Travertine, with
nothing soaking in.

Travertine is a limestone formed around mineral springs. Like marble, it is mostly calcium carbonate, so lemon juice, vinegar, wine and many cleaning sprays will etch it on contact.

It is also more porous than most benchtop stones, with a natural open grain. Oil and coffee find their way in fast, and a sealer only slows that down. It has to be reapplied, and it never stops acid.

A protection film solves both at once. The surface is closed over, acids have nothing to react with, and the stone underneath is left exactly as it was installed.

Travertine has come back in a big way in Sydney: creamy, walnut and silver varieties on kitchen islands, vanities, dining tables and sculptural furniture. Its soft, matte surface and banded texture make a room feel warm and relaxed.

Those natural holes and the open grain are also where problems start. Filled voids can loosen or crack over time, and unfilled texture collects crumbs, oil and spills. Around sinks and cooktops, unprotected travertine often develops darker patches within the first year.

Film closes the whole surface in one layer, so filled voids are sealed over and spills sit on top, while the stone keeps its natural, honed look.