Did you know that carrara marble is actually one of the most affordable stones? At my local slab yards, honed carrara costs about $15 per square foot. Most other stones (even the granite that I don’t love) start at about $30 and go way up from there. (Fabrication costs are usually an additional $27-35 per square foot).
We’re planning on using this carrara in one or two of our current client projects because it’s just so beautiful and comparatively affordable. I think marble is great in bathrooms and is especially good on kitchen center islands. I would be comfortable with using marble everywhere in a kitchen because I like the way it wears over time, but I realize it’s not for every homeowner.
I really love how carrara mixes with white subway tile (another affordable/timeless/gorgeous choice!). This kitchen was one of our hood style inspirations, but everything else is so, so good. I put some links below to help you track down some of these great products. Have you found a good resource for inexpensive subway tile in interesting sizes?
I would love to know if you find that long subway tile in the photo!
Here is one I found –
http://www.tileshop.com/product/440650-P.do
I love Marble, I have a Marble floor in my apartment, but I find a little bit hard to maintain ……
I am a huge fan of metropolitan Tiles. I fell in love with them in Paris, where I "met" them for the first time.
laura
http://www.creativeordinette.blogspot.com
Where can I find a similar hood? Love the white…
I love the look of marble but not the maintanence. I think it works well in bathrooms but I feel high traffic kitchens can be a challenge. Definitely not for every home owner…especially if you have kids or entertain alot and drink red wine. :) In you links…I experienced sticker shock from the price of the stool…$495…and the brackets for the kitchen…$99 for 2. We scored sturdy industrial black brackets from home depot for $8 a pair which are very similiar to those in your link (in black).
This was really good to know. The kitchen is in our 5 year plan.
I was so worried about the maintenance of marble that I actually put honed marble tiles (6×6) over the laminate countertops we inherited with the house just to make sure that I wan't go to cry/tip-toe around the kitchen after getting a marble slab counter when we eventually remodel the kitchen. I am happy to report that I think the accounts or marble being difficult to maintain over totally overblown. We are a messy kitchen family. My husband loves to cook and he firmly believes that the messier the kitchen, the better the food. Did I mention he loves asian food with serious spices and oils, anything he can put tomato sauce into and red wine. I try to clean it up after dinner but I don't always get to it till the next morning. I sealed the marble once with a marble sealer from the tile shop. We've actually been cooking on a hot place directly on the countertop for 4 months now while we wait for our vintage Chambers stove to be restored. We have only one small oil stain so far. It's right under the hot plate. I've been lazy and haven't tried a poultice to get it out, which I hear works well. Honestly, it's dissipating over time and I don't really even notice it because the marble has so many natural variations already. I guess there is some etching if you stare at the counter in the right light at the right angle. Honestly, I never notice it. I am so impressed with the look of the marble and it's durability. I can't wait till we do the big kitchen renovation and I get my marble slab counters!!
I took am curious about the hood! It's gorgeous and I love, as usual, everything about this post.
I'm obsessed with those stools
I sell countertops in Georgia, and I do feel like the resistance to marble in kitchens is overblown. If properly sealed, red wine and other staining liquids should just wipe off, even if left overnight. Another commenter mentioned a poultice.. we make one out of plaster of paris and hydrogen peroxide and it will pull most stains out of natural stone. I have soapstone in my kitchen (love it by the way) and it also wears and gets little hairline scratches. In my opinion, it just makes the stone more beautiful. I tell some customers that to me it is just like leather, it develops a patina over time.
If you are concerned about etching (light dulling around where acids were on the stone) then a honed slab is perfect. It is already dull on the surface, so any etching will show up less in the light.
Um by the way Jenny, your site is my favorite! I love all of the mixed metals and the wood and stone mixed together… and the light fixtures. Perfect.
gorgeous! thanks for the info from the other readers that have experience with marble!
This video has inspired me and so many other people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3tzPdT9T7U
Subway tile and marble are my absolute favorite combination – this post made me light up!!
http://www.angelhearthomes.blogspot.com
I love subway tile. I want to redo my dated bathroom with subway tile walls and penny tile floors. Thanks for the links.
Love this post Jenny and want more just like it!!!!
I ordered that subway tile months ago and want to WARN you if you have not seen it yet. It was not white at all! I was so disappointed as I love the sleek modern look of a slender subway tile.
used a skinny subway tile in my kitchen last year–I got it from a local tile shop but could probably track down the info if you want. It wasn't expensive. I tried to post a link but it didn't work; I bet Abbey can point you to pics or email me!