Piece de Resistance: Marble Countertops

One of my favorite details of this kitchen for our Room of the Week is the beautiful marble counter tops.  Nothing beats the classic beauty of marble for counter tops in a kitchen.  Marble comes in a variety of colors and in either polished or honed (matte) finishes.  But, marble isn’t for everyone.  Not only is it one of the more expensive counter top options it is also high maintenance and can scratch, chip and etch.  But, there are many options now for people who want the look of marble counter tops without the maintenance or risk.  I’ve compiled a little sampling of some of my favorite classic marble colors and some alternative options.

Formica // Silestone // Corian // Eco by Cosentino // Zodiaq

And if you aren’t ready to change your counter tops, but would like a little marble surface in your kitchen for baking or to add elegance…there are options for you too.

1, 2, 3, 4

Or, if you’re like me and you rent your home so you can’t change your countertops (even though you would desperately love too), or don’t have space for a large piece of furniture in your kitchen…maybe you could just add a small pastry board to your existing countertop, like this one from Sur La Table.