Transitional Kitchen Transitional Kitchen, Toronto

Hi! I am the photographer for this shoot so I won't be able to help you with your design question. However, you can contact the designers who are credited on this photo. Thanks Lisa :)

The practicality of marble depends upon your expectations.

Marble is softer than granite. So, it is more prone to scratching. Still, it is a rock and quite a durable surface. It's always recommended to use trivets and cutting boards, both to protect your countertop, and also because cutting directly on the stone will dull your knives.

Also, marble can stain. It is a naturally porous rock and liquids can seep into these pores and stain. However, regular sealing can make marble quite stain resistant. What a sealer does is fill in the pores to help prevent those staining liquids from penetrating.

There is one thing which sealers don't protect against, however, and that is etching. This is a chemical reaction that occurs between the calcium carbonate in the rock, and any acids (think tomato sauce, ketchup, wine, lemon and lime juice, orange juice, etc). The acids react with the minerals and literally eat away at the surface of the stone, causing "etching". This essentially looks like a dull spot in the marble.

We have more information (and pictures too) on marble etching a blog post we wrote here

Marble is a beautiful stone that has been used in kitchens for 100s of years. Because of its characteristics, it will develop a patina over time. Think of a classic Italian kitchen with the well-loved marble. That is the look that will eventually develop. It won't be pristine forever. If you're ok with that, great! Marble might be a fantastic choice for you! If not, you may want to look at alternatives such as granite, quartz (there are some available which have a very similar look) or even a new product, ThinSlab porcelain with a marble look.