I do not personally have marble in my bathroom, however I work for a dealer that sells marble. Marble does have some upkeep, like sealing to Prevent staining, however most granites need a sealant as well. What type of upkeep are you worried about having to maintain?

Hatetoshop, can you give us some examples of what it's like to live with all of that marble in your master; what you have to do to care for it and what problems you've had?

I have marble on my shower floor, walls and slabs for shower bench. I have no problems, it is sealed (but I do wash my hair dye out in a different bathroom). The only annoying thing is that I have noticed some white pitting in the bench slab. I really like marble in bathrooms - I think you just have to do it with the idea that it may not stay pristine.

Thanks for the comments. I am concerned about staining the marble on the vanity counter top. And in the shower, soap and other products on the wall of the shower. I realize that a good sealer will help to keep the marble at its best. I have granite in other baths, and was looking for something alittle different for the Master.

Marble etches (I think that's the term), but it can be buffed out. The thing that bothers me is that I've read you're not supposed to use bleach on marble. I'd like to clean the shower with VIM (contains bleach), but am a bit afraid to. Many personal care products (face wash?) contain things that mark the marble counter as well.

We squeegee the entire shower after use, but maybe others do that with regular tile? We have sealed it, but I do wish we didn't have it.

Maybe I worry too much :)

Never again. White marble in house I sold was stained by everything needed to look good.

I love the look, but it's probably not the right choice for me.

Marble has been used for, dare I say, thousands of years. Unfortunately, the cosmetics, cleaners and other chemicals we now use have not been in use for that long. I would use marble very judiciously in anything other than a powder room..

Thank you again for your advice. I am looking at a marble called: Crema Marfil. It is a creamy beige color. I would stay away from white as well, not sure if Crema Marfil would be any different though.

If you are okay with having granite, you'll be okay with marble as they
require more or less the same level of upkeep (I am assuming you have
had granite before because you say that it is easier to take care of)
but if you compare marble to granite, marble is more porous and is
softer (making it more prone to etching and staining.) Having it as the
vanity countertop is okay but as flooring, be prepared for having to do
regular maintainance to keep it looking pristine. I really do like the
look of marble, especially crema marfil though. It's a timeless, stone
that looks really great on black or white vanities.

Thanks for the input. I am going to stick with the marble for the vanity top only, and think it will be fine. I got my inspiration from numerous photos from Houzz, where they used Crema Marfil throughout the entire bathroom. Maybe they were 2nd homes and did not see as much traffic as others.

in the picture attached: AGO ALBA VERA POLISH 3"x6" for all bathroom's walls using non sanded grout "Delorean Gray"
With minimal ornamentation, simple lines with trendy details, such as modern freestanding 6 foot tub, modern chrome fixtures, fixed glass panel, rainfall shower-head, combined with timeless Alba Vera polished tiled marble, white solid wood vanity and marble counter top are some of the finishes, that update this elegant west LA bathroom space.

Karen
Fidelity GC

Great decision. If you ever need bath items, whether vanities or hardware, feel free to check out the site or call us. I hope you post on the Before and After section once you're done with renovations. Good luck :)

Marble is beautiful but it will etch and stain easier than granite. Sealers help protect the stone but do not make them stain proof. Be sure to use a solvent based sealer vs water based. Solvent based is stronger and will repel the oils in your soaps better in the long run vs water based. If you spill your toothpaste, clean it up quick. Toothpaste is one of the most common products that will stain your vanity top in the bathroom whether it's sealed or not.