The benchtop debate.
Are you crazy to have a marble benchtop?
With endless options when it comes to benchtop surfaces these days, the choice can become overwhelming. Marble, granite and other natural stones will always always have a seat at the table (and for good reason). The beauty of natural stone speaks for itself, but is it a good choice for high use spaces such as your kitchen or bathroom? Here, we will tackle some FAQs to see if it is the right choice for you.
What is natural stone?
Natural stone slabs of marble, granite or quartzite processed from large blocks of raw stone cut from a mountain or quarry. Varieties of stone are quarried from all over the world - Italy is known for exporting classic “Carrara” marbles, where as Brazil is the home of “Taj Mahal” quartzite.
Will natural stone stain?
Truthfully, yes. Stone is pourous in nature which allows liquids to penetrate (particularly oily and acidic liquids), so a red wine ring on a marble bench will inevitably be there to stay in some capacity if the stone is left unsealed.
To be comfortable with a stone benchtop in it’s raw form, you would need to love the idea that it would collect your stories (and red wine) and patina over time.
However, there are sealants and coatings which can be applied to your benchtop during the manufacturing process which will prevent staining and scratching and therefore make it more robust, especially in a household setting.
TW Residence - Verdi Alpi marble with AntiEtch coating manufactured by Artisan Stone (Anna McLeod photography).
Why choose natural over engineered stone?
Firstly, despite the vast array of engineered options, the true beauty of natural stone simply can not be replicated. Each slab of marble is a one-of-a-kind piece of art that adds significant value and a level of luxury to a home that I believe is unmatched.
From a practical standpoint, one reason marble has always been popular (especially in Europe) is because it is naturally cool to the touch which suits certain styles of cooking and baking.
Prior to becoming popular for benchtops, marble helped shape the architectural landscape and was used extensively in construction as well as for sculptures and furniture. The ability to carve and shape marble when it is in the form of a block offers endless possibilities from a design perspective, especially when it comes to creating curves (of which we have seen a massive resurgence).
SR Residence - A formed basin using Titanium gold granite in the master ensuite (Anna McLeod photography).
Why choose an engineered product over marble?
If practicality is at the core of your decision making, it is difficult to look past an engineered option. There is less maintenance involved and (most) engineered products are more resistant to heat, scratching, staining - making them a really reliable option especially for a busy household.
Engineered products also offer a more consistent pattern and colour throughout the slabs - once you see a sample of a product, that is exactly what you will get, which especially if you are a DIY-er, makes it easier to see how it will fit into your overall scheme.
Sintered stone or porcelain are becoming popular options for an engineered surface. They are non-pourous, come in large sheets meaning minimal joins are required and they are extremely resilient to heat, scratching and staining. They can be used outdoors as a cladding or for furniture which helps bring cohesion to a project.
Although usually only 12-30mm thick, these products can be mitred to different thicknesses to achieve certain design aesthetics (however can’t be achieved when you are incorporating curves).
Various examples of engineered products. PM residence - Neolith Arabesque 12mm, RS Residence - Archant Yamuna 12mm (mitred), PN Residence - Neolith Calacatta Luxe 12mm (mitred), TV Residence - Neolith Calacatta 12mm (mitred)
What would you use in your own home?
Having just built a home ourselves this is an easy one to answer… Both.
In our kitchen we decided to go with Neolith, a very reliable Spanish sintered stone product I have specified for many years. As we don’t see this as our “forever home” we wanted a product that could withstand a busy household with 2 young children (I already have two white sofas… didn’t need anything else to be precious about!) and you can throw anything at this product and it remains unscathed.
For the bathrooms however I was pretty desperate to incorporate some marble tops. We chose a moody Calcatta Viola in a honed finish for the master suite and a fresh Calacatta Vagli in a polished finish for the girls bathroom. We decided to AntiEtch them for some added protection against skincare, make up and other bathroom products.
Many people believe or push a narrative that you would be crazy to use marble within a modern home. Education is key - learning where best to use it and how to maintain it will help you decide if it is right for you and if it will become a feature of your home that you treasure for years to come.
Me? #teammarble always.
Written by Michelle April 28 2025