Whiter Than White

In the Hamptons, wherever you go, in grand estates or more humble homes, you’ll see it: a kitchen outfitted with an ocean of gleaming white marble. “White marble has been the standard in the Hamptons for as long as I can remember,” says Robert Bakes of designers Bakes & Kropp. Interior designer Barbara Feldman agrees. “I think there is a classic, timeless beauty and an elegance associated with white marble that will never go out of style, especially in more formal and traditional kitchens and baths. White marble has been the fallback material for a long, long time. And Carrara marble has grey veining that blends well with stainless steel appliances and fixtures.”

But is installing white marble in your kitchen practical? Like all natural materials, white marble requires more care than manmade alternatives. Marble is actually super compressed, crystallized calcium carbonate, also known as chalk. It is porous and soft compared to other stones. And it doesn’t play well with many ingredients found in a working kitchen. Acid—a splash of spaghetti sauce, a drip of lemon juice—reacts with calcium carbonate and etches the surface. Etching is permanent, more akin to a scratch than a stain.

Even any cleaning products and even water can leave marks, rings, and stains on marble. (The porous marble absorbs the water.) However, marble ages beautifully and imperfections give it character.

Of course, none of this matters if you’re more likely to make reservations than risotto. Some kitchens in the Hamptons are practically never used. If you don’t cook much, then go ahead and install an acre of snowy marble. Designer Austin Handler of Mabley-Handler says, “For typical Hamptons summer house homeowners who may use their kitchens sparingly, many are willing to trade away the potential problems for a desirable esthetic.”

If you’re an enthusiastic cook, and you’re worried about spills and stains, your marble counters must be regularly sealed. Robert Bakes reports, “The sealants used for marble are a lot more durable these days, though it’s impossible to completely prevent staining.” You could also choose a honed finish rather than polished. Honed stone is not shiny, so an etched mark is much less noticeable. But you’ll still have to make sure to clean up your counters carefully as you cook, wiping up spills ASAP, and use cutting boards.

Another idea is to choose a suitably pale alternative, such as white granite or white quartz. Robert Bakes says, “Visibly natural looking, genuine white veined marble can’t truly be replicated, but when a client is particularly nervous of stains and marks, quartz is a viable alternative. Caesarstone for example produce some very marble-like effects, and the quartz finish is very durable. As a company we assess each client’s needs on a per job basis; those that have a fear of staining will be steered towards alternatives, those who appreciate the wonderful aging of natural stone will be comfortable with a natural material.”

Austin Handler says that for customers who only want a natural material, there’s a granite that offers that classic Hamptons white kitchen look. “It’s known by several different names, depending on where the vendor is sourcing it from. We’ve heard it called Vermont White, Super White, and White Fantasy. It’s a quartzite granite that has the general look and feel of Carrara marble, a mix of white and grey (with slightly more grey, and slightly larger veining), but with the resiliency of granite. It’s the one stone that we’ve come across that offers the best of both worlds: a natural material with that classic Hamptons white kitchen look, without marble’s softness and sensitivity to wear and tear.”
Barbara Feldman says she loves quartz, but another interesting alternative is poured cement. “It is usable on both floors and counters, can be fabricated in any thickness, stained almost any color, and is durable, but should be sealed to minimize staining, especially on countertops.”

So if you love the look and feel of white marble, be aware that it stains easily, but also consider fuss-free alternatives. The choice is yours.