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.

quartz is a man made product using natural stone and a resin material. No sealing and is stain proof. I have had my granite for 10 years. I have never had a staining issue and set hot pots down on it seldom, but it has never bothered it. I've sealed it maybe 2-3 times over 10 years. granite really doesn't stain. So, compared to quartz, they are very similar. It all comes down to what you like the best.

Hi Nikhil, You can use Quarts or Granite. Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus, more durable. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible, and because it isn't porous like granite, it's easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free. Be careful with cooking pans though: Quartz can be damaged by excessive heat, so use heating pads at all times. If you are looking for an Interior designer in Kerala or Bangalore, We would be happy to assist you. With over 14 years of expertise in the field,D’LIFE Home Interiors is one of the largest and the most reliable company for interior design in Bangalore. We have branches all over Kerala and Bangalore, has own manufacturing units, and offers, 100% customized products in premium products at relatively moderate cost. Be it a Modular Kitchen or complete home interior furnishing the company offers custom made designs and products for each customer. Kindly visit our website for more info Or, you can just contact us at +91 956 723 11 11 D`LIFE|Top Home Interior Designers in Kerala & Bangalore

Well this was made clear to the lower floor occupants that the kitchen might need artificial lighting during the day too. Also, if it can be an option, is it a good idea to lay exhaust pipes from the kitchen all the way up to the terrace so that the shaft remains free of grease laden fumes. Moreover we are planning to fill the shaft with planters to create a natural look so kitchen fumes might make the environment unsuitable for plants to survive? So laying exhaust pipes will be better right?