Marble countertops are surely beautiful, but if you're not keen on the maintenance they require, these alternative materials will add just as much appeal to your kitchen scheme.

Before you decide on whether you want your white marble to have gray or brown etches, know that the countertop material isn't ...

It’s like a terrazzo 2.0–the classic faux rock that has little bits of marble or granite set in concrete and then polished–but made using far less stone in larger pieces.