Get a Marble Look Without the Upkeep: Nouvel Mineral Surface Guide

Yes, you can have the look of marble on your countertops without sealing them or worrying about every splash of lemon juice. The simplest way to do it is with a marble-inspired engineered slab, and at Bedrosians Tile & Stone, that slab is Nouvel mineral surface. We've been in the tile and stone business since 1948, and our slab yards carry porcelain, natural stone (including marble and quartzite), and Nouvel side by side, so homeowners often ask us which one gives them marble's look with the least work. Nouvel gives you light backgrounds and marble-style veining on a surface we describe as non-porous and stain-resistant, so there's no sealing schedule to keep up with. Once you know that's what you want, the choices left are the look, the finish, and the thickness.

Why is marble so much upkeep?

Marble takes ongoing care because it soaks up liquids and it reacts with acids. Sealing helps with the first problem, but only partly. The Natural Stone Institute explains that a sealer makes stone more stain resistant, not stain proof, so a spill that sits too long can still leave a mark.

The acid problem is separate from staining. Lemon juice, vinegar, and other acidic foods and cleaners can dull or etch marble, which leaves a dull spot where the polish used to be. Some people like the way marble changes over the years and see those marks as part of its character. If you'd rather not think about sealing or acid marks at all, an engineered marble-look surface is the better fit.

What is Nouvel mineral surface?

Nouvel is Bedrosians' engineered mineral surface, a manufactured slab made for countertops, kitchen islands, and vanities. We've moved away from engineered quartz in favor of Nouvel, a mineral surface engineered with ultra-low crystalline silica for a more sustainable profile. Nouvel is available in 2cm and 3cm slabs.

Because Nouvel is made rather than quarried, its pattern is consistent and repeatable from one slab to the next. That makes a large kitchen or a long island easier to plan, because the second and third slabs will look like the first one.

Is Nouvel the same as quartz?

No. Nouvel is a mineral surface, which is a different material from engineered quartz. People ask because both are manufactured slabs with a stone look that end up in the same places in a home.

Quartzite is a third material, and it's easy to mix up with quartz because the names are so close. Quartzite is a natural stone that comes out of the ground, and we carry quartzite slabs alongside marble and granite.

How does Nouvel compare to real marble?

The biggest differences between natural marble and Nouvel are how much care each one needs and how predictable the pattern is.

Real marble is still the right choice if you want a one-of-a-kind slab and you like a surface that shows its age. If you're also considering porcelain, Magnifica porcelain slab is another marble-look option, and we compare porcelain with the real thing in our guide to marble vs. marble-look porcelain.

What marble looks does Nouvel come in?

Most Nouvel colorways are modeled on classic marbles, with light backgrounds and gray or warm-toned veining. Here are a few of the current options:

• Calacatta Laurel: a white background with fine gray veining.

• Lincoln Gold: a white background with bold gold-tan veining, so it looks warmer than a gray-veined slab.

• Calacatta Monet, Calacatta Annata, and Calacatta Lisbon: three colorways named after Calacatta, a white Italian marble known for its veining.

• Verona White, Imperial Dolomite, Imperial Taj, Essential Gris, Mystic Silk, and Glacier Smoke: more marble-inspired colorways to compare side by side.

Many of these are new arrivals, so the mineral surfaces page is the best place to see the full current list.

Should you choose a polished or honed finish?

Choose polished if you want the shine most people picture when they think of marble, and choose honed if you want a softer, matte look. A polished slab is buffed to a glossy surface that reflects light. A honed slab is smooth but matte, so it reflects much less light.

Some Nouvel colorways also come bookmatched. Bookmatched slabs are cut so the veining on one slab is a mirror image of the veining on the slab next to it, which lets the pattern flow across the seam. Not every colorway comes in every finish, so check the options for the one you like.

Should you choose 2cm or 3cm Nouvel?

Nouvel comes in both 2cm and 3cm, and the right one depends on your project. A 2cm slab is about 3/4 inch thick, and a 3cm slab is about 1 1/4 inches thick, so a 3cm countertop has a heavier-looking edge. Your fabricator can tell you which thickness suits your cabinets and the edge style you want. Our slab buying guide walks through the other decisions that come with a countertop project.

How do you buy a Nouvel countertop?

Bedrosians supplies the Nouvel slab, and a local fabricator cuts and installs it. That means you'll pick your slab with us and then work with a fabricator for measuring, cutting, and installation.

It's worth seeing a full slab before you decide. Many Nouvel slabs measure 79 by 138 inches, and a small sample can't show how the veining moves across a piece that size. You can see slabs in person at a Bedrosians slab yard, and many of our 44 showrooms across 11 states have a slab yard alongside the showroom. If you don't have a fabricator yet, ask your nearest showroom for a referral.

How do you care for Nouvel?

The biggest change from marble is what you no longer have to do. Because Bedrosians describes Nouvel as non-porous and stain-resistant, there's no sealer to buy and no resealing schedule to remember. For cleaning products and anything specific to your colorway, follow the tearsheet on the product page and our installation, maintenance, and care guidance.

See Nouvel in person

If you'd like to see Nouvel for yourself, we'd love to show you. Visit one of our showrooms or slab yards, and our team will walk you through the colorways, pull samples, and help you find a local fabricator. You can find your nearest location at local.bedrosians.com or call us at (559) 275-5000, and we'll connect you with the right showroom for your project.