via decorpad

 I have loved Marble before Marble was "in", so there was never a question in my mind (well there was the soapstone moment) as to what kind of countertop we would install.

There has been much debate on the subject as to whether Marble is a good surface for the kitchen.    My thought is that "if it has lasted for hundreds of years in many kitchens, that it will last 20 years (hopefully) more for us..  There is a great thread on apartment therapy on the subject and good ol gardenweb.com has had MUCH debate, if you are so inclined.

via house beautiful

  Here is wonderful quote about marble from a marble fabricator in atlanta.

 "Here's what marble will do in your kitchen-it will ring, it will stain, but it will be beautiful. Most of my clientele has traveled the world and they see patinaed marble, they see that there is nothing more real than that. I love working with marble and if a client wants it, I'll do it. But I'll also tell them that they are not going to call me every week to clean up an orange ring or a glass ring. If the homeowner is not going to appreciate what marble does and how it looks as it ages, I won't do it in their kitchen." John Howard, a salesperson in the G&L Marble Atlanta showroom.


Now, I am not going to say that the actual picking of the TYPE of marble was easy.  Being the researcher that I am, I delved in full force on my quest for the perfect marble.  I always thought that I would want Cararra, (a beautiful white with grey veining), and Calcutta was beautiful but a bit too expensive.  I came across a beautiful type of called Alabama White and perfect price too.  It had the beauty of the Cararra with just a little bit of caramel veining that I loved from the Calcutta.   Now all I needed to do was see a slab in person.  So this girl found a slab in Elberton, GA...and treked herself 3 hours to see her slab.  Did you know that Elberton, GA is  the Granite Captial of the World?  I didn't, but do now.  It was beautiful, and I said MINE!  Now off to my fabricator it went to be honed and cut. I had a hard time finding out much about Alabama White, here is a nice little article I found during my search.  And if Jill Brinson used it in her kitchen, well....

via House Beautiful Jill Brinson Kitchen (Alabama White)

my slab

I must say I am really happy with the decision to go with Marble.  I have my ring stains, and etch marks. but it means my kitchen is being USED!  And there is not ONE stain.  I have left coffee sitting there for a day, with not a problem.  We sealed it well, and I will continue to do so.  Here is a great link on the care and maintenance of marble. (you CAN get the etching out...so there!)

The first sealing...my stove to the right had not come in yet... note, good idea to have stove BEFORE stone is fabricated, we had to do a switcharoo on the stove (blessing in disguise really, but the original stove would have left a 1/2 gap, YUCK!) Lesson learned.

If Marble is the way you want to go, I say GO FOR IT!  Don't let the naysayers talk you out of it.  You will have fabricators say "you want WHAT in your kitchen??, You know it is going to stain, chip, scratch, etc...."!!!  I just said
"yes, I know...THANKS, please get me my MARBLE!