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Is it crazy to love/prefer etched marble?

14 years ago

I'm one of the many gardenwebbers trying to decide if marble countertops are right for me and my family. Inspired by sfmomof2, I took a 10" round carrara marble ( a cheese server, purchased years ago from RH) and spread lemon juice all over it. The shiny, highly polished finish, which had withstood years of wiping down with water and melting slices of brie and espoisses, almost instantly etched.

The surprise: I loved the etchings! It gave the slab a beautiful, matte finish and old-worldy, crackled look. i.e. it looked even more like marble should look to me. (I'm starting to think that the "Meg Ryan" technique is the way to go.)

Now I just have to decide if I'm OK with that look for an entire island top. I'm seriously considering the new marble "French kitchen island" at Crate and Barrel. I'm curious if there are other etched marble lovers on the kitchen site. Am I way off course in my thinking here?

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Comments (9)

honorbiltkit
14 years ago
I also prefer the matte-but-translucent look of old marble, e.g., the look of steps that have been trod on for a few hundred years. The only question might be whether the marble you deliberately etch is thereby made more vulnerable to staining and other hazards of real life.

Perhaps some of the stone experts can advise whether something like sealing after etching makes sense. Cheers.
jeri
14 years ago
IÂm wondering if the Meg Ryan Technique is the way to go as well. IÂve never seen a marble counter top in person Â so I have no idea what the etching really looks like. However, everyone talks about the charm of a well used marble counter so IÂm wondering if the "in-between" phase is the hardest Â from perfect to well used Â when all the etching flows together rather than standing out like a sore thumb. So, perhaps quickly bringing it to "well used" might be a good way to go? Then, it could be resealed against stains Â or not if bleach works so well to remove stains.

I have zero experience here, just trying to brainstorm this.
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eandhl
14 years ago
I love old things with a patina so I don't think you are crazy.
morgne
14 years ago
Funny. I've had a love affair with soapstone for years. Even to the extent that I carried a 3x3' block around with me for years from apartment to apartment.

BUT.

I decided that if I couldn't do soapstone for some reason nothing would keep me from marble but that I too would just etch it all to pieces when I first put it in. I LOVE the look and it seems so natural and pleasing.
jeanteach
14 years ago
I, too, love the look of marble. And I'm not averse to well worn surfaces. However, the etching that I've seen in photos looks awful: water glass marks, weird blotches. It's not an all over, soft, worn look. I think jeri is right about the middle period being the hardest, until the etches all blend into each other. I think this is similar to what happened with my stainless steel sink. The first scratch really stood out and looked bad. Now there are so many scratches that you can't really see any of them. It's that "patina" that so many people speak of. Just my two cents!
mindstorm
14 years ago
What's the Meg Ryan look?

That "etched Marble" look you prefer - it is called honed and you can get your marble from the stone yard that way at the install. Very practical, too.

I agree that it is wonderful. My dining table is a honed white Calacatta marble.
marcolo
14 years ago
Spread lemon juice on the bottom of a Budweiser can , and put it on your chees e plate. Then come back and tell us how much you love it. If you still do, then go for it.
francoise47
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions on etched marble. I will look into honed marble. And marcolo, thanks for the fun suggestion: I'll try the Bud can experiment while watching the Final Four tonight!
littlesmokie
14 years ago
For mindstorm RE: "the meg ryan look"

As I read on the internet somewhere, the story goes that M.R. had marble countertops installed in her kitchen and smeared (acidic) tomatoes all over them. Instantly "honed" LOL

Similar to the first scratch/etch/stain is the hardest to bear, just get it all over with it.

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