Originally published 5/16/18
Updated 10/6/23
Ok, I’ve completely changed my mind about marble kitchen counters. Let me tell you why.
In 2018, I wrote this article about marble, struggling to understand why anyone would put such an easily damaged surface in such a busy area. My perspective was you’re buying something expensive only to have it “ruined” by use. However, that’s not the reason to buy marble. And it is also not “ruined”.
People who buy marble are not looking for pristine longevity. They are looking for character and story.
I have come to realize how special marble kitchen counters are and have developed a greater appreciation for them. In the 5+ years since I’ve written this article, I have embraced the true beauty of imperfection, the character and homey-ness that comes from not replacing but just letting items age, and the personality that arises because of these things.
I’ve developed a deeper understanding that the nature of nature is change. Natural products will age and show wear– just like us. Smile lines, as evidence of a life well lived and filled with joy, but in product form. Is anything less beautiful because it is no longer pristine? 100% no. And I invite you to look into your definition of beauty–who taught you what is beautiful? And why?
Stone is formed over thousands of years and is by nature, imperfect. Imperfection is actually what draws people to it. Marble is not manmade; it’s earth made. Literally no 2 pieces of stone are alike. That in itself is incredible; it is living art.
If marble is used and loved, it will show. But what you’re seeing isn’t damage at all; what you’re seeing is LIFE. The etchings on marble kitchen counters are actually the story of your own life.
If you had a particularly awesome (and red wine filled) night with your closest loves who gently spilled as their faces lit up and their posture relaxed, the marble will share that memory. If you perfected your tarka daal (lentil curry) and made a smorgasbord of turmeric filled Indian food for your friends, that memory is etched in time on your counter. It’s living history. That right there is the reason I completely changed my mind about marble kitchen counters. You don’t love marble for the perfection, you love it for the evolution. The same applies to people, by the way;-)
Two of my greatest influences in learning how to value (and see with new eyes) items developing a patina story of wear were Athena Calderone (Eye Swoon) and Gwen Hefner (The Makerista). These 2 women built their impressive careers on flipping the “buy it now” idea of modern consumerism and instead opted for slow and thoughtful. They embrace imperfection because it is actually perfection. They teach how to give soul and voice to spaces. So yeah, my views on marble kitchen counters changed as my perspective on life changed.
I realized I didn’t want to live in a world where only the artificial and perfect are heralded.
I still don’t feel marble is for everyone, but instead of a blanket “why marble is the worst kitchen material”, which was literally the title of this article when I wrote it in 2018 (I know, I know–dramatic much?), I’m going to offer scenarios to identify those who might have a more difficult time with this material. Better to decide before spending thousands, ya know?
Don't Get Marble Kitchen Counters IF...
So many people are choosing marble for their kitchen but are not aware of the downsides to this particular stone. This results in initial joy that soon turns into anguish in the form of permanent marks and stains on your pristine marble. Then you’ll start thinking you made a beautiful, but costly, mistake. Let’s skip all that and talk about it now. Marble isn’t for everyone and that is totally ok!
1. You want them to look new, always
I get it. The kitchen is the workhorse of the home and some people just wouldn’t feel comfortable spending money on what they feel will degrade. If you buy a quality product, it is counterintuitive to soften your understanding of quality to allow imperfection. It’s the very opposite of our consumer culture wanting us to constantly upgrade the second something doesn’t look brand new or develops a perceived flaw. But this mindset is also greatly contributing to our environmental crises. More more more all ends up in a landfill.
2. You would treat signs of wear as a "loss"
We are human. Try as we might to protect our marble kitchen counters, we just can’t. There will be signs of wear. Just like with your favorite pair of Doc Martens or Levis–you used them and they started showing that story. They have signs of wear and love and are all the better for it; they are part of you now. If you live with intention, there’s no reason to mourn the effects that living a full life would have on your countertops.
3. You would miss out on life to protect your counters
Life is too too short to be stressing over maintaining the facade of perfection. This is the reason I’m super passionate about incorporating lifestyle design with my clients.
In all things, your home must allow you to live and thrive.
What’s even the point of treating yourself to beautiful marble kitchen counters if the result will be stress and a foul mood trying to control the uncontrollable?
Marie Flanigan Interiors | Photo: Julie Soefer
4. You cook with staining ingredients
If this applies to you, I think we would be friends in real life. If I had marble kitchen counters, they would look like a Jackson Pollock. I make everything from fresh tomato based pasta sauces, to curries o’ plenty, to candles with melted wax that goes astray. I spill coffee frequently and have a habit of squeezing lemon into water and putting the used lemon on the counter for later “just in case”. My marble kitchen counters would be filled with so much story and life, and I think that might bother me a little while looking at them. And that’s ok!
The Nature of Marble
Marble is porous, meaning it absorbs things. If you are constantly using your kitchen, sooner or later, you will have a spill. This spill will seep into the marble, causing a stain if it is not properly sealed.
But what if my marble IS properly sealed? Well then it won’t totally stain, BUT it will leave a tone-on-tone mark called “etching”. Etching is very apparent when the light hits it, which is why it is recommended that people get honed (matte) marble as opposed to shiny.
Do you know why diamonds make great engagement rings? They are a very hard and durable mineral with a rating of 10 on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness. When talking about countertops, you might prefer something that’s durable and able to resist scratching. Marble ranks at a 3-4 on the Mohs scale, while granite ranks at 6-7, and quartz at a solid 7 ranking.
5 Ways to Maintain Marble
1. Have it resealed periodically
2. Always uses coaster and trivets
3. Wipe all spills immediately (including water!)
4. Get a cleaner specifically for marble
5. Use a cutting board with a lip to make sure stray food pieces and liquids remain on the board
So, what do you think? Do you have marble or would you get it for yourself? Just remember to give your marble kitchen counters grace to be imperfect…and then give yourself that same grace and you’ll both be just fine:-)