Your kitchen countertop offers a wonderful opportunity to incorporate a beautiful slab of natural stone marble. This iconic-looking and beautiful material can be used throughout the home to great effect. However, there is something truly special about choosing a marble benchtop for your kitchen.

To help inspire you, we’ve put together a guiding list of beautiful marble kitchen countertop ideas. But first: why choose Marble?

The Benefits of Marble

Durable

Marble, like all stone, is a highly durable and hardy material. With some simple sealing and good maintenance habits, a marble benchtop is not just an opportunity to add elegance to your home today but a chance to invest in a long term solution that will add value to your home.

Heat Resistance

You know the saying, If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen? Well, it applies to your countertop as well. Marble offers excellent heat resistance which is one of the reasons it makes for such a good kitchen countertop. Of course, we still recommend using trivets and kitchen mats for pots and pans as with all benchtop materials.

Unique

Due to the fact that natural stone, like marble, is quarried from the ground and cut from slab to size, no two blocks of stone are exactly the same. If you want a truly unique and magnificent kitchen countertop, there’s nothing better than marble.

Beautiful

Marble is beautiful. That’s the truth. While we may be biased, the aesthetic of marble has long been associated with luxury and sophistication. While you might not be in a position to use marble throughout the home or even kitchen, your benchtop is a practical, affordable application for this most gorgeous of stones.

11 Beautiful Marble Kitchen Countertops Ideas

1. Pietra Medicea Kitchen Island

The deep textures of this stormy grey coloured marble is excellent for a wide range of marble kitchen countertops. We especially recommend using a honed, smooth slab or pietra medicea as part of a chic kitchen island. Available in either a matte or normal finish, this special marble is perfect for both modern and rustic kitchen designs.

2. Super White Benchtop

Nothing brings minimalistic simplicity and pure beauty like a super white dolomite marble benchtop. Easily complemented by either blue kitchen tiling, gold fixtures or a range of other colours, an all-white countertop will infuse a lightness and spaciousness to your kitchen. 

3. Classic Italian Benchtop

When you think of marble, you’re probably picturing this classic Italian marble with milky colouring and light grey veining. This iconic type of marble will instantly elevate your kitchen and bring a sense of grandeur and luxury to the home. While suitable for a wide range of interior design styles, it’s particularly stunning in traditionally styled homes.

4. Beautiful Blue Stone Benchtop

Blue marble might not be what first comes to mind, but this beautiful material is becoming more and more popular. It’s easy to understand why. Despite its name, blue marble offers rich colouring and a range of patterns and shading, so you’ll certainly find the one that’s right for you and your kitchen. Plus, there are plenty of blue marble options out there such as:

• Blue Dreams 
• Calacatta Manhattan 
• Verde Kamaleo 
• Verde Van Gogh

5. Green Marble Countertop

 A green marble countertop is an impressive sight. With intricate veining patterns and a rich yet earthy tone, green marble can be used in conjunction with a range of colour schemes and design styles.

6. Black and Gold Kitchen Countertop

Nothing says bold and beautiful like a black and gold kitchen countertop. If you’re out to really highlight your kitchen bench, a stunning slab of black and gold marble will be the cherry on the cake. Black is best suited in kitchens with white or light cabinetry and flooring so that it doesn’t make the overall colour scheme seem too heavy.

7.  Curved Edges

Now onto some marble countertop design styles. A curved edge marble countertop looks absolutely beautiful in any kitchen. If you’re not a fan of modern-style hard 90-degree corners and rectangular aesthetics, a curved marble kitchen countertop will add a touch of softness and beauty. Plus, curved countertops are less likely to get chipped!

8. Miter Joint Edges

Marble slabs come in all shapes, sizes and thickness. If you’re putting in a relatively thin marble benchtop, an affordable and easy way to achieve the impressive aesthetic of a thicker slab is through using a miter joint around the countertop’s edging. 

9. Multi-Slab Countertop

As mentioned, every piece of stone and marble is different. One way of making your marble countertop stand out is by actually incorporating two different blocks of stone with two distinct patterns and veining. This allows you to achieve an even more unique aesthetic that will absolutely draw the eye of visitors, friends and family. 

10. Pair With Wood

Wood and marble look absolutely fantastic! If your kitchen boasts wood or timber elsewhere, consider using a classic white or grey coloured marble for your countertop. This semi-rustic and semi-Scandinavian aesthetic is pure elegance. 

11. Juxtapose Black and White

Black and white are two opposite colours that just work a treat. If you’re thinking about what the right marble countertop is for your kitchen, consider going for the contrasting black and white design style. Marble comes in both luxuriously dark shades and gloriously white colours, so no matter what the rest of your kitchen looks like, you’ll find a more-than suitable slab of marble. 

You Can Count(ertop) On Euro Marble!

There you have it, 11 excellent ideas for a marble kitchen countertop. As you can see there’s plenty of options available from the type of marble, to the overall kitchen design and even the shape of your actual benchtop.

If you’d like additional help finding the perfect marble countertop for your kitchen, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today. 

Using stunning marble in your bathroom is an excellent way to showcase this luxurious natural stone in a tasteful way. Marble has been used in construction for centuries thanks to its aesthetic and functional properties, and your bathroom offers plenty of potential for continuing the timeless trend.

Why use marble in your bathroom?

Beautiful

Nothing looks as magnificent as marble. With plenty of shades, patterns, colours and styles to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect marble slab for your preference and home design without sacrificing the gorgeous aesthetic of marble. 

Unique

Marble, like all natural stone, comes in 100% unique slabs that can then be cut to size for your vanity, wall tiles or shower. This means that any application of marble in your bathroom or home is unlike any other slab anywhere in the world.

Durable

Marble is a hardy stone that offers plenty of durability. As far as investments go, marble is up there not just in add-on value for your home but also in the long-term return on investment thanks to this long-lasting material.

Heat Conductivity

Of all places in your house the bathroom is one where you’ll want strong heat conductivity. Paired with strong underfloor heating, marble effectively conducts the heat so you’ll be able to control the temperature of your bathroom more easily. Think warm, comfortable stone during those winter nights and cool-to-the-touch stone for those balmy summer evenings. 

10 Stunning Marble Bathrooms For Inspiration

Have we convinced you to include some gorgeous marble in your bathroom build or renovation? Here are 10 excellent marble bathroom ideas to help provide you with inspiration.

1. Blue Marble Bathrooms

While the classic marble look is iconic and stunning, there’s plenty of scope to diversify aesthetics. Blue marble stone, for example, can be used for your bathroom vanity, a feature wall, or in your shower to provide a really distinct and effective contrast to the various metallic features. 

2. Pink Marble Bathroom

If blue isn’t quite your vibe but you’re looking to incorporate a different coloured marble, consider a pink marble bathroom. There’s plenty of personality in a stunning slab of pink natural stone and it’s easy to incorporate this sophisticated aesthetic in your shower, vanity or bathroom walls.

3. Carrara Marble Showers

One way to really turn your bathroom into a stylistic statement is by going for a full-scale marble shower. With Carrara marble’s stunning milky white shading and cloudy veining it will turn your shower into a corner of opulence and luxury while bringing light and spaciousness to the entire room. For tips on maintaining stone showers, read our article here.

4. Grey Marble Walls

Grey marble comes in a variety of shades so you can find the perfect level of light/darkness to suit your aesthetic and preference. Whichever slab you choose, a grey marble wall (or multiple) in your bathroom can elevate the entire space and make the whole bathroom look and feel fit for royalty.

5. Wraparound Marble Half-wall

A marble half-wall is exactly what it sounds like: Marble stone cladding on the lower half of your wall. When you apply it in a wraparound fashion to your bathroom you’ll be allowing your marble to feature and shine without becoming too overwhelming. It’s a great way to incorporate beautiful marble without committing to floor-to-ceiling application. 

6. Subway Tiles

Another excellent option for marble walls is to incorporate the stone in the classic subway tile pattern. This allows you to benefit from all the aesthetic of gorgeous marble and add a subtle yet distinct level of depth through the pattern. Elegant and minimalistic, yet arrestingly beautiful and easily complemented with the rest of your bathroom.

7. White Marble Floor

If you love minimalist aesthetics and really want to brighten up your bathroom, consider a white marble floor. Polished marble (complete with non-slip coverings to ensure your safety) effectively reflects natural light and bounces it around the room giving your bathroom that extra sense of spaciousness. Plus, pairing simply white marble flooring with intricately designed vanities, feature walls or other furnishings can work wonders!

8. Checkered Marble Floor

Checkered stone flooring is making a real comeback and with the wide range of marble colours available at Euro Marble, you can achieve the same look. If you’re after a bit of extra visual depth in your marble flooring, consider a checkerboard-style marble floor. You can pair white marble with grey, or go for the classic and bold white and black checker design. They all look amazing.

9. Black Marble Vanity

There is unlimited potential when it comes to your bathroom’s basin and vanity. One stunning bathroom idea to inspire you is the bold black marble vanity. This jaw-droppingly beautiful feature will stand out amidst the rest of your bathroom’s style. It’s an excellent way of incorporating something a bit different and out-there without going overboard or cramping your style.

10. Marble and Wood

Using wood and timber in a bathroom helps to infuse a sense of Earthiness and nature. Fortunately, few materials complement wood accents–be it wall paneling or anything else–better than marble. Light marble stone combined with the warmth of deep brown wood allows you to benefit from the best of both worlds. Subtle and elegant, there are plenty of ways to incorporate marble in your bathroom with wood.

Explore More Marble Bathrooms

The team at Euro Marble know a thing or two about bathrooms, marble and incorporating marble effectively into bathrooms. So whether an idea we’ve listed above has inspired you or you want to talk through some other options for your particular application, make sure to reach out to our team today. We love nothing more than bringing luxury, dreamy marble bathrooms to life!

When it comes to building materials for use in your home marble is amongst the most premium of choices. Marble has been popular for centuries and has long been associated with luxury and opulence thanks to its beautiful aesthetic and elegance. While great for application just about anywhere in your home, marble flooring is one of the best ways to maximise the impact of this stunning natural stone.

However, marble does have some unique features compared to other types of stone and construction materials. So, to help you decide whether marble flooring is right for you, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the pros and cons of choosing marble for use in your home’s flooring.

Pros of Marble Flooring

Range

Marble might be most commonly associated with white shading and intricate cloudy or grey veining, but this stone actually comes in a wide range of colours. There are plenty of options in terms of veining, patterns and shades and they all boast a special aesthetic depending on your preference.

Unique

Marble flooring is made from cut-to-size stone slabs quarried directly from the Earth in various places around the world (depending on the type of marble). This means that every single slab and piece of marble in your home is unique in the sense that no other stone anywhere is exactly like it. Unlike engineered stone or other man-made construction products, your marble slab is a truly one-of-a-kind product. This, of course, makes your marble flooring all the more special.

Conducts Heat

One of the most important advantages of using marble for your flooring is its thermal properties. Marble stone conducts heat exceptionally well. What does this mean for you? It means that you don’t have to worry about the often brought up concern of marble flooring being cold on bare feet. With simple below-ground heating systems, you can easily and affordably keep your marble warm to the touch no matter how cold it gets. In the summer months, when the temperature heats up, your marble stone can still remain cool and soothing underfoot giving you the best of both worlds.

Adds Value

Marble is a luxury building material. While marble flooring is certainly value for money and an excellent long term investment, it isn’t the cheapest option available. Nonetheless, where marble really offers benefits is in its add-on value to your home. A jaw-dropping marble floor will not only add tangible value to your home, it will also never cease to impress potential buyers if you’re looking to sell in the future.

Adds Light

A polished marble flooring can achieve wonders. Marble as a stone is already visually stunning, but if you go for the polished, smooth look you’ll be achieving more than just enhanced aesthetics. Marble wonderfully reflects natural light and can effectively brighten up the entire home when used as flooring. This is especially true if you opt for the classic, lighter shades of marble. 

Simple Maintenance

Keeping your marble flooring beautiful and clean is relatively simple and easy. While it does require semi-regular resealing (more on that soon) your daily or weekly routine doesn’t need anything more than a soft, wet cloth. Avoid harsh cleaners and acidic detergents, and ensure any spills and mess is cleaned up promptly and your marble flooring will look as good as new for long into the future. 

Cons of Marble Flooring

Cost

As mentioned above, marble flooring is not going to be your budget option. While certainly still a good investment, marble is amongst the more costly natural stones. If you’re considering using marble for your internal floors you’ll need to ensure that you have a budget that allows for this. Of course, there are plenty of other applications for marble as well that don’t require the same quantity of stone like basins, vanities, splashbacks and benchtops. 

Repair

Marble, like all stone, is very hardy and durable but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be damaged if subjected to extensive trauma. Marble flooring especially, due to the traffic it is likely to endure, can be damaged if not taken care of properly. While marble repairs are possible by a trained professional, it’s not as easy as some other materials. 

Porousness

Marble is a more porous stone than others. This means that it can be more prone to staining and damage when exposed to water and other liquids. Nonetheless, if you’re careful about the type of cleaning chemicals you use, ensure that any spills that could potentially cause permanent staining are cleaned up straight away and are on top of your resealing maintenance this shouldn’t pose much of a problem. 

Installation

If you’re a DIY enthusiast, take note. Marble slabs and tiles can be heavy and difficult to install. Professionals use specialised tools to cut and install marble. If you’re not experienced in working with marble, it’s highly recommended you opt for professionals to do your installation. This means that the cost will go up as you’re now paying for labour.

Slippery

Polished marble especially can be somewhat slippery, especially in places of the home like kitchens or bathrooms. This can cause some concern but it is also easily dealt with. With non-slip rugs or mats, you can easily counteract this. Not to mention the fact that Euro Marble also offers non-slip coverings for marble flooring and other similar applications, like staircases. 

The Sky’s the Limit with Marble Flooring 

While there are certainly some considerations to take into account when it comes to applying marble flooring in your home, there are certainly plenty of reasons why marble makes for an excellent material. Here at Euro Marble, we’ve been working with this beautiful stone for many a year, so we know exactly how to find the right slab to suit your style and preference. Not to mention our professional installation services, resealing and maintenance, repair work and non-slip covering options. Ready to find out more about marble flooring? Contact our friendly team today.

Featuring natural stone in your home is an excellent way of bringing a sense of luxury to your house and bringing your house to life. The bathroom in particular offers wonderful opportunities to infuse stone either in the shower, flooring, walls or vanities. However, knowing which type of stone is better for the bathroom, granite or quartz or even marble, is a different story.

If you’re not sure which type of stone is right for you, we’ve broken down everything you need to know right here and if you’re still not sure, make sure to get in touch with our team today.

Quartz, Granite and Marble

Quartz

Quartz or engineered quartz as it’s called is actually not a natural stone at all. Man-made and manufactured in a factory, quartz is a mixture of about 90% natural stone and 10% polymer pigments and resins. Because of the fact that it is in fact an engineered stone it offers some unique advantages and disadvantages when applying in your home, but we’ll get to that in just a moment. 

Don’t confuse quartz with quartzite, which is indeed a naturally occurring stone and is often contained within engineered quartz. 

Marble

Marble, one of the most iconic natural stones, is a metamorphic rock that is formed inside the Earth over time and with intense heat and pressure. Known for its silvery veins and clouding, it is a highly practical and visually stunning stone that can be used throughout the house. Marble is commonly quarried from Italy, Brazil and the US.

Granite

Granite, another popular natural stone for construction, is an igneous rock formed through compressed magma from a volcano. In addition to its hardy and durable features, granite is known for its granular composition bringing a unique visual depth to any application in which it is included. Granite can be found around the world including Italy, Brazil, the US, India and China. 

Which to use: marble, quartz or granite for your bathroom?

Aesthetic

When it comes to the aesthetic of each stone, it’s a matter of personal preference. Quartz, being manufactured, comes in more uniform and predictable patterns and shades. It can also be produced at any size and shape so you don’t have to worry about visible seams.

Granite and marble however are quarried stone so every piece is unique and unlike any other. Both stones come in a variety of colours and shades and while marble typically has beautiful veining, granite is known for a denser concentration of different flecks of colour. 

Cost

If the price point of each type of stone is of the most concern for you, quartz will likely be the cheaper option. But this is not necessarily so. Granite and marble can both fetch quite expensive price tags but they also range considerably, so you can find stone for just about any budget. Plus, remember to consider stone as an investment and not just an initial expense. 

Maintenance

Using marble or granite in bathrooms is very practical in terms but being a porous and natural stone, it is more porous than quartz and other engineered materials. That’s not to say it’s difficult or expensive to maintain. Simply keep it cleaned regularly with soap and warm water, and remember to have it professionally resealed every few years. While quartz is non-porous it still requires basic cleaning to keep it shiny and beautiful.

Durability

Mable, quartz or granite for bathrooms are all good choices. Each stone is durable and hardy, especially when well maintained and offers strong resistance to basic wear. Nonetheless, being more porous, natural stones are relatively easier to stain or scratch than engineered quartz. However, quartz is more likely to be damaged by heat and UV light. 

Environmentally Friendly

Quartz, marble and granite all offer different advantages on the environmental side of things. While marble and granite require less manufacturing and thus energy use because they are quarried, they do need to be transported around the world. On the reverse side, while quartz does require fabrication in a factory, it does recycle and reuse quarried stone offcuts in the composition of the man-made stone. 

Repairs

Despite their hardy nature, whether you’ve installed marble, granite or quartz, there’s always the possibility of damage. From small chips to long cracks, sometimes it’s just unavoidable. Fortunately, all three types of stone can be fixed with special adhesives, resins and epoxy products. For large-scale damage, we do recommend you contact a professional regardless of what type of stone you are using in your bathroom. 

Value Add

Once again, all three types of stone are popular and valuable materials for use in your home and bathroom, but if you’re particularly interested in the add on to your house’s resale value, natural stone–either granite or marble–is recommended. 

Uniqueness

As we mentioned briefly before, engineered stone–quartz–is produced in a factory and so it is unlikely that the stone applied in your bathroom is going to be 100% unique and unreplicated. Granite and marble in your bathroom on the other hand is quarried straight from the ground and the slab cut to size for your vanity or shower tiles. That means every individual stone is unique and that there is no other stone in the world quite like it. 

Let’s Talk More About Which Stone is Better For Your Bathroom Today

At the end of the day, whether you choose quartz or granite or marble for your bathroom, we’re sure you will be more than happy with the choice. Though making that choice for your specific application and according to your preferences can understandably be overwhelming.

The friendly team here at Euro Marble are always happy to help. So give us a call today and let’s talk about all things bathroom stone!