Kitchen Design Idea: Should You Consider Marble Kitchen Countertops?

by James Mahoney

Authors Note: Marble is an amazing natural surface that comes in a large variety of textures and color variations. It is the hardest surface you can choose for your kitchen countertops. It is a very durable material, but with its high cost is it something you should consider in your kitchen design?

Marble kitchen countertops have a very high price tag and so naturally they are not typically used for kitchen countertops, though many consider it in their kitchen design idea. Marble is regarded as a top-of-the-line stone. Like granite, which is also used as material in kitchen design ideas, marble is a natural stone surface and is a naturally porous material that requires special sealants. Not to mention, marble kitchen countertops look great in kitchen designs with islands.

Marble is used in many other design applications apart from kitchen design ideas, such as in flooring and bathroom countertops. Marble is great choice for flooring and is used in rooms where the goal is to create an overall effect of opulence. While using marble for kitchen countertops is a beautiful kitchen design idea, this type of material requires maintenance because it can stain easily. Sealers are required to prevent staining and scratches.

Marble is a metamorphic rock derived from limestone. This limestone is exposed to high temperatures which then cause the limestone to change composition and become marble. The difference between these two natural materials is that limestone is a chalky, dusty rock, while marble is hard and compact.

Marble is smooth and cool to the touch, and as in the case of granite, marble kitchen countertops will have a unique, one-of-a-kind look that can only be produced in a kitchen design idea that utilizes natural stone surface material.

Marble can be an extremely durable material, although as with most natural stone products, it is prone to crack. It does, however, require a great amount of force to cause cracking in a marble kitchen countertop.

Marble kitchen countertops are available in a variety of color variations such as white, black, yellows, reds, creamy neutrals, subtle earth tones, greens, tawny browns, and even scarlet reds. They can be clouded or veined, and the colors of marble can be combined with different types of accents, borders, and patterns to produce many kinds of dramatic kitchen design ideas.

Marble is popular with architects and designers who use it for more of a building and ornamental purpose than developing kitchen design ideas. Marble kitchen countertops require more maintenance than other natural stone used in kitchen design ideas since it is much softer and therefore more likely to scratch and stain. But with the right maintenance and care, marble kitchen countertops, and your dream kitchen design idea, will remain elegant and beautiful for many years.

In spite of the cost, marble can be a great material for your kitchen design ideas, particularly in kitchen countertops. Natural marble has features that can provide you with options on how the marble kitchen countertops can be made. There are countless designs, colors, surface textures, tile patterns and edge details available with marble kitchen countertops. There are also more affordable faux marble kitchen countertops available, as well.

One of the reasons for the high cost of implementing a kitchen design idea with marble for kitchen countertops is that the solid marble countertops are usually custom-made, and while it is certainly faster to install a single large block than to put in several small pieces, the solid marble countertops cost more when it comes to the fabrication and installation. Just a relatively small kitchen remodeling project can cost at least $400, while the larger, heavier marble blocks can cost you in excess of $1000. Nevertheless, when considering marble in your kitchen design ideas, it should be noted that the money that you might spend on a solid marble kitchen countertop will be a good investment since a marble countertop will pay for itself in the money saved from maintenance and repairs.

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