skip to main content

Design Dilemma Kitchens

Marble Island - Yes or No?

6 years ago

Hi Everyone -

After lots of visits to look at quartz, I am pretty certain we are going to with marble on our large island. I am okay with the patina look that occurs on marble and am okay with etching.

But...I have three kids and I want them to use the island without too many restrictions. From your experience will I have issues if I let them do their homework, color, play doh etc on the island?

Thanks for any feedback!

Featured Answer

PRO

Stoneshine

6 years ago

Stoneguard works-like everything it has its pro's and cons. The matte/satin finish looks great!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

PRO
Beth H. :
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
colors, and oils from their crayons, pens, paints, etc, may stain. even with your sealer. if not wiped up immediately, it could permanently stain the marble. Is there no other table they could play on? doing their homework should be ok, but painting, play doh,,,may be pushing your luck.

what about a nice quartzite? some look like the marble, but are stronger than granite and, depending which kind you get, can hold up better to stains.

Super White looks like a marble, but is a Dolomite. marbles cousin. i have it in my bathroom and it's held up very well. no etching or staining.
dlkula
6 years ago
I would say sounds like you should go for it! I have Carrera with 2 young boys. Although they know to be careful, really the etches happen and can only be seen if you look for them! 2 years later and I still love my natural stone.
Related Discussions
Marble Subway backsplash- yes or no?
Q
Comments (25)
We have honed crema marfil marble. It's sealed. No staining issues after 2 1/2 years. As others have suggested, with any natural stone tile, you need to overbuy and pick out those that have colors/patterns/inclusions, etc that you don't want to use. If you buy from a big box store, you probably can return it. If it's a special order from a tile store, it's just the cost of doing business with real stone. There can be a lot of variation within the same lot of tile. They should tell you that up front, or it probably will be in the terms/conditions of your order. Inspect and sort the tile when you get it, before you start to install it. Our first experience with stone tile was laying an entryway floor with marble tile. The tile was a sort of beige color with some white veining. DH started laying the tile and when he got to the last 2 boxes (all same lot number), they were all 90% white with a little beige. Luckily, he was able to pull all the tile up and clean it before the thin-set hardened. We were able to go to the tile store's supplier and find enough tile the right color to finish the floor. We knew better when it came to install our backsplash. We bought extra and sorted through it all before starting to put it in. The tiles we thought were less attractive were installed right up under the cabinets where they wouldn't be seen much, and we definitely had some that we didn't want to use. We used the rejects to do grout sample boards. Your backsplash should be fine made with marble subways. Just be sure to seal it.
...See More
Light fixture over an island? Yes/No? Why/Why Not?
Q
Comments (17)
We were definitely in the "use fixtures" camp. Our island is relatively huge, so the scale lent itself to larger fixtures. We have gazillions of recessed cans in the kitchen (actually, 12), but as the lighting folks point out, cans are not optimal general lighting, as they provide only down-lighting. The advantage of fixtures is that you get true diffused down- and up-lighting. So they function both as general lighting as well as task lighting for working on the island. Plus, we think they look pretty cool. The issue of line of sight is important, but if the fixtures are at the proper height that problem can be avoided. Similar to erikanh, our fixtures are not just cutesy little pendants, so they can be hung higher without looking goofy. Our ceilings are not that high (9 ft) but our fixtures are way above the line of sight. I think fixtures help anchor the island visually, making it look more an integral part of the room and less a piece of movable furniture.
...See More
Help me decide: prep sink in island-yes or no?
Q
Comments (7)
sounds like my initial decision was spot on. Dang it, that sink is really pretty! Perky-thank you for your comments. I love the kitchen, but certainly would do a few things differently now. Sophie, will keep in mind the beverage sink idea. We also have yet to do the pantry wall (to the left of the door by the stove), so maybe we could incorporate a sink there, when/if we get to that point. Thank you all for your input.
...See More
Center island range remodel: yes/no
Q
Comments (60)
Elizabeth B Ya, there'd be a 14' beam spanning from the post to beside the tall cabinet and a 12' toward the other corner. Both beams would be pushed flush into the wall. No option to tie the load bearing wall (14' side) into trusses from the attic space. I'll try the fridge option Not too concerned about moving the 220, I have access to the attic above where the cable currently runs from. Can splice and relocate. palimpsest Yes, the post is a little funky. I'll attach a top view. Maybe I can move the DW to the fridge side.
...See More
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
I would do the marble since you already understand the patina issue. IMO water colors will not be a problem the only thing would be indelible markersand they should be never allowed anywhere IMHO.Kids use the counters for all kinds of things in Italy and I still think they are one of my favorite choices for counters.
PRO
JAN MOYER
6 years ago
Life's a bunch of choices.........play doh is dyed goo. What else do we need to know? If it is hard to get out of clothes............

A Play-Doh or Silly Putty stain is hard to remove, but it's not the only tough stain out there. Modeling clay and regular clay stains can also pose stain-removal problems. The good news is that Tide can tackle the toughest laundry challenges.
Sharon Joyce
6 years ago
We went with marble on our island. I cook with a lot of stain-producing things and my husband is forgetful about wiping things up, but our sealant is better than the sealants of the old days, as we have nary a stain. However....we have two scratches on the marble (one left by a plumber and the other by a painter...sigh). So consider other types of damage besides stains you may have/will have with marble. Having said that, I am probably the only person who notices those scratches, and I love, love, love our bianco venato counter and would do it all again in a heartbeat. As you said, it comes down to whether you can embrace the patina or not. Mind you, when I do any crafting projects in my open-style kitchen-dining room, I do put a table protector on the island. I'm willing to embrace patina, too, but I don't feel a need to accelerate the process! :)
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago

Gloss or matte Stoneguard; the kids will never stain or etch either.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
Stoneshine:

I took those pictures at my Stoneguard training in Chicago. We talked about you. lol.
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

Love it or leave it.

Related Stories

KITCHEN ISLANDS 8 Narrow Kitchen Islands With Function to Spare

By Jennifer Ott Design

Yes, you can fit an island into your small kitchen. These spaces show how

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: A Metal-and-Marble Modern Marvel

By Becky Harris

A Texas couple’s new entertainment hub features a dramatic range backsplash, a large island and a grilling balcony

Yes, Please: Parisian Hotel Flair

By Love Your Room LLC

Bring on the Bling to Recreate the City of Romance at Home

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile

By Bonnie McCarthy

Acidic solutions can damage your marble surfaces. Here’s how to keep marble looking clean and amazing

THE POLITE HOUSE The Polite House: How to Handle Entertaining Around Marble Countertops

Worried about citrus drinks damaging your precious marble counters during a gathering? Here are 2 ways to party on

KITCHEN DESIGN How to Design a Kitchen Island

By Vanessa Brunner

Size, seating height, all those appliance and storage options ... here's how to clear up the kitchen island confusion

REMODELING GUIDES Why Marble Might Be Wrong for Your Bathroom

By By Any Design Ltd.

You love its beauty and instant high-quality appeal, but bathroom marble has its drawbacks. Here's what to know before you buy

MATERIALS 10 Modern Marble Looks

By Shawn Gauthier

Marble has broken free of the standard kitchen countertop slab and is showing up on bathtub backsplashes, modern dining tables and more

KITCHEN ISLANDS Plan Your Kitchen Island Seating to Suit Your Family’s Needs

By Toronto Interior Design Group

In the debate over how to make this feature more functional, consider more than one side

TRADITIONAL HOMES Houzz Tour: Pride Restored to a Historic Rhode Island Home

By Becky Harris

Designers spruce up Narragansett’s first summer cottage while adapting the Victorian-era home for modern living

Sponsored

Mary Shipley Interiors

32 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 10x Best of Houzz

More Discussions

Fill this fireplace cabinet void!

10

What colour would you paint the cabinets/fireplace?

2

Keep wood? Or drywall it?

4

Keep the tub and add white subway tile surround or replace tub?

11

SMALL Problem - Master Bedroom Update

2