Erin Napier's Affordable Way To Use Marble In The Kitchen Without A Countertop Renovation

A marble countertop is every baker's dream, and it's not just about aesthetic appeal. Marble actually maintains a cooler temperature, which helps keep your dough from sticking to the counter. So, if you're a serious baker, marble really does make your life a lot easier. However, it's not always in the budget. The average cost of marble countertops around the country is $3,000, but with a little creative thinking, you can figure out how to incorporate this material into your kitchen affordably. HGTV's "Home Town" stars, Erin and Ben Napier, created an affordable way to use marble in the kitchen without a countertop renovation: an island with a hidden, pull-out section of marble countertop meant specifically for baking. It's an imaginative way to keep costs down while addressing the homeowner's needs.

If you don't have a master woodworker available to build you a custom island with a hidden baking station, there are other more attainable ways to incorporate this idea into your kitchen. From a simple marble cutting board to a small island or even a section of countertop dedicated to baking, homeowners can find ways to get a marble baking station without a huge price tag. No matter how big or small your marble workspace is, learn about the mistakes to avoid with marble countertops.

If you're thinking about replacing your counters and would really love a vast expanse of marble, but it's not in the budget, consider setting aside a small section just for the marble of your dreams. This is essentially a take on what the Napiers did, without all the extra carpentry. You can butt the different materials up against one another, inset one into the other, or just find a small, isolated area of counter to devote to marble. 

The challenge will be deciding what materials to combine. Wood and marble is a classic duo, and it's easy to inset the stone into the wood, but here's what you need to know before buying butcher block countertops. Even if you have existing wood countertops, you may be able to retrofit an inset piece of marble to your counters, or add a piece to the end.

If you want to pair your marble with another, more cost-effective stone, create a contrast rather than trying to match them. Don't buy white quartz that looks like marble and then try to put it next to the real thing. Instead, opt for a contrasting stone to make your choice look deliberate and stylish.

If you're desperate for an instant fix for your kitchen because you're sick of scraping dough off your counters, the solution is just a click away. Marble cutting boards are an easy way to get the convenience of marble on a very tight budget; however, you'll want to pay attention to the size. You'll want your cutting board to be big enough to let you roll out our dough, or work your chocolate, with ease. When in doubt, go bigger. A Fox Run 3829 Marble Pastry Board that is 16 inches by 20 inches is just a tiny fraction of the cost of marble countertops.

If you have a bit more money to spend on your baking hobby, and a little extra room in the kitchen, consider a small island with a marble top. You can even get one on wheels so it can be tucked out of the way when you're not using it. Explore DIY kitchen island ideas to design and create one that meets your specific needs, or try to buy one secondhand to keep the costs down. Use another idea from Erin Napier's playbook, and use an old piece of furniture to create an HGTV star-approved affordable kitchen island. Even if you can't find one with a marble top, you can source a remnant piece of stone to finish it off.