Angela from Interior Solutions Brisbane has returned this week to weigh in on the timely question of Marble V Caesar Stone. We were only just discussing this question this week at our house. I love the look of marble, but I do worry about it’s durability with our family of 7. Read below to find out Angela’s recommendations.

Marble V Caesar stone
I’m currently working on a kitchen design which I have inherited from a previous designer, who worked for my client on the initial design & specified Marble benchtops. My client is obviously quite keen on this option but the downside of using such a soft composite natural product in this application had not been explained to her.
Unfortunately the beauty of marble sends a shiver down my spine & my cabinet maker, immediately thoughts of applying a disclaimer come to mind for both of us!
There is no denying that marble adds a touch luxury, elegance & certainly creates a statement with its individualism. But there are a number of disadvantages in using marble, which often the specifier doesn’t pass on to the client, usually due to lack of knowledge, inexperience or think that specifying marble creates the impression of producing “high end” designs or add value to a project, not thinking through the consequences if the marble doesn’t perform to expectations which can happen in a number of days after installation & becomes a costly & disappointing exercise for the client & designer.
So what are the disadvantages of using such a beautiful product? – Expense – Maintenance & difficulty to repair due to the softness of the stone – Easily scratched – Reaction to food acids – Staining – Cleaning

So what options are available if I want to have a marble benchtop but not have to worry about its performance? – Reconstituted Stone – Non-porous, scratch & stain resistant, easy to clean, limited colour & pattern range, 10-15 year warranty – Laminate – Replicates the look of stone through printing technology, large range of colours & styles, easy to clean, scratch & stain resistant, light weight, great option if working on a budget, 7 year warranty. Unfortunately laminate does show signs of wear after a period of time, especially the gloss finishes.
I know a number of individuals in the design industry who shudder at the mention of reconstituted stone or laminate, I’m not one of those! As an Interior Designer I have worked on projects from both ends of the budget spectrum & have confidently specified reconstituted stone & laminate to create the desired look & have never been disappointed in either.
When working within a tight budget, I will often specify Caesar stone for kitchen benchtops & specify a laminate which is a close representation to that Caesar stone, in the Laundry & Bathrooms or Butler’s Pantry, with great effect. Take a look at the range from Laminex called 180FX, it’s a great representation of natural stone with a matt or Diamond Gloss finish.
Remember to enjoy the renovation process of your Kitchen, Bathroom or Laundry, it’s a story of your journey in your home. Ax

Thank you Angela, at least now we have a little ammunition for our kitchen disagreement. ?

If you are interested in asking Angela a question or to seek her out for your own job, please have a look at Angela’s website here.

Have you used either of these products in your kitchen? What do you prefer?

Nicole xxx