This chic-yet-simple marble hack elevates my budget-friendly wooden kitchen countertops and prevents water damage for way less than you’d think

During my kitchen remodel, my dreams of solid marble countertops were dashed pretty early on. Instead, I discovered a clever design trick that gives me some of the look for less, elevates my budget-friendly kitchen, and protects the counters in the process.

After pivoting and falling in love with wooden countertops for their warmth and country charm, I quickly learned that while they're undeniably beautiful, they can also be prone to water damage. Especially around the kitchen sink.

So, I took to Pinterest and discovered a handy hack inspired by deVOL Kitchens that allowed me to bring together the two looks. Enter: my nifty marble sink inset. Here's why I’d recommend this little trick to anyone dreaming of a butcher block countertop with a high-end feel.

A firm favorite in country or farmhouse-style kitchens, a wooden kitchen countertop is a timeless choice, but it has fallen out of favor of late, replaced by statement marble or more modern materials like quartz or granite.

Bringing warmth, texture, and a sense of character that few other kitchen countertop ideas can match, timber counters are not only a budget choice but great for creating everything from a rustic feel to a more modern organic look.

But for all its beauty, wood like oak or iroko (which was my personal choice for its deep tones) isn't the most forgiving – and it certainly doesn't play well with water. It can require regular maintenance, is prone to strains and scratches, and is super common for water rings, swelling, or dark patches to form around the sink if you aren't hyper vigilant.

I grew up with a very English kitchen with wooden counters, and it was the entire family's job to ensure such a fate didn't fall on my mom's beloved butcher block. So, I knew when I chose it for my recent kitchen redesign that I needed to think outside the box.

It wasn't until I came across a series of images from deVOL that I realized there was a design idea that could give me the best of both worlds: the look and durability of marble with the rustic charm of wood.

This small but mighty trick simply involves embedding a rectangle of marble into the wood to house the tap fixtures around my farmhouse-style butler sink. This can be done with an off-cut of solid marble countertop (which you can usually source relatively cheaply from a stone supplier), or for an even more budget-friendly choice, pick up a large marble floor or wall tile and have it inserted into the wooden counter.

It’s a clever, high-end detail that’s surprisingly easy to DIY or ask your builder to add. As you can see in the image above, it is important that you choose the two materials at the same thickness for a seamless look. But if that is proving tricky, you can alternatively have your joiner or kitchen fitter router out some of the wooden countertop to recess the marble into the wood.

Mixing materials like stone and wood adds instant interest and brings a layered, thoughtful quality to a kitchen. And placing a marble inset around the tap is not only practical, it makes the sink feel more bespoke and luxurious, creating space to put dish soap and brushes without worrying about water stains.

Of course, I still have to be careful with my wood. We always ensure we have a draining board next to the sink for the washing up and are extremely strict with hot pans (wood is not heat-resistant!) and curse anyone who places a cup down without a coaster.

However, I can't believe how much this little slice of marble has transformed the look and feel of my kitchen sink. If you love the look of wood countertops, like me, but hate the stress of water stains, then this clever fix might just be for you.

For such a small detail, this little piece of marble has made a surprisingly big impact on my kitchen – both aesthetically and practically. And it is one of the first things visitors comment on as something they love about the space. It’s the kind of upgrade that feels thoughtful and bespoke, even though it was simple and budget-friendly to pull off.

If you also have a wooden countertop and are looking for clear instructions on how to oil a wooden kitchen countertop, we've broken it down step by step in our dedicated feature. But if you're still at the early stages of a kitchen remodel, I urge you to research the best countertops for a kitchen before pulling the trigger.