A worktop older than the house

Marble forms when limestone underground is exposed to enormous pressure and heat over millions of years, and the crystals in the stone fuse anew. It is a process still taking place deep beneath the earth's surface as we speak. When you place a hand on a marble worktop, you are touching something that was in the making long before humans existed.

Granite forms in a different way, as solidified magma deep within the earth's crust, which makes the stone harder and denser. That is also why granite performs better in a kitchen where food is cut, hot pans are set down and liquids are spilled every day.

Why the two stones behave differently

Neither means one stone is better than the other. It means the choice should suit what the worktop will be used for. A cooking island used every day for cutting and setting down hot dishes is often better served by granite. A worktop that is mostly looked at and touched can easily carry the softer, livelier veining of marble.

Marble in Copenhagen

Marble is no stranger to Danish buildings. The Marble Church in Copenhagen, officially Frederik's Church, received stone from Norway for its façade in the 18th century, because Norwegian marble was the closest source available in the Nordic region at the time. It is still the same today: genuine marble for a Danish home typically travels far, from Italy, Portugal or South America, before it reaches a kitchen in Copenhagen.

How to care for a stone worktop

Granite can be wiped with ordinary cleaning products and withstands most things, but it should be sealed at regular intervals so it does not absorb liquid. Marble should never be cleaned with acidic products, not even lemon-based soap, and spills of wine, juice or vinegar should be wiped up immediately. Both benefit from a regular layer of sealant, like a protective skin that keeps the stone dense.

In return, stone rewards those who look after it. Where a laminate table looks worn after a few years, a worktop in genuine stone only gains character over time.