Marble

Marble is limestone recrystallised under heat and pressure. The veining is mineral impurity, which is exactly why it is valued and exactly why no two slabs match.

It is the most specified stone in high-end residential and hospitality interiors, and the one that generates the most callbacks — almost always because expectations were not set.

Where it performs

• Vanity tops, feature walls and fireplace surrounds
• Bar fronts, lobby cladding and reception desks
• Flooring in lower-traffic interior spaces
• Bookmatched features, where two mirrored slabs carry a whole wall

What to tell the client before they choose it

• Marble etches. Acid — lemon, wine, some cleaners — dulls the polish. This is a chemical reaction, not a stain, and it is not preventable by sealing.
• It patinas. In Europe this is the point; in a Las Vegas residential kitchen it is often a complaint. Honed finishes make it far less visible.
• It is softer than granite or quartzite and will show wear at heavy-use edges.

None of that is a reason to avoid marble. It is a reason to put it in writing.

Selecting

Marble is bought by the slab, not the name. Two lots of Calacatta from different blocks can look like different stones. Book time in the yard for anything where the veining is the design.

Finishes

Polished maximises depth and contrast in the vein. Honed is matte, softer, and significantly more forgiving of etching. Brushed adds a light texture and is used where slip matters.