Marble is undoubtedly a timeless classic stone that has adorned kitchens and spaces for centuries. Its aesthetic is synonymous with luxury kitchens and epitomises quality and opulence. As a beautiful natural material, it is a metamorphic stone mined in the mountains worldwide and famously in Italy. Because of its crystalline properties, it can be polished to a wonderful shine, making it ever popular. The word marble literally translates as ‘shining stone’ or marmoris in Latin. Marble is also distinctive because no two slabs are the same. Each section will have a unique composition of veining in its natural form. So, whether you are using marble on kitchen worktops, walls or floors, you will be in possession of an extraordinary and charming stone.
Although marble can look beautiful in kitchen design, there are a few aspects to consider when choosing materials for your new luxury kitchen. First, marble is porous and more so than granite so that it will absorb spills such as oil or wine and even lemon juice. Sharp knives can also affect the finish of the marble if cutting directly on the worktop, but fortunately, there are sealers to prevent both challenges. The good news is that with proper care, marble can last a lifetime in the kitchen; above all else, it can create a showstopping and memorable kitchen.
Choosing marble for your luxury kitchen can add value, but it’s also costly. One of the most widely used marbles is Carrara, and we consider it an entry-level marble which usually starts at around £500 sqm. But, of course, this depends upon the quality, and its grade will be reflected in the price.
At Papilio Bespoke Kitchens, we have also used stunning Italian Callacatta marble with bolder veining and Arabascatta marbles with thicker black veins. The two are considered most prestigious because of their rarity. So, inevitably, they cost considerably more, making them ideal for luxury kitchens. We have also worked with Lilac marble, a white calcite marble with a greyish-white base and purple-black veining. Lilac marble is perfect for contemporary kitchens because its modern qualities and aesthetics are pretty transferable.
For our Victorian Town House kitchen project, we chose Carrara marble for the worktops and oversized backsplash. We wanted the cool marble to become a feature but functional simultaneously. Therefore, we matched the beautiful Carrara marble with American oak veneers to complement the geometry of the parquet floor. The surface of the marble also added more light into the room, creating a fresh, bright, contemporary kitchen.
Our Contemporary Kitchen in Somerset had an overall 1970s vibe but a paired back and honest design style. We installed a stunning single slab of Turkish Lilac Marble with birch-faced ply for the kitchen island, which was suspended within a metal framework to complement the black aluminium window frames and accentuate the hexagonal terracotta floor tiles. The result was a retro-inspired kitchen with a mixture of natural and manufactured materials with a contemporary twist.
For our Fulham Kitchen project in London, we designed a Scandinavian kitchen, creating a multifunctional space for the family. The finishing touch to this stunning kitchen was the extremely rare Grey Grigio di Luna Marble which featured a wonderful iridescent surface. What still amazes us is that the stone has gone through a 3-million-year journey to arrive in Fulham as a countertop.
