Dramatic Veining Is the Next Major Kitchen Trend

It comes as no surprise that marble is popular right now. The coveted countertop material is pricey, but it looks classic and comes in a variety of natural colors, so it's consistently a favorite of kitchen designers and homeowners alike. What feels new this year, is that designers are pulling back from, pure white marble (just a bit) and diving head-first into dramatic marble patterns with lots of contrast. The Brownstone Boys, who are designing the parlor floor of our 2024 REAL SIMPLE HOME, will be utilizing this style on the big kitchen island in their space. "You can't beat the natural veining that's in marble," Barry says. "So if you're going to do it, you might as well go for it and it can really be a statement piece in a kitchen." Best of all, it's not for just the kitchen. It works on bathroom counters, fireplace surrounds, you name it. "It's beautiful and it adds so much interest and depth," Barry says.

If you're looking to add some of this bold look to your kitchen (or bathroom or fireplace), take a look at these easy tips to make it work

Color match

We're not saying to find bright green or blue marble to match your cabinet color, but its good to refer to the colors around your home when choosing a marble slab. The Brownstone Boys recommend looking to tile, art, and architectural details around your home to find the right type of marble veining. Which is exactly what they did in the REAL SIMPLE HOME. "We were inspired by some of the green tile and the original fireplace, so we incorporated those colors and tones into the marble when we were sourcing it." The marble they'll be using has tiny hints of green throughout the blacker veining.

Look at it from a few angles

Because of its incredible patterns, marble looks different at every angle, from above, from the side, etc. Make sure, when you're shopping, to really take a good look at it from every angle to ensure you still love it. "If you are looking at marble straight on, it has a completely different look than if it's laid down," Jordan says.

Go honed

Marble is beautiful in all of its forms, but The Brownstone Boys believe that honed marble, with a matte finish, is the best way of really displaying the natural pattern. "I think it really brings out the veining" Jordan says. "It makes the colors smaller and there's something about that that gives more depth." The stone looks translucent, almost, when honed. "Instead of the light bouncing off of it when it's polished, it almost feels like you're looking into the stone," he says.

Try it on a backsplash

"We love it as a backsplash and we use it that way a lot," Barry says. In the REAL SIMPLE HOME, the marble will run on the countertop and up the backsplash wall, creating a seamless effect. No tile needed here! "A lot of the time, the less materials the better," he says. "instead of introducing more materials, we prefer to keep it simple." That full marble counter and backsplash is definitely a trend right now, but one with staying power thanks to marble's classic look.