A time-honored choice for countertops, marble is a classic that’s versatile enough to look good in all sorts of kitchens. That said, it’s not without its downsides: Susceptible to staining, scratching, and etching, marble is a natural product that develops a patina with use. Some people like a surface that reflects their cooking history, others don’t. Read on to determine if this high-maintenance beauty is the material for you.

Above: London designer Charles Mellersh paired honed marble with brass trimmings in a Notting Hill Kitchen. “Marble adds character and an inherent charm that helps ground a modern kitchen,” says Mellersh. Are there circumstances when he advises against marble" “Don’t use it in a kitchen where spills can’t be cleaned up quickly,” he warns. Photograph courtesy of Charles Mellersh. Exactly what is marble"
Marble is a metamorphic stone found in mountainous regions of North America, South America, Asia, and Europe?from Colorado to Brazil and Italy. It’s created by the physical or chemical alteration of sediment into a denser form through heat and/or pressure. The resulting rock has a crystalline nature enabling it to take a polish. It also has veins of mineral deposits that pattern it, no two slabs are exactly alike.
Marble is one of the more porous of the metamorphic stones, which is why it’s prone to staining. While not as hard as its metamorphic cousin granite (which come...