Girlfriend’s Guide to Marble Countertops

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You have probably all heard the horror stories about marble countertops! When my husband and I were remodeling our kitchen, we were told by multiple people, “STAY AWAY FROM MARBLE!!!” Even the employees at the stone yard encouraged us to go with a different material. For those reasons, we decided to select a quartz slab instead of marble.

For years, I had dreamed about having a marble counter. I loved their warmth and character. No slab is the same as another. Before we signed on the dotted line, I asked if we could see a slab of marble and a slab of quartz side by side. Our choice was made instantly! There was absolutely no comparison to the life and warmth that was in the marble slab verses the quartz. Both were gorgeous. But for us, we were willing to choose the high maintenance beauty!

I am a lover of charming bakeries and French chateaus. When you see these 100 year old buildings with their original marble, etched with a beautiful patina, their imperfections become a tale of the past. Instead of marks of shame, they are symbols of years of use and love.

So, two years ago when we remodeled our kitchen, we went against the advice of majority and chose the marble! I have never regretted my decision one day.

On my Instagram account, I get asked weekly, if not daily, do you like your marble countertops? Do they etch? What do you do to protect them? So, I decided to create this girlfriend’s guide to marble countertops. I hope this is a useful resource to you as you design the home of your dreams.

Girlfriend’s Guide to Marble Countertops

Gold Lanterns | Brass Faucet | Sink | Large White Ginger Jar | Small White Ginger Jar |

Crystal Brass Hardware | Refrigerator Handle

Does marble etch?

Yes! Marble etches when anything with high acidy, touches it. This means citrus, spaghetti sauce, etc. We have had our counters for almost 2 years, they do have some etching, but still look beautiful! Don’t let that scare you! When something spills, just wipe it up. The marble “heals” itself over time. I don’t know how it works, but over time the spots fade. Maybe it’s just that more spots form and they patina together over time.

One day lemonade spilled under my son’s dinner plate. We wiped the counter but didn’t realize it had traveled under his plate. It sat there for over 10 min. and etched the counter! I was sick when I saw the circle etched into the countertop. Over time, it has faded and blended into the rest of the imperfections. I don’t even notice it anymore.

Stainless Gold Range | Pot Filler | Fruit Bowl | Crystal Brass Handles | Gray Striped Dish Towel | Crystal Salt and Pepper Shakers | Glass jars

How do you prevent etching on your countertops?

This is a tricky one! I feel like no matter what you do, your marble will etch! It is just part of having this gorgeous natural stone in your home. There are things you can do to keep it from etching excessively.  Here are a few things to do..

1. Have marble cutting boards made when your fabricator cuts your stone. We have one on each side of our sink. I wish mine were a little larger. Use these to set anything down that could harm your marble.
2. Cut citrus on a wooden cutting board with a dish towel under to catch any juice run off.
3. Wipe up any acid spills immediately with a paper towel, then clean with a damp rag.
4. Seal your marble.

Does your marble stain and scratch easily?

Marble will stain and scratch. Period. Don’t worry! You can usually get stains out with distilled water and a mixture of baking soda. My husband set our olive oil bottle on the marble and it left a ring from the oil residue. Over time it has faded without treatment. Tougher stains require treatment to remove the stain.

My mom had some raspberry colored ice-cream spilled on her marble counters. It sat there for a week while she was out of town. The spot came out with a mixture of distilled water and baking soda.

Scratching. Yep, it will scratch too. The first scratch we got on our stone happened 5 minutes after it was installed. There was a box on the counter. One of the workers slide it off to pick it up. There must have been some dirt on the bottom and a foot long scratch mark was left on the counter. It was actually kind of nice to get that first mark out of the way! Haha! I honestly don’t even notice it anymore, there are some many tiny marks that have blended together to create a new patina.

If imperfections like this bother you, do not get marble! It will not remain perfect like quartz or granite. If you  love the character that marble begins to take on with years of use, go for it! Marble is not the choice for everyone! But girlfriend, it was the right choice for me!

Barstools {no longer available – similar here} | Gold Tray | Large Lattice Ginger Jar | Marble Painted Ginger Jar | Small Blue Ginger Jar | Fuchsia Peonies | Gold Rimed Ginger Jar | Brass Lanterns | Marble Backsplash | Glass Canisters

The Dets about my Marble

What kind of marble do you have?

Our marble is an American quarried marble. This means it is from a quarry here in the USA. It also means it is a little more durable than marble quarried in Italy. The fabricator told me it is because it is not as porous. The name of ours is called Montclair White.

How do you clean marble?

The best way to clean and protect your marble is to use gentle products. I wrote an entire post on how to care and clean for your marble countertops here. This post talks all about the cleaning products and rags I use to keep ours looking gorgeous.

How often can you reseal marble?

I have not resealed my marble in the 2 years I have had it. Don’t tell on me! I read that you should reseal it every 6 months. This one has amazing reviews Stonetech Bulletproof Sealer.

What type of edge do you have on your countertop?

Our island has a double ogee edge and the side counters are more simple with a small beveled edge.

What size is your island?

It measures 63″ wide by 128″ long.

The island is 3″ thick and the perimeter countertops are 1 and 1/2″ thick.

Is your marble polished or honed?

The marble we have is polished. Polished tends to show more scratching and etching. But I just love the shiny look of the polished so, so much!

Would you choose marble again?

Yes, a thousand times yes! We love the life marble has brought into our home. My advise to anyone thinking about installing marble – weigh all the pros and cons. Follow your heart and do what makes you happy!

Faux Pink Peonies and here (I mixed these 2 kinds – 3 bunches of each) | White Gold Vase | Marble Petal Tray | Pink Candles – here and  here | Heart Beads

I hope this guide to marble helps in you in your quest to choose or care for marble in your home!

To see all the other details on our kitchen click here. I also wrote a review about our La Cornue Range here,