You’ve probably been imagining your dream kitchen for years. Now that you’ve budgeted and saved, it’s finally time for the kitchen remodel. Congratulations!
Now comes the hard part. You have to choose every detail in your kitchen’s design, including the marble countertops.
Where do you begin?
Marble is a financial investment, so it’s important to choose a slab you’ll love for years to come. Since every piece is unique, it can feel like a quest to find the right one.
Luckily, we’ve created a list of popular types of marble countertops. Read on to learn more about each type of marble and find your favorite.
What is Marble?
Marble is a type of rock that’s found in select mountain ranges around the world. It’s been used for sculptures, churches, buildings, and monuments for centuries. Marble may be a naturally occurring stone, but it is still vulnerable.
Since marble is made from calcite crystal, acid can cause damage. It’s porous, which means it can soak up moisture if it’s not properly sealed. Cooking ingredients like lemon juice, red wine, and tomatoes can etch and stain the surface.
That’s why marble requires careful cleaning and yearly sealing to keep it looking beautiful.
The finish and cut you choose can also affect how each type of marble looks. Marble can be honed (a matte finish) or polished (a shiny finish). Slabs can either be cross-cut (muted streaks) or vein-cut (dramatic stripes and lines).
1. Carrara Marble
Carrara is an Italian marble that comes from an area in Tuscany of the same name. While much of this type of marble is white, it can also be gray or blue-gray. It’s known for its soft gray veining patterns.
It’s the most affordable kind of marble because it’s quarried the most often. Since it’s readily available, it doesn’t have the high price tag of a rare stone countertop.
If you’re looking for a gorgeous marble countertop with a world-class reputation, Carrara might be right for you. Plus, you’ll be saving your budget.
2. Calacatta Marble
Calacatta also comes from the Carrara area of Italy. But, this Italian marble is much rarer than Carrara so you can expect to pay about twice as much for a slab.
Compared to Carrara, Calcatta is a whiter and brighter stone. It is known for its signature veining. A slab of Calacatta can be streaked with gold, light gray, brown, and dark gray.
This marble has a very dramatic look, so it will instantly add a high-end style and personality to your kitchen.
3. Emperador Marble
Emperador is a type of marble that can come from either Spain or Turkey. It comes in a light and dark style.
Dark Emperador is a rich chocolate brown color with tan and white veins. Instead of streaks, there are spots of color. The veins are delicate but have an unpredictable pattern.
Light Emperador has more uniform feathering. The background color can range from beige, to gold, to caramel.
Because of it’s darker color, Emperador marble is also more forgiving with stains. You won’t need to stress over minor stains because they’ll be harder to see.
4. Vermont Danby Marble
This type of marble comes from Vermont’s Danby Marble Quarry. Danby comes in several different designs including Mountain White Danby and Montclair Danby. The marble from this Vermont quarry is the most well-known type of U.S. marble.
Danby is known for its medium-gray swirling streaks. The smooth white background contrasts with the gray streaks and veins.
With a Vermont Danby marble slab, you’ll get a classic white kitchen with an eye-catching design.
5. Crema Marfil Marble
This stone comes from the El Cote mountain in Spain. Crema Marfil is a famous type of marble known for its color variety and vein patterns.
The vein patterns are very intricate. The background color for Crema Marfil varies from beige and yellow to brown and gold.
Because of this marble’s honey tone, it will add warmth to your kitchen. If you don’t want to commit to an all-white kitchen, Crema Marfil is a good alternative. It also pairs well with both white or dark cabinets.
Plus, it’s available in decorative tile and flooring. So if you want to match your kitchen countertops with the rest of your design, you can do that with Crema Marfil.
6. Colorado Yule Marble
This American marble comes from a quarry near Yule Creek, Colorado. It has a bright white background with delicate gray or tan veins. It’s a beautiful white stone that is both muted and dramatic.
This bright marble is also extremely durable. In fact, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument are both made from Colorado Yule marble.
Colorado Yule marble is a great way to bring an elegant design to your kitchen. Plus, you can be proud of the fact that it’s the same stone as national monuments.
7. Nero Marquina Marble
If you’re looking to make a daring design statement, choose Nero Marquina. This Spanish black marble comes from the Basque Country in northern Spain.
This gorgeous black marble has bright white veins. It would look great in a kitchen with white cupboards. Plus, you won’t need to worry about stains as much as you would with a white marble countertop.
Nero Marquina is a popular stone, which means it is also relatively affordable. You’ll get a kitchen that looks incredibly luxurious at a lower price.
Remodel Your Kitchen With One of These Types of Marble Countertops
A marble countertop will bring elegance and beauty to any kitchen. No two slabs of marble are identical, so your dream kitchen will be unique. No one else will have a kitchen that’s just like yours.
If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, check out the different types of marble countertops we offer. If you see a sample you like, contact us today. Our representatives and skilled installers will help make your dream kitchen a reality.