Marble Countertops: Are They Right for You?

Crisp. Cool. Distinctive. Elegant. If those words are describing countertops, we must be talking about white marble. Marble is a timeless classic that is right at home in a wide range of décor styles and rooms. Whether you’re looking to finish off your kitchen, upgrade your bathroom or incorporate a workstation in a home office, marble should be on your list for consideration. Like any material, marble has its pros and cons. 

Pros

  • Classic beauty – Marble is the Audrey Hepburn of countertops: classic, timeless beauty that exudes sophistication. It’s the only natural stone that comes in bright, crisp white, with or without grey veins running through it.
     
  • It’s got personality - As a natural stone, marble offers a unique, “no-two-are-alike” style that will give your countertop its own distinctive flair. Marble doesn’t conduct heat. It’ll remain cool to the touch, a welcome feature in kitchens and spa-like bathrooms alike. With age, marble takes on a patina. If you’re intrigued by a surface that tells the story of its lifespan with you, then marble is a terrific choice. 
     
  • Affordable – Unless you’re selecting a more rare variety of marble, this natural stone tends to be within a price range that's comparable to other countertop options. In some cases, it’s even more affordable than other natural stones. 

Cons

  • It’s a softy – The same thing that gives aged marble a story to tell may be a turn-off for some. Simply put, marble is prone to staining and scratching. Even with regular sealing, marble may show traces of the red wine you once spilled in the kitchen or hints of your favorite shade of blush on the bathroom counter.

Tips for living with marble

If the pros outweigh the cons for you (and for so many of us they do!), take note of these general maintenance tips:

  • Seal your marble and reseal it at least once a year (or sooner in high use areas). A sealer doesn’t mitigate stains and scratches, but it does give you some time to respond. A splash of wine on a well-sealed countertop that’s wiped up in due time might never leave a clue that it was there. 
     
  • Be gentle when cleaning. If you wouldn’t wash your hands with it, don’t use it on your marble. Avoid acidic cleaners and abrasive cleaners or pads. Marble prefers mild soaps (such as dish detergent) and warm water with a cloth or sponge. Need something a little tougher? Look for a natural stone cleaner.
     
  • When you’re choosing your marble countertop, opt for polished finishes over honed. Polished is more stain resistant, whereas honed is more porous and prone to staining. 

If your idea of the perfect countertop is one that retains the pristine, glossy shine from the day you bought it, then marble isn’t the right choice. Conversely, if you are attracted to a countertop loaded with unique character and beauty, classic marble may be for you!

by Anjie Cho

The Best Colors for Small Space Decorating

featured this week on About Home by Diana Hathaway Timmons

The best colors for your small room don't have to be light, or even neutral. How you decorate a small space is more important than choosing the lightest color in hopes of making the room look larger. Darker colors can work well in small rooms with the right lighting, trim color, and accessories. There are easy tricks to using color in small spaces that anyone can use, regardless of the color you choose.

Eleven top designers share their favorite colors for creating a beautiful small space with color in this gorgeous slideshow.

Baby Seal Black - Benjamin Moore

From designer Anjie Cho: "I love using Baby Seal Black for an accent wall that pops in a small room. Often there's a small space serving many different purposes, and this contrasting accent wall not only creates a focal point, but helps define a different area of the room. We often use the wall for a wall-hung TV and dark credenza so it blends in. The TV doesn't stand out like a sore thumb and the room ends up feeling more spacious."

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3 Different Ways to Put Essential Oils to Work in Your Home

I want you to take a deep breath. Imagine inhaling the sweet, invigorating smell of citrus or refreshing smell of peppermint. It makes you smile, doesn’t it? While you're sitting in front of the screen, relaxed and remembering your favorite scents, let’s talk about essential oils. 

First, let’s define what we’re talking about. Essential oils are plant oils that contain the essence or smell of the plant. You may think of soaps and perfumes when someone says “essential oil,” but did you know that these nose-delighting oils have a place in your home, too? Here are three of the applications for essential oils in your home.

Pest Control

To paraphrase an old camp song, the “ants go marching…” away from peppermint oil. So will spiders and rodents. Add 10-15 drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle full of water. Spray your concoction into the cracks and crevices that pests may use as an entry point into your home. You can also add a few drops of the oil to a cotton ball and leave that near exterior doors and windows. The peppermint may help deter flies and other winged insects, as will drops of citronella oil.

Clean and freshen up the bathroom

Are you running out of elbow grease trying to get soap scum off your shower curtain and walls? Fill a spray bottle with warm water, then add four drops of eucalyptus essential oil and 4 drops of tea tree oil. Apply the spray to the surfaces you wish to clean. Leave it there to help fight mold, too! 

You can also add a few drops of your favorite scent to the inside of a toilet paper roll or on a cotton ball placed behind the toilet to freshen the room. Grapefruit, lavender and citrus are fantastic picks for this task. If you’re looking for something to help clean (in and out of the bathroom!) add 20 drops each of eucalyptus, lemon, and pine along with 1 ounce of white vinegar to a 2 ounce spray bottle. Add water to the bottle to fill it. Shake well before each use. This fantastic, natural cleaner will do wonders for your counters, sinks, windows, mirrors, and more!

Kitchen Powerhouse

Grab the lemon essential oil and tackle burnt pans and hard-to-remove, stuck-on food! Just fill your tough-to-clean pots and pans with water, bring the water to a boil and add a few drops of lemon oil. When the pot/pan is cool enough to handle, clean as you would normally. You can also add this oil to the soap compartment of your dishwasher for spot-free dishes! Don’t put that lemon oil away just yet. Add 2-5 drops directly to a damp sponge to combat bacteria and germs on countertops and cutting boards. 

Essential oils have more work to do in your kitchen. Combine 5 drops of bergamot and 5 drops of lime oil with ½ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of peroxide. You can use this mixture to clean your sink! Just scrub gently and then rinse with warm water. 

Have tough odors haunting your kitchen? Pick your favorite essential oil and add a few drops to a cotton ball. Drop the cotton directly in your garbage can before placing the garbage bag. If the odoriferous offender is lingering in your fridge, there’s a cure for that, too. Try combining 5-10 drops of a citrusy scented oil to a small bowl of water. Wipe down the shelves and compartments of your fridge with the scented water. 

These simple uses for essential oils in the home are just the beginning! What’s your favorite way to use essential oils? I’d love to hear your ideas!

by Anjie Cho