Living with Marble worktops 3 years on...

The pros, the cons and would I do anything differently?

Greg Penn

Jun 02, 2026

It’s hard to believe but the ‘new’ kitchen here at Admirals was installed just over 3 years ago now! It still feels very new to me indeed - and I’m going to write a whole article (or three) on it - the design and function and well, anything you might want to know about it really and 3 years on I still absolutely adore it!

But, something I’m asked about a lot, and certainly divided opinion when I shared it with Instagram, that I was going for real, natural carrara marble for the worktops, rather than a quartz or some other kind of manufactured or simulated stone…

I had people from all corners of the internet telling me it would stain, that it’d be ruined, that it would break or look terrible and that I’d be basically hovering over it the whole time with a cloth for fear of someone spilling something on it… that I’d banish tumeric and red wine and tomatoes from the house… it all sounded very dramatic!

Of course there were others too that were in hearty favour of my decision so, 3 years on, of some pretty tough use - I am absolutely not careful with it. I don’t use coasters… I don’t tidy up before bed (especially not after a party!), I spray lime juice all over the place with merry abandon when making cocktails… in short, I do not baby them. I cook and drink and spill and am not tidy when cooking up a storm, so I like to think they’ve been tested.

I also have not re-sealed them - not even once, since they were installed. Theoretically it should be done every year.

So, a fair test I reckon if it’s something you’re considering! I’ll compare it a little too, to the granite worktops I had in my last place, as well as talk about what I’m considering for the Butlers Pantry!