I think the marble naysayers have jumped on the bandwagon without really living with the stone. I have statuary in my bathrooms and love it. Most stains can be removed with a simple baking soda and water poultice. Acid etching is harder to deal with since it removes the polished surface, but its part of having a living stone in your home. If it becomes too bad, you can have it repolished. With a darker stone, you won't have as many issues as a white marble. In order to really know if you can live with it, I suggest you get a small sample of the stone and do some tests. Here is an example. http://www.dohiy.com/2013/04/21/marble-countertops-the-post-acid-test/ Please note that she used bleach and oxyclean to clean the stone after her test. Stay away from both since they can etch the stone just as much as an acidic food. Instead, clean with a ph neutral cleaner like isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), and for heavy stains, the baking soda poultice mentioned above. You have to remember that marble has been used for centuries as flooring, table tops, countertops, etc. throughout the world and most of these installations are still here and aren't stained and etched to the point that it has been ripped out and replaced. Just think about all of he luxury hotels in Europe and how many times they have been exposed to Hangover type guests without any damage.

Hi Purvi, for open plan kitchen you can change the fridge door position to front facing instead of balcony facing. One more option is, you can plan for pocket doors. The advantage of that is if you wish to have the open feeling you can keep it open or close it. My personal advise will be, instead of asking for individual queries you should consult a person and take complete details as per your requirements.

Granite is a material that requires very little attention when it comes to maintenance. However, with the Indian style of cooking, lighter shades of Granite often tends to show stains and go dull with time. What to avoid A neutral pH-balanced (i.e. non-acidic) cleaner is best for granite, and any natural cleaners with acids or with caustic nature like ammonia and bleach should be avoided. This includes vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, and citrus cleaners. Here's how you can clean granite countertops Wipe up liquids and spills of acidic ingredients promptly using a little to a soft cloth or a sponge and clear warm water. Some stains can also be lifted with a paste of baking soda and water. And to disinfect, pour one part water and one part 91% isopropyl alcohol into a spray bottle to spray and clean.

Hello, SB you can place the same quality granite over the cut out portion, using L brackets underneath the new granite, which will hold the new granite piece in its place, then use black Silicon to cover to gaps. Regards, Urban Kitchens