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 Sharmilaks, My experience with glass is that it will scratch eventually and being such a high gloss marks will show. I would agree with DVG and have a look at Quartz Stone or Composite stone such brands as Compac, Quartz Forms, Diresco, Quarelle, Caesarstone, Arena stone, Uni Stone, Cimstone.

I looked at the brochure but I could not find exactly what color or pattern Caesarstone has in India. I'd like the look of a "marble" Caesarstone for the counters and the back splash with your blue cabinets. I don't know if this is possible, though. I have granite in my kitchen and I the have counter and back splash in the same granite and I have loved it for 15 years. Do they have induction cook tops in India? They are wonderful, too.

Please Read, 1) Following are the photos of my Mumbai apartment (10th floor) kitchen. Water heater and water purifier were already (haphazardly) installed by my contractor before I came to occupy the apartment. Answer : u can shift the purifier above sink , inside the cabinet which will be made by carpenter. 2) We now have to install cabinets above the counter. ( you can ) no problem. 3) I want to get the PNG gas pipes installed to replace the existing cylinders. Answer : This work you can do after carpentry work. 4) When I saw other homes it appears I not only need pipes but some ghastly looking meters/ valves etc. Answer : meter will be hidden inside above cabinet toward right side and pipes will be inside the hob side counter will transfer through the balcony wall to meter again. 1) The gas pipes will come from the wall next to the balcony doors. The sink is just next to this wall. Will it be possible to install the pipes and meters below the cooking counter or is that not practical? - - Don't know what are all the practical considerations. Safety, access to meter to take readings, location of the sink? ). everything is possible.. 2) If under the counter installation is not practical, where should the pipes and other boxes/meters go? as mentioned above.. 3) Is there any practical solution to clean up the wall with water purifier and heater? (please note the kitchen has a 6" thick beam on the top of the wall above the counter, also 6" think pillars one in the corner and the other large one near the microwave as shown. Additionally it has a protrusion on the ceiling, probably this houses the drain for the apartment above me. ( for above apartment kitchen nahani trap chamber it is... )