Although I have used marble at client's requests, I try to make sure they are educated about the material they are purchasing and understand that marble is a product that needs to be maintained consistently and there are no guarantees against potential marring. Acidic products will "etch" the stone leaving a dull spot on the lustrous surface the instant it touches the counter-i.e. juice, any tomato products etc. Oils cannot sit on the counter as they will penetrate the surface and leave darker spots and red wine, particularly with the lighter marbles such as Carrera will stain. Sealants will help with keeping the marble looking as pristine as possible, but they will not make it impervious. Granite is the most impervious counter top in a kitchen. So with four kids you will have to decide how concerned you want to be all the time. I hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks so much! I now have another question. What about Soapstone? I was going with white cabinets and thought Soapstone would look beautiful in our 1834 Greek Revival. How is that material with kids? Also on the island it is going to be a dark stained maple. What color/s would you recommend on the granite? And would you recommend honed or antiqued? Thanks again!

Your home sounds amazing and you are definitely on track with preserving its historical integrity. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but soapstone isn't any easier than marble. Because it is a matte surface, it wears a bit funny and tends to get "cloudy" in certain spots after time and looks like there's almost a film on it. Honed black absolute is a better alternative, however, bc it is matte again, oils from fingertips etc are very apparent. One solution I found for this is having my fabricator use an enhancer on the stone once it is installed. This allows it to still be matte but the enhancer adds a bit of the darkness back to the stone and doesn't make every single spot on eyesore. There are some good granites that look like Carrera marble as well but are much more durable; local suppliers change names of more unique stones often times but this might be the best solution for you with the children.

Thank you for your quick and honest response! So honed is not the best for fingerprints. I will see if I can get it enhanced as you suggest. Do you have any suggestions for colors of granite? Thank you again!

Sorry another question - do the newer harder soapstones form a cloudy surface/film as well? Does it matter on whether they are harder or softer?

And have you ever heard of water rings on soapstone? Thanks again!

We have 16 ft. Of soapstone countertops with kids. No water stains. It does patina (darken) over time, but I think it adds to the look. It is a very traditional material and impossible to stain.