldn't be slippery. Well, it's not slippery, but i don't like it because it's not shiny, so it doesn't look as awesome as the other tile. I still love it all. After having marble in my bathroom, I can't imagine using anything else. Our house isn't that formal, but it's not casual either (no little ones running around). I'll take marble any day.

poulet This is Poulet again (from the comment above. My floor marble is TUMBLED, not honed. Again, great for not being slippery bathroom tile, but it's not looking very shiny or pretty. I'm wondering if the guys didn't seal it properly. That might be the reason. dont' know.

Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. I adore it - specify it a lot, but always make sure my clients are aware of its natural tendency to patina over time. Gorgeous, timeless, classic...

cheecamama I have already written about my Carrara marble tile floors turning brown. I would say to use the most expensive product that you can afford. It is a must that it be sealed really well. My floor tile has also spotted. My solid marble countertops look gorgeous!!!!

poorgirl If your considering using white marble for counters, have a look at doing the "leather" finish. This finish looks like honed but is textured. It's a beautiful finish, they stone stays white and the more leathered the finish the leather acts as a sealant on the stone.

joools I just had mugla marble (from Turkey) installed as kitchen counters. Although I will probably be neurotic about keeping it clean, I also love the idea that it is alive and willing to take on a character of its own... I am in a small-ish condo, near the beach and this is for me, not for the resale value... I simply love the look... I have heard the effort is not as necessary as the installation pros make it out to be... So I keep a moist "sham wow" nearby and wipe up anything I see...

But I love my new kitchen!!!

Rye Marble Inc Check out my page for some nice pictures of marble kitchens. Something all consumers should also know is that all natural stone is completely serviceable. Meaning, ANY stone can be repolished or honed on site. Not all "stone guys" have employees with skillset to do so, but all stone can be completely refinished. Some great alternatives to carrara and expensive Calacatta are, misty white (aka mistery white), and danby.

Kosta's Inc. We finally finished our kitchen last month and we love the calcutta marble used on our counters.

joools I just installed marble (Turkish, mugla white) throughout my kitchen (counters and bar.) In absolutely love the look! I can't speak to durability, but I don't mind a lived-in kitchen.

Can anyone recommend a specific cleaner/dealer product for one or two times a week use? The installer suggested I clean daily with a simple product, Windex. Of course this has to be the one without vinegar! But can any of the stone professionals weigh in on this?

thanks!

PS, the kitchen is not quite done. I'll post pictures when it is!

Kosta's Inc. My counter guy said to use a mix of rubbing alcohol and water to clean my marble counters. What do you think?

Rye Marble Inc On white marble definitely DON"T USE WINDEX. Especially if it's polished marble. Windex contains ammonia which can break down the polish and WILL ETCH (water marks etc) marble..I recommend that my clients use a simple solution of soap and water or a cleaner that I provide with my kitchens called Easy Oxy. I buy it from a friend who is a restoration pro and fabricator in California. He sells it through his website http://easystonecare.com . Here's a direct link to the product. http://www.easystonecare.com/Easy-Oxy-Granite-Countertop-Daily-Cleaner-32-oz-p/easy-oxy-1.htm **This cleaner has an orange scent but is citrus and acid free.

As far as the alcohol, you won't harm the surface in any way with alcohol but you may degrade whatever sealer was applied. Also, be careful on products (including alchol) with fragrances as they sometimes contain acids.

Again things to STAY AWAY FROM when caring for white marble:

- Acids - Including but not limited to cleaners with Citrus or vinegar

- Ammonia - such as windex, glass plus etc.

- Harsh Cleansers such as bar keepers friend, or ajax (soft scrub with bleach is OK for small, light staining)

- Common - "marble polish" or "marble cleaners" often these cleaners and polishes are either topical, or contain chemicals that have no business on marble.

Things TO USE when caring for white marble:

- Soap and Water

- Easy Oxy

- Soft Scrub with bleach

- Mild mix of bleach and water

For some more info on white marble and staining click here:

http://www.ryemarble.com/resources/countertop-maintenance/

joools @Rye Thanks for the info... Another question... Can light etching be buffed out of a polished marble surface? I read about folks using scrubs but it's never quit clear that they are scrubbing stains, etching or simple scum.

If light etching can be buffed or scrubbed, what should be used?

Also, what's the alcohol to water ratio for wiping up spills, how much alcohol to water?

And you mentioned Easy Stone. But that doesn't have a sealer component. Is there a cleaner sealer component that I can use every week or so to reduce the big job of a regular sealing? I am seeing so many different recommendations, from every 6 months (advice from my general contractor) to every 10 years (different stone care sites)! One stone expert said he didn't believe sealing was necessary past the original sealing!!! It's so hard to know who to listen to...

thanks much!

Julie

Rye Marble Inc The only way etching can be fixed is by having a pro repolish it. Etching is the reaction of the calcium in marble (or any other calcium based stone including limestone, travertine, and some quartzites) with some sort of acid. It is not topical, and cannot be fixed merely by mechanical means. When we polish marble we use abrasives up to anywhere between 1500 and 3000 grit. The final "pop" of the polish is then by using a polishing compound containing oxalic acid. This is what makes marble shiney. So to answer your question, no, there is no cleaner or polish which will remove etching.

Also as I may have mentioned, SEALING WILL NOT STOP ETCHIING. Sealing is not a magical product. It merely is a solution of dissolved solids. When the solution is applied, the solvent evaporates, leaving the solids behind in the pores of the stone. Certain sealers will last longer than others. I recommend to all my customers who purchase white marble that they seal their counters every six months to be safe. To tell if your counter needs to be sealed, let a saturated sponge sit on the counter for an hour or so. If, when you pick up the sponge and wipe up any excess water the countertop appears to have darkened. It needs to be sealed. Many fabricators do not seal counters properly from the start. Many sealers need time to penetrate the stone. So often to save time installers incorrectly apply the sealer. Stay away from any "all in one" products. If you have any other questions, you are welcome to visit http://www.stonefabricatorsalliance.com , start a free account and ask the pros yourself.

Keep in mind that my advice for white marble is different from other stones. Hope this was helpful.

holybush All this talk of how to fix the problem, prevention is always better than the cure, there is a product now in the USA, made in Australia called Clearstone this is a water clear product that is applied to any Marble or calcium stone where acid etching occurs, it carriers a 15 year warranty against staining and etching.
If you are thinking that this cant be than have a look at the following web site www.clearstoneUSA.com

missangel99 I am using Bottacino marble in two bathrooms. It's creamy like a marfil marble. Any comments on using this color? Appreicate any advice.

missangel99 I'm using Bottacino marble which looks a lot like creme marfil marble. Any advice appreciated. What experience have you had with the Bottacino marbel in bathrooms?

Rye Marble Inc @MIssangel Bottocino is a timeless marble and has been a classic and will remain so for years. There are generally two types classico (with some red veining) and (fiorito) less veining. Both are perfectly fine in a bathroom, but be prepared to clean up promptly, leaving things such as toothpaste, and certain soaps and hygiene products can cause etching. Prompt cleaning is the key.

Clearstone looks like a coating. The italians have been coating marble for years.... Sort of like a polyurethane. I don't recommend it.

Toni Sabatino I think this is a great article. The point about the patina is so well explained. I love marble and have used it in many kitchens and baths. If you care for it reasonably well it performs beautifully, in my opinion. Here are a few of my favorite marble jobs.....

joools Rye, I really appreciate your knowledge..., Can you offer any insight or background on mugla white marble? I think it is from Turkey/Armenia, but that's all I know. It is quite beautiful, with grey veining and a few aqua shadings...

joools Rye, I really appreciate your knowledge..., Can you offer any insight or background on mugla white marble? I think it is from Turkey/Armenia, but that's all I know. It is quite beautiful, with grey veining and a few aqua shadings...

Rye Marble Inc @Jools Sorry I am not familiar with Mulga White.

holybush To Rye Marble Inc, Clearstone is a coating and it is around 2mm thick on the surface of the stone, it is water clear and can be finished to what ever you require matt to high gloss, it is not the old Italian type of polyurethane two pack that has been around for years which has many drawbacks.
Clearstone has however been around many years in Australia and used on Bar tops, Kitchen tops, Vanity tops etc , it is easily repaired and after years of use can be sanded back to the finish you want this can be done time and again, any chips or deep scratches can also be quickly and easily fixed, try doing that with the old Italian two pack.
There are applicators in Australia applying Clearstone to hundreds of tops every year, and a great deal of very satisfied clients are saying wow!!! also the retailers selling stone are able to sell what ever the customer wants without the worry of acid etching or staining, how good would it be for your customers to come into your showroom and choose a Onyx, Marble, Travertine, Limestone top,and all you have to say is put Clearstone on it and you get 15 years warranty against Staining and Etching.

sierraimwalle I love Carerra Marble as well.. but am just too reluctant to use it in the kitchen due to staining. (I am someone who doesn't want to see the product change over time).. so my question is, does anyone have any suggestions for a different product, granite, caesarstone etc., that will look similar? The only thing I've found is Super White granite (which I do like), but before I pick out a slab I want to know all of my options.
Thanks so much in advance for your help and the sooner the better as it's time to decide:)

karen7 cheecamama - re your bathroom pictures posted, can you give me some info on your tall storage cabinet - measurements and where bought? I am looking for a piece quite similar and am having dimension issues. thx!

Rye Marble Inc @sierraimwalle - Understand that while superwhite is more durable than Carrara marble it is NOT a granite. It is a quartzite, and has characteristics more similar to a marble than a granite. It will etch from acids. And can scratch. That being said, it is a wonderful kitchen material. Its just better that you understand what you are purchasing before you buy it. Unfortonately many slab companies are marketing it as the "miracle granite" which it is not.

cheecamama Karen 7, my cabinets were custom made. The interior of cabinet is 15 inches deep, exterior 16 inches deep. It is perfect for towels and all linens. It is floor to ceiling with four upper shelves and two lower. I had seen a picture similarity with the upper mirrors. They are wonderful and add so much to my room. You can go as wide as you want or need with this look. There is one more shorter mirrored door continuing to the left with a cubbyhole which meets the countertop. All the hours of looking at magazines, books, and Internet really pays off when renovating or building. Good luck!!!

joools I have added images to my idea book "the new kitchen." I used marble bar and countertops and had the cabinetry refaced. The marble is highly polished, and so far I don't have a single regret…

cylori Anyone have recommendations for granite or quartzite options that look very close to marble?

joools I just put it in my kitchen and am loving it. Diligence and a wipe with a simple moist cloth is all it takes!

Plush Design Studio Hi, I am the designer of the 5th pic from the top (with the venetian mirror). www.plush-design-studio.com. Thanks for sharing. I just found it :)

Clearstone, LLC There is a way to protect marble tops in kitchens and bathrooms from any acid-etching (dull spots) and staining. The product is Clearstone. It is a resin based product that can be added to any marble, limestone, onyx and sandstone and even a lot of engineered stone. Its a clear coating that can be finished as either highly polished or honed. This product/process is new in the United States (about a year now) but has been used throughout a lot of the rest of the world for 16 years. Its not new and it works. Check out www.ClearstoneUSA.com If you have Clearstone applied you will have a 15 year warranty against all acid-etching and staining. Enjoy and use your natural stone tops without worry.

ddebs i would like to use the white marble on th ground level of my house,also to no how it is layed ? could you reccommend unusual white leather furniture please ?

saraeverhard Help: I am putting Calacata slab in my kitchen. I thought I was going to have it honed, but my contractor says honing will remove the beautiful subtle greens and shadings that are present and will make it look more like the back of the slab which has virtually no coloration at all. I am still very confused about honed vs. polished in the kitchen and which one makes more sense. Are water rings really a problem on polished marble and is that only after several hours or more? I have no problem with patina...just don't want ring marks...

cacervin I would love your input for our master bathroom. We are putting marble on the floors around the bathtub and on two walls of the shower and shower floor (we are doing a glass shower for the other two sides). Should I consider a different material in the shower? Its crema marfil marble. Is there a porcelain tile we should use in the shower instead to avoid some of the cleaning issues. What do you use to clean the floor and the shower in the master bathroom that is used everyday?

cwiste On surfaces always do honed like bathrooms and kitchens! You can do polished on floors. Never use abrasive cleaning chemicals or agnets. You will get rings or etching over time, but have a local Marble Restoring Company buff the marble when it shows signs of etching. Honed is still very beautiful, it is how nature intended marble!

jacksonbeth I have heard that Marble is great for floors, and bathrooms, even in the kitchen. There are some really gorgeous photos at http://carolinashomestone.com that I have been looking at. I am wondering if I should do Marble or Granite -- what is the pros or cons to either?