Hi Maurizio, We are going to be redoing our kichen and I'm looking for something other than granite.I want a timeless look that is durable. I like the look of marble and frech lime stone, but my interior designer is trying to sway me a way from that because it is to much maintance. I do have three teenage boys and a husband that dont really pick up after themselves. If granite is the only way to go, is there any stone that have a simular look to the other two stones I mentioned? Thank you for your time. Suzi Seal Beach, CA

 

Dear Suzi:

About the marble/limestone in a kitchen issue, read this:

 

ABOUT MARBLE IN A KITCHEN

 

The stone itself has nothing to do with it. It's rather a collective culture issue.

All throughout the Mediterranean basin marble is a very popular stone as a kitchen countertop and everybody enjoys it. (Limestone is not so popular, but certain types of limestone could be acceptable in relation of what follows.) In Northern Europe and all throughout North America, many like the way it looks, but nobody enjoys it!

How's that?

For the simple reason that In Southern Europe they never install a polished marble countertop (or a polished marble floor, for that matter). They start from a hone-finished surface and then they start using and abusing it and only care for it with a good-quality stone cleaner (like MB-5). The “worse” it gets, the better they like it! It's considered “aging.” It's like a pair of old blue jeans, if you know what I mean: a highly sought “lived-in” look.

While the looks of an old pair of jeans is very much appreciated in Northern Europe or in North America, too, the same principle does not seem to apply to stone. Most people over here expect their stone to look like brand-new all the time, and any “change” is not considered “aging”, but a damage that needs to be rectified.

Hence the problem.

The question now is: regardless of your geographical location, which one of the two groups do you belong to? J

 

Unfortunately, there is no “granite” that I can think of that looks like marble or limestone; but if you can consider a departure for all of them, how about soapstone?

May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?

Ciao and good luck,

Maurizio Bertoli

 

www.marblecleaning.org – The Only Consumers' Portal to the Stone Industry Establishment!