From veiny and earthy to sleek and spotless, our latest lookbook features eight kitchens from the Dezeen archive that prominently feature marble.

Marble is a metamorphic stone formed when limestone rock is heated and pressured in the Earth's crust, making it crystallise and form a streaky, swirly mix. The smooth stone can be used on walls, floors and other surfaces, often in bathrooms or kitchens.

In larger kitchens, marble can be used to form sturdy islands, breakfast bars or dining tables while in smaller spaces, it can be used as an easy-to-clean splashback or countertop for meal preparation.

Here are eight interior projects that feature marble kitchens, including a playful apartment in Melbourne and a minimalist house in Canada.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes informed by biophilic design, colourful 1970s interiors and homes with sliding doors.

Apartment 207, Brazil, by Belotto Scopel Tanaka

For the revamp of a 75-square-metre apartment in Brazil, architecture studio Belotto Scopel Tanaka employed a simple material palette of glossy, dark wooded cabinetry against black and white marble.

On one side of the marble breakfast bar, there is space for the residents to sit and enjoy meals; on the other, there are several drawers for crockery and kitchenware storage.

Find out more about Apartment 207 ›

Deknudt Nelis, Belgium, by Arjaan de Freyter

Blackened steel, dark walnut fittings and deep-green marble slabs fill the interior of this pared-back office that Belgian studio Arjaan de Freyter designed for law firm Deknudt Nelis.

The same veiny stone used for the striking kitchen island has also been used to line the inner shelves of a full-height storage unit. Architect De Freyter chose the material to convey "decisiveness and professionalism," he told Dezeen.

Find out more about Deknudt Nelis ›

Brunswick Apartment, Australia, by Murray Barker and Esther Stewart

Like the majority of this Melbourne apartment, its L-shaped kitchen pays homage to the 1960s, with the same pistachio green tones and speckled flooring as its original mid-century interior.

The designers used Rosa Alicante marble on the top of the custom-made steel frame table and long countertops, which complements the terrazzo floor tiles beneath.

Find out more about Brunswick Apartment ›

Brooklyn Loft, US, by Dean Works

New York studio Dean Works added a statement multi-functional plywood unit in the kitchen of this Brooklyn apartment, giving its occupants some much-needed storage space.

Its in-built grey and white marble countertop was cut away to make space for a traditional white sink and a gas hob, while the shelves provide space above the counter for tableware, crockery and cooking utensils.

Find out more about Brooklyn Loft ›

Belgian Apartment, Belgium, by Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof

Local architects Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof designed this coastal two-floor apartment to reflect its calm countryside surroundings.

Seaweed-coloured joinery and streaky Alga Marina marble surfaces make the kitchen the focal point of the residence and contrast the panelled birchwood cabinets and shelves.

Find out more about Belgian Apartment ›

Beaconsfield Residence, Canada, by StudioAC

Located in Toronto, this Victorian townhouse renovated by StudioAC combines clean white hues with wooden furnishing and flooring.

The overhaul included opening up the interior by reorganising the layout, as well as installing a black marble-covered kitchen island to provide a darker contrast.

Find out more about Beaconsfield Residence ›

Cottage on the Point, Canada, by Paul Bernier Architecte

Designed by local studio Paul Bernier Architecte, this sun-drenched kitchen sits within a house extension in Cottage on the Point, a lakeside dwelling in Quebec.

The large glass windows that frame views of the surrounding trees and night skies also allow light to bounce across the pale marble surfaces that line the table, shelves and countertops.

Find out more about Cottage on the Point ›

Barwon Heads House, Australia, Adam Kane Architects

Australian studio Adam Kane Architects blanketed the barn-style extension of Barwon Heads House in a monochrome interior palette and contemporary finishes.

The open plan kitchen and dining area is divided by a large marble dining table, while elsewhere in the cottage, matching slabs of travertine marble are used as countertops and coffee tables.

Find out more about A Barwon Heads House ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with Eames chairs, memorable pop-up shops and interiors informed by Bauhaus principles.