The Kitchen Marble Nate Berkus Recommends Again and Again

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Few materials divide a room the way marble does. Devotees cherish its timeless character, while holdouts steer clear, wary of stains and etching. Put the question to Nate Berkus, though, and the verdict is unambiguous—marble remains, and will remain, his first call for kitchen countertops. “Yes. Always yes,” he confirmed during a recent Instagram Q&A, fielding followers’ most pressing questions about the natural stone.

Berkus expanded on the affection, sharing both personal favorites and lessons earned over years of specifying the stone. His chief takeaway? Although he gravitates toward neutral marbles, the occasional bold swing can pay off. Consider Breche de Violette, a heavily veined stone with pronounced purple undertones. Berkus concedes he typically leans toward materials with “less greens and purples,” yet he’s learned that stepping beyond his comfort zone tends to yield beautiful results. “When I take a risk, I’m always happy that I did,” he notes.

And his all-time favorite? That distinction goes to Breccia. “It’s a neutral, Italian marble with a white ground and brown, grey, and black within the veining,” he explains. It’s a versatile, character-rich choice that anchors nearly any kitchen.

Naturally, no marble conversation is complete without the elephant in the room—upkeep. Berkus takes a relaxed stance. “I like marble that looks aged and lived in, that’s why I usually use honed or matte stone,” he shares. Where a polished surface amplifies every scratch and etch mark, a honed or matte finish camouflages daily wear, making it the more forgiving option over the years.

Worried about keeping those counters pristine? Berkus’s advice is blunt: don’t. “I don’t baby our marble, I don’t think it needs to be treated like a newborn infant,” he says. Rather than agonize over every water ring or stray squeeze of lemon, he embraces how the surface evolves, building a natural patina that chronicles a well-used, well-loved kitchen.

So if you’ve been wavering between a dreamy slab of Breccia or a bold cut of Bardiglio, Berkus’s philosophy is straightforward: pick a stone you genuinely love, choose a finish that fits the way you live, and welcome the beauty that accrues with time. In other words? Just say yes.

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