Among the most popular materials used in interior design, marble consistently ranks as one of the top favourites year after year. It is easy to see why this natural stone is so highly sought after – its distinctive veining gives it a stunning appearance. No two slabs of natural marble are the same, so a unique kitchen countertop is guaranteed.
Marble effect worktops are sophisticated and timeless, they complement a huge range of styles of home, whether it’s a contemporary urban apartment or a classic country style cottage. While it can be tempting to opt for a marble kitchen worktop for its visual advantages, there are some major drawbacks in doing so.
The material chosen for a kitchen work surface should be extremely durable, non-porous and easy to clean. None of these listed attributes are advantages with marble. The natural stone is porous, making it susceptible to staining from liquids such as red wine and oil. It can also be damaged by acidic liquids, for instance lemon juice or vinegar will leave a dull, pitted surface.
A marble work surface will need to be sealed to make it more water and oil resistant. Even then, it will need to be re-sealed over time to ensure it continues to be effective. Without this sealant, the marble will be penetrated and can stain.
Also, marble is a soft stone, making it vulnerable to chipping and scratches, which is far from ideal in the kitchen environment where preparing food will easily lead to lots of wear and tear. Repairing the damage can be very costly. In the long term, the sealing and damage repair increases the overall cost of choosing a marble surface for the kitchen. For these reasons, many people consider marble to be best suited to lower traffic areas of a home such as the bathroom.
Recent developments in quartz manufacturing have seen an increasing variety of compelling pattern variants. Some patterns impersonate the veining of marble to offer the aesthetic qualities of their marble counterparts. Quartz that looks like marble is a brilliant solution for anyone keen on including the distinctive styling of marble but without the high maintenance aftercare.
Quartz countertops are much easier to care for as they are non-porous- no sealing is required, and thanks to its resin component, quartz surfaces are stain and scratch resistant.
According to the Moh’s scale of mineral hardness, quartz is one of the hardest naturally occurring minerals. Due to its strength, quartz counters are extremely durable and very difficult to chip or crack. Cleaning and maintaining the natural lustre of the surface is simple- all it needs is a slightly dampened soft cloth and mild detergent to clean it.
Marble effect kitchen worktops give the kitchen a timeless, luxurious elegance just like with natural stone marble. The more predictable patterns from a quartz work surface also allow for better harmonising with other kitchen materials, including wood, stone and stainless steel.
White marble effect quartz worktops are currently the most popular kitchen trend, scroll through any interior design magazine and you’ll see gleaming white surfaces. Its luminosity brightens up a kitchen- perfect for making a kitchen appear more spacious. For those with colourful cabinetry, installing a white quartz worktop will create a beautiful, eye catching contrast.
Grey marble effect worktops are also another popular alternative – there’s plenty of different shades of grey to play with to change up the ambience of your kitchen. Grey marble is just as sophisticated as white and black but with a softer overall feel. Which is why grey marble worktop is great for creating balance in the kitchen, and is ideal for those that prefer a minimalistic look.
We have a variety of different marble effect quartz surfaces, ranging from a beautiful light Carrara right through to our dark and luxurious Staccato. We have developed our range to ensure there is a worktop option that works in harmony with your kitchen design.
For more information, please see our marble look Pinterest board or our brochure containing design inspiration and specifications of our quartz worktops.
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