As temperatures rise and kitchens become the heart of summer entertaining, the materials we choose to live with take on new significance. At Schmidt, we’ve long championed stone worktops not only as an aesthetic choice, but as surfaces that work with you, and with the season.
Nature’s Built-In Coolant
Stone is naturally cool. Whether marble, granite or quartz, its dense crystalline structure means it absorbs and retains lower temperatures exceptionally well, making it noticeably refreshing to the touch even on the warmest days. For baking, pastry-making, and food preparation, this property is invaluable, cold butter stays cold, dough stays workable, and the kitchen stays pleasant.
This isn’t simply a design preference; it’s physics. Stone’s thermal mass draws heat away from contact surfaces quickly, maintaining a cooler environment at counter height, exactly where you spend your time when cooking.
Designed to endure — and impress
Across Schmidt kitchen collection, marble appears in multiple forms and contexts: on island surfaces where sage green cabinetry meets Calacatta worktops in a refined L-shaped layout; as a dramatic marble-effect splashback in the CypressBlue Bar unit, where slate-blue cabinetry frames an integrated drinks station and wine cooler; and as a subtle yet striking countertop feature in warmer, more natural kitchen designs.
“Marble brings a quiet confidence to a kitchen. In summer especially, there’s something deeply satisfying about a surface that stays cool to the touch and looks effortlessly beautiful doing it.” Tamara Heller, Schmidt UK
The practical case for marble
Beyond its thermal qualities, marble offers a practical edge for modern kitchens:
– Hygienic surface: Non-porous when properly sealed, stone resists bacteria and is easy to clean, ideal for food preparation.
– Longevity: A well-maintained stone worktop can last generations, making it a sustainable choice and a sound long-term investment.
– Versatility: Available in a range of materials, finishes and tones, from warm travertine to cool Calacatta marble: stone works across diverse design palettes
– Visual temperature: The white, grey and earthy tones of stone create a visual coolness in a room, lending an airy, spacious quality that is particularly welcome during the warm summer months.
A Summer of Beautiful Kitchens
Schmidt’s kitchen collection reflects a broader shift in how we think about kitchen design: not as a purely functional space, but as an environment to be experienced. Summer calls for lightness and freshness. Stone, with its cool touch, luminous surface, and enduring beauty, answers that call perfectly.
Whether it takes the form of a full worktop, an island surface, or a splashback detail, stone elevates the kitchen into a space that genuinely feels better in summer: cooler, calmer, and more refined.
