Marble countertops are lovely and durable, and they are relatively easy to care for. They add class and brightness to a kitchen. Yet the kitchen is not the only place where you should consider having marble as your main work surface. While marble has a reputation as being very special, it's also a workhorse (statues weren't made of marble because it was fragile, remember -- this is tough stuff). And there are more areas of your home where marble could be the right countertop material.

The Bathroom Vanity Countertop

The most obvious non-kitchen place for a marble countertop is the bathroom because you need a heat-resistant, non-absorbent material there, too. When you use a hair dryer or curling iron, for example, you need to set it down somewhere to cool before putting it away. But the residual heat from the device can last a bit, even after you unplug it.

Marble provides that nice, cool spot that won't be damaged by the residual heat from the appliance. In fact, the marble could help cool it down even more because the stone isn't going to heat up much itself and create a heat feedback loop. The marble is also a nice, hard surface that is suitable for setting down cosmetic containers without worrying that the material has warped from the moisture in the bathroom.

Outdoor Kitchens

If you have an outdoor kitchen that is protected from the elements (in other words, if there's a hailstorm, the hail won't reach the countertop), marble could look wonderful. It can come in several colors but is often found in lighter colors that make it easier to find and clean up dirt. It can also brighten up the outdoor kitchen on a cloudy day.

Foyer Consoles and Tables

Have a custom console built for your foyer. These are thin tables, often with a couple of drawers or cabinets, that you can use for setting down mail, items that you don't want to forget when you leave for work, and so on. You might not be using the console for food or heat-related items, but you are using it to give guests an impression of your house. Go for the best impression possible by having a nice marble tabletop right there. It's clean and neat, and it's hard to scratch.

Marble remains one of the better countertop materials that you can choose for your home. It lasts for such a long time with proper care that as the years go by, the material becomes very cost efficient compared to "cheaper" materials that you have to replace more often.