This is especially useful if you have traditionally painted pale kitchens with white or Carrara marble-style countertops.

The material of choice for design buffs in the know, this marble is set to become the hottest material of the year.

And calacatta is one of the world's most expensive types of marble. It's more than double the price of carrara marble, yet mined in the same mountains. But the key to calacatta's price is its rarity.