I am glad it was helpful! As such, honed marble is more forgiving when it comes to scratching and etching. I can’t wait! It is one of the most favorite marbles in the market. Thank you so very much for your quick response!!! Honed VS Polished Marble Backsplash, Fireplace, Bathroom Tile & More in Silverado Ranch, NV. SLABS ALSO STOCKED in polished finish. With many styles to choose from in forever versatile marble, you’ll appreciate the unique style of this tile. We have recently purchased a townhome in pre construction phase and we will be soon in the process of choosing our upgrades and finishes. I know the temptation to quartz is strong, and if it fits your budget, than I’d go for it! We have 3cm marble. We haven’t actually used any placemats on these counters as we don’t have an eating counter in this kitchen. . Any opinions on grout color? Design your ideal backsplash with help from these Houzz guides and inspiring ideas for every kitchen style, Explore 20 tiles curated by a pro interior designer, ranging from everyday affordable to art for the kitchen, Make a splash in the kitchen with these design pros’ selections for backsplash materials, colors and layouts, With so many options available, see if we can help you narrow down the selection, White is the top pick for counters and backsplashes, and gray is the most popular color for walls, a Houzz study reveals, Heading into darker territory, subway tile offers a graphic new look for kitchens, bathrooms and more, Simplify your decision-making with these ideas for materials that work well with wood counters, Not a Naturally Organized person? These tips can help you tackle the onslaught of papers, meals, laundry — and even help you find your keys, Backsplashes not only protect your walls, they also add color, pattern and texture. Thank you for your post. Granite (the other top countertop material) is not as durable as quartz, but is still more stain and scratch resistant than marble. Before you decide on a backsplash, I would suggest you go with your original instinct and paint your cabinets. Thanks so much!! , Okay dying to know… How are you liking your countertops another 1.5 years after this post?? My husband and I stumbled on your post last week when we were doing research into what type of stone countertop to use in the kitchen of our new build. View in gallery Honed marble surfaces are more susceptible to staining but don’t show scratches as much as polished marble. It’s like the first little mark on new wood floors: it shows up. Travertine has three major finishes, polished (shiny), honed (matte), and semi gloss. Yes, the sealer really is key! My wall color is BM revere pewter - very similar to ceramic color tile. Hi there! We had polished marble in our bathroom at our last house, and it definitely showed the etching and water spots more distinctly. Travertine Vs. When it comes to the backsplash, the finish you choose for your marble is purely aesthetic. It’s a great choice! For outdoor and wet spaces, tumbled and honed travertine tile is your best bet. Hi Rachel I feel more informed as to making the right decision for our family. Since it is also honed marble, I actually sealed it with the same product I used to seal the countertops, and I haven’t had any issues so far! Some of the bonuses are, you can do it yourself, inexpensive, and you can change it for another style and color at anytime without spending allot of money. We didn't change our existing flooring at this time but may stain it in the future. Hi! I once rolled out cookie dough directly on my kitchen counter. All projects are attempted at the reader’s own risk. A lot. I was wondering, I recently moved into a new home with my husband and we are planning to get new counter tops, but I am not sure where to start! And I let my littles help me in the kitchen, too. Marble has been used for CENTURIES! Variegated light to dark grey/cream marble. Need help picking the backsplash for maple kitchen! Of course they can. Yay! Continues exposure to UV light will breakdown of the resin binder and you will end up with a countertop that looks like a think board of plastic in a couple of years. It’s work. Is it better to get more polished tiles or stick to honed. Would having it honed help (and is that even possible?)? My husband gave it to me for my birthday after we moved into this home, and I absolutely love it. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. That’s a great question, Dianne! Natural stone with a honed finish has a smooth, flat, and unpolished appearance to the surface of the stone. Silver White. It still won’t be perfect; honed does show the spots, but they are not as distinct. The main difference is that, the marble age beautiful and get the marks that make you remember the good moments you have around your kitchen with family and friend and the other not. Thank yoou! The scratching and etching is more of an issue. My husband and I are a bit apprehensive of going for the marble instead of quartz for our countertops and backsplash. If I had make the cookies immediately and removed them, it probably would have been fine, but I took at least an hour taking pictures (for y’all! Also, any grout color opinions welcome! There are so many great options, so a little time spent on the plan will save you lots of money in the long run and can take your room from nice to fantastic! First, you would never see any of them when walking through or even using the space. Neither of your selections work back to the counters; why are you looking at those tones? First, we need a quick lesson on the different materials for countertops and which material is best for your kitchen. It made the choice easier, even if there is more maintenance involved. Stains were the real trouble for me. Which one do you like better? A lot. We couldn’t afford the high end looks of marble or granite,so we went this rout. Connie, thanks for your comment! I just throw a towel or hot pad down, so I’m not sure what it would do… I’m sorry I don’t have experience with that! The place where my four year old used a knife to saw into the edge (yes, that really did happen) can be seen as tiny little white spots along the edge of the marble in the image below. Alaska Agave. Even honed, as it ages, I’ve never seen it anything but brand new or barely used, or sad and pitted. Beautiful kitchen and great post! I believe that setting your budget and sticking to it is extremely important (see here for all my kitchen renovation budgeting tips), and natural stones are obviously on the more expensive end of countertop options. If you are a perfectionist, I would recommend however if you don’t mind signs of life, it is a great and beautiful option!! Natural stone like this beautiful Ocean Honed Marble Tile makes a timeless statement. Note that Carrara (which is the kind we have – more gray than some and characterized by lots of gray veins) is usually one of the least expensive marbles you can find. Because it has a matte finish, it will be able to hide any imperfections such as scratches and etches better than polished marble can. Let's go back a few years. You are right that the thinner material can be made to look thicker, but you might look into the cost of that. This is my first visit to your blog, and I will be back. My contractor wants to do 3cm, but the 2cm can be made to look thicker. I’ve been here so often, If you’ve noticed a weird jump in stats… it’s me! Tasha- that is so, so true! Thanks! The architectural features of the home, flooring, cabinetry, furnishing, and décor can influence the choice between honed and polished granite or marble for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity tops, or fireplace surrounds. My platonic ideal–the house I would lie awake and fantasize about–involved carrara: countertops, mantels, thresholds, and backsplashes. Our cooktop is also pretty far away from the windows, which could help hide some spots… but we haven’t seen any. There are obviously other countertop options, as well, such as tile, wood, and laminate, but for today’s purpose, we are going to stick to comparing marble to quartz or granite. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Polished marble is just what it sounds like, a polished surface that is smoother and glossier and reflects more light. It is definitely more maintenance than quartz, but I love the way it looks! I love the look of these counters but would have to find a look alike alternative were I to do this again. Rachel – I couldn’t agree with you more about going for marble! Is it easier to take care of or is it a huge price difference between them? I love your blog…. This is the sealer (affiliate link) my contractor recommends: http://amzn.to/2rubsee. If you found this helpful, please pin it below to save it for later or share it with others! It usually involves a mitered edge which can be quite pricey for the labor. It’s actually from our original home so I don’t have a source! Here are details on each type of finish to help you decide which style of Travertine tile is best for your kitchen, bathroom or another project. Good luck! Frame it, Help me pick my Subway Tile Kitchen Backsplash Please. Hi Carine! I just wish i could put something on my white cabinets so my grandchildren couldn’t get spills down them, after Christmas i keep finding all kinds of stuff on them.I want to change some things around in my kitchen and then top it off with marble. Click here for my full disclosure. Thanks for suggesting those seals. It’s the first product I fell in love with. And our garage door (where we enter our home almost every single time) opens right into the kitchen. I think no matter what, choose a good sealer and be sure to reseal when appropriate (set a reminder in your computer or planner so you don’t forget). If the quartz is marble like in appearance then you do not want marble tiles for back splash. Read through our post to learn everything you need to know about honed vs polished quartz. As such, honed marble is more forgiving when it comes to scratching and etching. Subscribe and gain access to exclusive tips and printables! I will be sharing more about that soon when I share my tips for caring for marble (UPDATE: here is the post on how to care for marble countertops), but for today I’m just going to say that staining hasn’t been an issue at all. Thanks! Hi Amanda! Were you have with the earth tones you had in the tile. Should you use marble in the kitchen? After that, he said that every six months or so would be plenty. I just might have to look into having it refinished but so I don’t go crazy. Your email address will not be published. D. Love your kitchen! Even more, I love how you talk about how the marks in the marble will be a memory of good times. Arabescato Carrara 2x2 Honed. Ha! I'm not generally a fan of putting real stone next to a stone look. I have brightened and sharpened this image as I do all my photography, but I have not edited any scratches or marks out of the countertops. What’s Popular for Kitchen Counters, Backsplashes and Walls, Living Small: City & Small Space Consulting, The Best Backsplashes to Pair With Wood Counters, Do It for the Kids! I found a new product called “Stone Coat Countertops”. But I was leaning towards the ceramic also! For example, we were actually able to get Carrara marble for about $2000 less than the quartz I was considering at the time that we did this renovation. You just put some on a rag and wipe it on… so easy (but smelly! I hope this helps! Mix honed and polished marble tiles in the same color to add texture and interest to floors. What if a hot pan from the stove was put on marble – would it crack? Travertine tile can appear smooth and charming or rough and rustic, which is dependent on the honed or tumbled technique that was applied to the stones. thank you very much for really easy guide. My inspiration on the marble tile is from this kitchen. We went back and forth too many times, but ultimately went for it. In conclusion, if your marble is sealed well, I don’t think staining is really a major danger. looking for opinions for my backsplash. What is it like living with marble and kids? Hi guys! Thanks for your post. © 2020 Rachel Paxton (Maison de Pax). I’m afraid I’m not familiar with Danby marble, so I’d be afraid to speak to something I have no experience with. The countertops are all honed Carrara marble. Your I’m a stone restoration specialist, And I have to say; you are right about everything you said, plus if the marble counter tops get to the point that you want them to look like new again they can be re-hone or re-finish. Back then, people were just starting to use honed granite, which I happened to love. Because of a lot of the preconceived notions we had about marble, we thought we’d have to settle on a granite or quartz that resembled it. We don’t use markers or paints on them, but that’s more because there isn’t a good space for that in our kitchen. ): http://amzn.to/2rubsee . But that will depend on the choices you make and the area you live in, so shop around before you decide for sure. Unfortunately the internet is flooded by blogs sponsored by the quartz industry that invest very heavily in marketing to sell a product that is very much inferior than any natural stone and cons is never show or explain to home owner. But in the meantime, here’s a quick version: I just used the sealer that my fabricator assured me was the best, and we haven’t had a single stain issue! What’s your thoughts? It is very informative. It's this exact backsplash tile. . Polished marble has a glossy surface that reflects light, while honed marble has a flat finish with a softer appearance. I love this post and how you explain how quartz will look like plastic in a couple of years. Thanks! I'm going to check one more time about seeing if it comes in any other size, shape - but they already told me once it only comes in 3x12'' and the pencil. Hi Rachel, you did a great job of explaining that marble is not that expensive. Hello & thank you for all of the information!!!! But despite all the cons, the beauty of classic marble is unbeatable and we might choose marble after all!! I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered marble was less expensive than quartz! Honed finish requires more re-sealing than a polished one. I am so happy that I stumbled across your blog! I do try to keep the coffee pot area clean – I think that’s important because of the acidity of the coffee. Thank you for your beautiful and helpful article. If you don’t care for them, they can be scratched until they look tired and need to be refinished. Elegant white/grey with medium movement. Can you tell me the thickness of your marble. Dear Carpe: she never said WHAT direction she wanted - but only mentioned her new stainless. That might work well for your lifestyle though. Thank you! Hi there Rachel! I’ve seen some incredible homes that use all quartz, and it almost looks like real marble, but as soon as I brought in the real stone island and backsplash (which were non-negotiables for me), it began to look fake. If you have a marble surface, such as a marble countertop, that is in a high-traffic area, honed marble may be more appealing to you. SLAB ALSO STOCKED in a polished finish. Deciding on using quartz as a stone for your kitchen countertop is only half the job. I love it. I wouldn't mix marble with quartz. So sorry, Mary! I called and spoke to a designer at the store and he suggested Pewter to match the tile or Warm Gray to match the edges more for a contrast. Like I mentioned, the placement of your lights (and windows) can make a big difference in how noticeable the etching is… so that’s a little tough. Hi Rachel, I have Danby Marble counters in my kitchen and no kiddos here. Cutting Edge Countertops has the answers you seek. I’m a perfectionist. How is it holding up? Thanks for stopping by. Lately, everyone’s going crazy over quartz. I chose marble over quartz for two main reasons: the look and the price. Thanks so much! I can be much less careful than I had to be when we had butcher block counters (those are much more susceptible to stains, scratches, and water damage in my experience). They are beautiful tho aren’t they?? Marble is a crystallized limestone substance that forms under intense pressure and forms a beautiful soft rock. I'll definitely wait until it's in to decide, but looking for opinions for backsplash. I am planning to include this part in the kitchen. So if you choose honed marble (which we did for both the backsplash and the counters), be sure to seal it properly. Thanks for your thoughts. I have some mad love for marble countertops and everyone (kitchen designer, friends, family etc) have been telling me that I’m mad for wanting it. I say all this to show you that we use our kitchen. Thanks so much! We were fully decided on a brushed quartz until we saw this slab walking out of the warehouse. I have a white marble like honed quartz being installed today. Hi Kathy! Right now they blend with the floor, rather than creating needed contrast. I should probably add that I cook. I wish more people could come forward and do the same. Leaning towards Pewter. Looking forward to your feedback Ceramic for a Tile Backsplash in the Kitchen. So I started collecting marble-look quartz options…And they all looked fake next to the real marble. We have spilled wine, tomato sauce, very colorful baby food, coffee, and more (and even left drops overnight or longer), and not a one has made a single colored stain in almost a year and a half. . I do think that marble counters can absorb oils from homemade doughs and pastas, but I’ve only ever had the problem when I left the dough on the counter for a full hour while I photographed it for the blog. But here’s the full story…. To channel my inner Dr. Seuss – it stains polished, it stains honed, in stains in every home I’ve owned. I was able to lessen it (more on that to come in my tips for caring for marble post), but it was definitely still visible… for about a week. You’re welcome! Perhaps the difference might be Carrera opposed to Danby, but these counters are a nighmare. As a stone, I personally love marble, but the veining gives it that natural look and feel. Makes for a great look, again as long as time is taken to review the product and design it correctly before sticking anything down. That being said, we are remodeling a new place, and I am seriously considering marble-like quartz this time around. I went to a stone yard yesterday where the owner who is Italian told me that they have been using marble in Italy for centuries without all this angst, and I should get marble if I want that clean white color and just enjoy it. Honed Marble VS Polished Marble. You should also choose the right finish: polished or honed. It just does. Looking forward to the tutorial! The scratches, chips and water stains don’t bother me (too much). Beautiful marble Alaska mosaics in a unique composition of various shapes and textures. We have noticed three main causes of scratching: the spots where we opened cans and wine bottles has some circular scratches (and I’ll be sharing more about how to soften those later). Our cooktop will be in our peninsula so that area will always be within view. But with proper care (wipe up spills, use cutting boards, dry them after you use them), the entire surface will gain just a slight patina that will hide that original first scratch or water ring and simply look lovely. If you are building or remodeling your home you may … I honestly truly love them and have had no issues with them! I will also add that you can always have your fabricator back to regime to get out any imperfections. Hope this helps! I’m so glad I could persuade you to make the choice to marble! Would rolling the do out on marble counter cause stains from dough They applied it once before installation, and he recommended that I repeat several times over the next few months. Thank You :). How do you seal marble in the kitchen? Unlike other materials, you can choose color and look of your countertop. I did a mock up with 3 different grout colors. Good question! Aria Stone Gallery’s Calacatta Gold Borghini Extra Marble in a polished finish with contrasting black, glossy, lacquered walls. , I love this analogy! I need things lined up properly and I don’t like even one pillow out of place on the couch… but the scratches and etches on the counters don’t bother me for several reasons. Thanks. Honed Finish . No my heart isn't set on herring bone behind the stove, but I do feel like I need a picture frame with something in it and I can't figure out what to put in it. Second, the longer you allow the countertops to etch, the less obvious it will be. Marble is porous – allowing oils and stains to seep into the stone – and softer than granite or quartz, allowing scratches and chips. All white marble is so beautiful, but it will show crumbs and food so you do have to wipe it regularly. I was ONLY offering to help mitigate what she what for the interim period until she could finish off her cabinets - and certainly WAS NOT suggesting she paint the walls French Flag Blue, Candy apple red, or deep slate grey. My countertop coordinator told me today to not listen to anyone but myself! Oh well… I’m glad you are having a better experience with yours (except for the knife ). Have you seen this post? open the windows!). Now that you’ve seen how easy it can be to care for marble backsplash tile, you’ll love these beautiful examples of how it enhances the kitchen or bath like no other. . Since we have a glass cooktop with just four burners, though, it captures much of the splatters itself (because the burners are surrounded by quite a bit of glass before the marble begins). When we remodeled our kitchen almost a year and a half ago, I had plans to use a marble-look quartz. I’m working on that video now! We have many customers that over order by 10% to ensure they have enough to remove the 10% of Earth Tones that come with the product. Great tips. I'm glad I did because if I didn't I would have picked a different color based off of the sample stick. Yes! Do you need to seal marble in the kitchen? This is what it looks like now. Am I correct? While it's marble, it doesn't really look like it. I think you already have nice contrast with shiny vs matte with the chrome pulls-- my sense is that honed would look better with your quartz countertop. As fact the polyester resins are not completely UV stable and should not be used in a room with natural light. That’s obviously a personal decision, and you’ll need to weigh look, budget, durability, and personal taste… but I definitely think it’s a great option. The only thing that has left some marks is oil. Care and Maintenance Protecting marble against etching and staining takes effort, but thankfully not a lot. Thankfully, I have not had any issues with splatters around our cooktop. I will say, though, that more movement tends to hide more as a general rule! Thank YOU for the meal!! I have a question for you though. ). We just decided today to go with Satinato marble! I only mentioned softer-non-yellow tones to cool down the look of the cabinets - and I do KNOW this works, as I ended up with yellow tone oak floors (I hate) in my kitchen - until we can find salvage heart pine to match the rest of the house - and the softer tone blue/grey on the original bead-board DID mitigate the yellow in floors - but hey, that is just me - and my own visual perception. I love the gray lower cabinets and the colorful rug, along with the marble. The polishing process closes the pores of the marble stone so polished finish has a lower rate of absorption and thus less need for sealing. Thanks Janette for your feedback! Otherwise, I really haven’t changed my habits at all from when we had granite or ceramic tile counters. have white modern cabinets and I love white marble with flecks of clear white sparkles. Since she definitely wants to replace her cabinetry - why put in high-end products unless you KNOW what you are going to have in the end? It is exactly my dilemma quartz vs honed marble. In fact, both honed and polished finished marble needs extra care to preserve the elegance of the stone. Thanks for your thoughtful reply! Can you please tell me the brand of sealer you use and recommend? I still love the look and I do not in any way regret my choice to use marble. I originally thought I figured it out with a 1.5" hex shape of New Calcutta Marble, but realized I shouldn't do marble because of staining (and I don't want to feel the pressure of living in a museum like environment where I have to rush to clean up every splatter from cooking). Polished travertine might provide a nice appearance, but it’s far too slick for outdoor use. Furthermore, since someone else mentioned stainless - was merely offering a cheaper alterantive aa a temporary consideration to REAL stainless; and those reproduction faux-tin tiles I mentioned - DO come in MORE modern Combinations! En savoir plus. Polished marble is just what it sounds like, a polished surface that is smoother and glossier and reflects more light. Thank you, Rachel. I think a lot of people are afraid of marble, but for the wrong reasons. I went with quartz, but mostly because I’m not as diligent as you about keeping things clean, and I was worried about marble staining (i.e., I’m kind of lazy). All I hear is “it stains” “It chips” “it scratches”. Hi Rachel! But after some time, your wood floors will have a beautiful, slight patina over the whole thing, and you can’t find that first scratch even if you look hard for it. I was told that granite wouldn’t but quartz would but do not know about marble. your post helped me a lot, but I was thinking, do you know how marble compares to Granite or Quartz? We used this sealer (affiliate): https://www.amazon.com/Tenax-Proseal-Granite-Sealer-Marble/dp/B008VHYXZC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1516767794&sr=8-2&keywords=tenax+proseal&linkCode=sl1&tag=maidepax-20&linkId=4ea8ad55264d0610394e8832725f6b04, but, you can learn more about how I care for our marble countertops in this post: https://www.maisondepax.com/care-marble-countertops/. You may want … The short answer is yes! Thank you for all your posts and helpful to see everyones comments! I love marble – have lived with antique marble top tables and dressers in black, white, rose – love them all. I hope this helps! I want to make sure I understand everything before I sign the papers. That said, many marbles are equivalent to some of the less expensive granites, and most are less than the majority of quartz options. I have always LOVED marble and remember going into old homes with marble counters…I love the feel and coolness of the stone…I always thought it held the test of time…even with monuments in cemeteries…so it was interesting to read your article and hear your thought…thank you for sharing them!! I want to keep it real simple and classic - so I was thinking another white pattern (as opposed to a fancy mosaic). Would you please let me know what are your thoughts re durability. Chemical suck UV absorber, stabilizer, fire retardant, NVO`s, color pigment among others are added on the mix. I’m sure what everyone wants to know is would I choose marble again? If you want to go with ceramic pick one on the gray side. If anyone can help, please do! Heirloom Clay Ceramic Tile (Polished/Glossy w/Crackle - looks nicer in real life and I'd do different grout), White Honed Marble Tile (would be done horizontally). Thanks very much for your post! From what type of stone to color, to edges and finishes. Your kitchen is beautiful. I have never actually put a hot pan from the stove directly onto my marble. I’m so glad you found this helpful. With the spalshback since it is close to the stovetop, do you have problem with that area staining with oil? I’m excited for you! . I am 78 years old and doing this for the first time. The most common of those finishes are honed, tumbled, polished, brushed, and chiseled edged. Children are a blessing, but they sure are messy! BTW - we are ALL friends here - and share thoughts kindly! Certainly! Thank you so much! I hope everyone who thinks of upgrading their kitchen countertop gets to read this post first. And I can honestly say that I would make the same choice again today. Just to follow up, in following your advice I decided to get the pewter version of the clay tile I had attached above. Quartz is a man-made product that is non-porous (so stains cannot set into the stone) and incredibly durable – basically scratch proof. Polished and honed surfaces are smooth and strikingly shiny. Granite and marble are both natural materials, while quartz is actually manmade. You have to stand directly above even our biggest scratch to see it. It stains with tomatoes, it stains with wine, it stains each and every time. Its elegant and traditional appearance has been gracing homes, hotels, and restaurants for many years. and by the time I removed the dough, there was a grease mark in the stone. Can you also tell me what if any placemats have you used without damage to your counters??? Thanks for the reassurance that it can be live-able! Haisa Blue Marble Herringbone Honed Marble Mosaic Tile Haisa blue marble is a type of exclusive blue marble with some gray veining. BUT it is less forgiving when it comes to staining because honed marble leaves the pores of the stone more open, allowing them to absorb oils and stains more readily than polished marble. Haha I’m kidding (mostly), Hi Victoria! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who has been doing a little homework on this. I do this about twice a year. A Few Routines Help a Home Run More Smoothly, Kitchen Ideas: How to Choose the Perfect Backsplash. And he actually ordered me lunch simply because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. Honed Carrera it is! It’s an antique! So true, Jessica! Granite and Quartz are both harder than marble (so they scratch and stain less), making marble the highest maintenance of the three. Thank you, I’m so happy to have stumbled upon your article. Price the materials in your area and see. Hi Rachel, I’m not super familiar with this process, but my understanding is that you can have stone refinished even after it’s installed. We’re having a home renovation before the end of the year.