Everyone loves the look of marble—it’s one of the most classical beautiful materials in the natural world. Marble countertops will last for several lifetimes and always look naturally luminescent, making them an unceasingly popular choice for kitchen remodeling, custom kitchens, and craftsman renovation.

Unfortunately, marble is an absorbent stone that is more prone to staining than granite or quartz. For this Kirkland remodel, we installed a combination of marble and quartz countertops to give this Kirkland family the best of both worlds.

The kitchen island countertop is the made from classic Carrara marble from Italy—the same type of stone from which Michelangelo’s David or the Roman Pantheon were carved. Carrara instantly makes this Kirkland marble countertop look expensive and timeless. The surrounding L-shaped countertops, on the other hand, are made from an engineered stone of quartz called Carrara Grigio, which emulates the look of Carrara marble but without the vulnerability to staining that plagues marble countertops. To make this combination possible, we removed the countertop portion that previously jutted out into the main space, lengthened the countertop along the wall, and created a free-standing island parallel to the wall counter.

The wife in this Kirkland home loves to cook, and she’s also a huge fan of natural stone. She actually suggested a kitchen remodel that combines quartz and marble, and it’s perfect for her needs—quartz countertops are great for preparing foods because they are impervious to stains, but marble countertops can withstand heat from pots and pans, which will melt the resin in engineered quartz. Perfect for chefs who still want that gorgeous marble glow!