More Than Marble

While solid wood, tempered glass and laminate are all popular choices, there’s no denying the popularity of marble table tops in contemporary bar, hotel and restaurant interiors. Marble looks great but does have some drawbacks to consider when choosing table tops for hospitality spaces. The good news is that there are many alternative options which still bring the good looks of marble but are more practical, hard-wearing and durable.

Our contract furniture collection includes hundreds of combinations of table tops and bases, with many sizes, finishes and edges to consider. This concise guide to choosing alternatives to marble table tops for hospitality projects simplifies the options and sets out the benefits of these innovative materials for contemporary interiors.

If you’d like the look of marble but need a durable product, then manufactured quartz is a perfect choice - strong, non-porous (making it resistant to stains) and very hard-wearing. Choose our Bianco Marmi or Nero Marmi table tops to echo the timeless beauty of marble, complete with soft marble-like veining for an elegant feel. To add a special touch to an interior, choose our Quartz Starlight table tops in black or white - both featuring sparkling mirror chips to suit an opulent aesthetic.

We used this versatile material in our project at Hilton Croydon - a return visit to a busy London hotel, this time creating and supplying furniture for the new look hotel restaurant and meeting rooms. Our team used Bianco Marmi Quartz and our Inox Base in antique brass to create a bespoke dining table that works perfectly alongside the soft chalky tones and dark wenge stain used in the contemporary restaurant.

Granite is a natural material that’s available in a wide range of colours, from deep blues and browns to classic white and black. As a natural material, it’s highly porous so can be vulnerable to staining but with sealing and maintenance it can stay looking great for longer. Less prone to scratching than marble and more durable, we can supply in different shapes and sizes, with a flat or round edge.

The beauty of a natural material is that each piece is unique - the patterns, details and colour of each piece of quartz are distinct, meaning that every table we create has its own individual look. It’s a great way to add personality and interest to an interior and it’s always a joy when we see the finished pieces in place in the restaurant, bar or hotel.

Terrazzo is a centuries-old technique which looks as stylish and relevant as ever. Crafted from marble chips bound with cement or resin, it’s a smart and sustainable choice and these table tops have a unique appearance that sits perfectly in a contemporary commercial interior. Once sealed it’s water-resistant and easy to clean, making it a practical option for a busy bar or restaurant.

Our Grigio Venato Terrazzo Table Top is a popular choice with a speckled appearance in grey and light stone shades. There’s also our Verdi Alpi Terrazzo in an elegant sea green with black, beige and green flecks or opt for a neutral finish with our Breccia Aurora Terrazzo table top.

Each of these terrazzo table tops is available in a matt or glossy finish with a 20mm round or flat edge, all supplied in a size and shape to suit your space.

Our collection of marble laminate table tops is a smart way to get the luxurious look of marble at a fraction of the cost. This lightweight and low-maintenance option can bring a fresh feel to a bar, café or restaurant, with a range of colours and finishes. Supplied as a solid laminate top from 10mm thick and available in different shapes and sizes to suit, with flat, round or chamfered edges.

Marble laminate was used successfully in our project at Aqua Bar & Grill in Bromley. Our team created bespoke tables which are positioned throughout the restaurant. Table tops in classic light and dark grey marble laminate are finished with gold aluminium trim and are a smart contrast to the vivid pops of colour used elsewhere in the interior.

Innovation and creative thinking is at the heart of what we do, so when we find new materials that are smart, sustainable and stylish, we’re keen to make use of them - Foresso ticks all of these boxes and was an important part of our design for our HIX 2024 installation.

These side tables were made by our team using bases from our collection, with bespoke table tops made using Foresso. This smart recycled material was chosen because it allowed us to create some really beautiful pieces which are made from unavoidable waste material with minimal impact - all sourced within the UK with an average travel distance of just 43 miles. 

Foresso gives the feel of terrazzo but in a unique way that works so well with the natural wood finishes of the stand and furniture - we’re sure to see it in bar and restaurant design, for hotel reception areas, lounge and lobby design and in contemporary offices too.

Porcelain tiles are another effective alternative to marble table tops - porcelain is highly resistant to scratches, chips and heat and it’s fast and easy to clean. It’s also easy to find something to suit your interior design, as porcelain tiles are available in a wide range of colours, textures and finishes.

We created beautiful bespoke tables for our project at Asper’s Stratford - London’s largest casino. Tables and dining tables for the busy bar and restaurant feature a striking geometric tile inlay. We used white ornate tiles by Cuban & Havana to add a stunning decorative finish to the ash veneer tops with hardwood edge.

As our guide to choosing table tops shows, there’s a wide choice of materials and products in our collection, with a range of options to suit any commercial interior, but if you’d like something a little different, there's nothing we love more than working with clients and designers to create a bespoke piece for their project. We'll help realise your vision, and suggest ways to make your finished furniture stand out from the crowd. Anything's possible, and we're full of creative ideas to help deliver something special.

We created beautiful bespoke quartz-topped tables for our project at the spectacular Tower 42 in Amsterdam - this contemporary workplace is arranged over 11 floors with offices designed to appeal to corporate and start-ups alike. 

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