I don't know, but that chandelier is divine!

My friend set a beer on ours and it left a brown ring. We bleached it with some flour paste but the ring still shows. I would just be careful.

Yes, it's gorgeous. Yes, I understand you're worried. But no, you shouldn't put a glas plate or whatever on it! Marble is very durable!
Staining? It's marble! Wipe it off!
Chipping? Does your husband eat his pasta with a hammer or something?

Don't fear your own furniture!!! 'Use your stuff, live your stuff, love your stuff' is what I always say.

Marble can actually be sanded down and reglazed when it might be damaged after years and years and years of use. And chips and cracks can be repaired.

NO.

Yes. I am a countertop expert and marble, trust me, is fragile, especially if it is older like this. Glass it.

we had a piece of 1/4" plastic cut to fit our table and used some clear rubber nubs to keep it in place. works great, lets us use the table as a table without worry.
yeah so YES

No way. That really would be the equivalent of putting clear plastic sofas over the couches. Have the place mats at the ready for when you are without company and when guests come over, pretend you are carefree. Putting glass over that would be kind of embarrassing.

If you are worried about it...IMO, it's simple...seal it!
Ease your mind and it's like buying a small insurance policy for the expensive table...so that you can enjoy it without the stress. (although that will ease off in time anyway..lol)

Sofa covers.

I think one very large piece of artwork on the wall shown would be perfect. If you had several pieces on the wall, it would be busy and would distract away from that beautiful table.

Here is a website to consider for the artwork dilemma - zatista.com. Good luck with the marble table, it is gorgeous.

Why not start by getting a thin acrylic cover (resting on those rubber dot thingies), a fraction of the cost, and you can see how you feel about it?

Although I dislike plastic covers on couches as much as the next gal.. however.. most of the sofas I've seen with plastic covers are nowhere NEAR as gorgeous/expensive as this table..

I think putting a piece of glass on the marble top is certainly understandable. If it's the difference between having a coronary every time you use it.. or giving your HUSBAND a coronary every time HE tries to use it.. I'd go with the glass! You'll live longer and so will the table!

My gut reaction is "OH DEAR GOD, NOOOOOOO!" but then again, it isn't my house. I have to agree, though, that it would be akin to plastic slipcovers on a sofa. I would just have what we refer to in my house as a "Come to Jesus meeting" with the hubby about the fact that placemats are required when eating at the table (particularly messy foods).

I would think that if your table really gets that much direct sunlight as it appears in the photo, having glass on the table is going to be quite hard on the eyes. So I'd opt for no.

I would definitely use a penetrating marble sealer and re-seal at least once a year. Miracle Sealants is a good company for sealers and natural stone cleaning products. Just make sure that you don't use any regular store bought cleaners on the marble- they will discolor and eat the stone. Use a natural stone cleaner only!

Sealants help, but marble is easily stained, etches easily, and is very fragile. People who say, "just wipe it off" have obviously never lived with Carrera marble. If you want to keep it looking like new, class is the only perfect option. Otherwise you will have to learn to live with it's patina.

This is exactly why style will NEVER trump practicality for me. If you buy something you love, but are afraid to use it as was intended then what's the purpose of buying it in the first place? Plus, I would have to call that out as a poor choice on the part of the designer, Saarinen or not.

Educate yourself about marble poultices to remove stains, and remind your husband that this isn't the Formica-topped dinette from his youth....

...otherwise, sell it and get something that will stand up to your husband's carelessness.

Marble is quite porous and stains easily so if you're concerned about staining then by all means put a glass top on it - your sanity is worth it.

I have been a lurker here for years and years, but it is this post that finally moved me to comment. I love this table, and would swoon to own it. But you bought it (new!) and you're afraid to use it because you want to keep the marble pristine? *smacking forehead* Just put it in storage then and get a card table.

This is akin to people who never use their good china/dishes because they'll break or keep all their jewellery locked up because it is too precious, etc. What's the point of having this stuff if you can't use and enjoy it as it was meant to be used?

Hi Es: Gorgeous table. I have marble floors and backsplash in my kitchen, and have spilled all over them, all the time (it is a kitchen) but nothing has stained because marble is actually very durable (think of all those bathrooms and Greek buildings!). What you need to do is seal the marble with special marble sealant (hardware store or Amazon). And then you need to clean it with marble cleaner ONLY, not anything else, which will eat into the marble. While durable, marble is porous, so keep that in mind. Keep coasters on the table. And wipe anything acidic (tomatoes, lemon, orange juice) right away. And in the end, don't worry too much, all of these iconic pieces were designed to be used, and to last. Enjoy.

I have a custom-built mahogany dining room table that's one of the loveliest man-made objects I've ever seen. Here's what I do:

When I have company over it's bare or covered with its pads and a cloth, depending on the meal and the dishes I'm using.

But when it's just me and I'm using the table, I put the pads on it. They are soft/fuzzy on the side that sits on the table and vinyl on the side facing up. So I can wipe them off if need be.

Marble isn't that fragile or easy to stain. I have a 50+ year old marble coffee table. In those 50+ years of not being sealed or treated like a museum piece it has 4 etched in rings that are only visible if the light hits it just right. I say use the hell out of the table. Wipe it down after meals and be happy.

@tampabound1
what do you mean marble is fragile? I don't know what kind of marble you use as a countertop expert, but marble is very durable (ofcourse with the right maintenance)
Well... yeah ok, not all kinds of marble are as durable as the next. And all kinds of marbles are susceptive to acids (there's a lot of calcium in marble), but with the right sealant and maintenance it can be kept in great condition for literally centuries!

I don't know why eating at ANY table was called careless. Makes me kinda sad.

We had a marble table top like this ground down and repolished, and it looks better than new. Enjoy it, be careful and use coasters/placemats, use the sealer and cleaner and live your life.

I totally understand where you're coming from, because our plumber's assistant cleaned our marble bathroom floor with Comet. Eeeek! Acid stains all over. Then my tear stains... Alas, three hundred dollars and a marble polishing expert later - it's as good as new. Better actually. Good luck!

I actually own a marble table (not one this expensive!) that I use as a dining table. I got it from Craigslist and it was scratched badly in moving it (Gent who helped me load it slid the cast iron base over the top. *sigh*) but it hasn't been damaged since. It appears to be unsealed but it hasn't stained unless you count slightly darker places where oily things have sat for long periods. I don't, since they aren't very noticable.

The only thing that HAS happened is that it got slightly etched when I spilled vinegar on it despite me wiping it up immediately.

If you're that worried about it, get a glass top. Otherwise, accept that it will show wear and enjoy it.

This is why I prefer the low maintenance of glass coffee tables. I used to own a beautiful one from DWR, but sold it on Craigslist after I found a vintage Heywood Wakefield maple coffee table that I've always wanted. I've already created a small chip and dent in the table. Ugh.

My uncle's expensive marble top dining table cracked into 2 when someone put a hot pot on it....

In inherited a 1" thick 42" diameter marble table top purchased in the 1960s. The perfect edges are a bit dinged, but the surface doesn't seem to mind wine or curry or anything else.

You might look into a sealant that you can just wipe on and let dry. I did this for the slate tile in all three of our bathrooms, floors and walls and it's amazing.

http://www2.dupont.com/Stone_Care/en_US/products/prod_pgs/sealer.html

I can't imagine having a dining table that I "live in fear" of using! Ugh, really!!! Why not just enjoy it . . . and the patina that daily life creates.

No glass atop marble. If you don't have the balls to eat on a marble table, you shouldn't own a marble table. If you suffer some sort of egregious stain, there are cures.

It WOULD be the equivalent of putting plastic slipcovers on upholstery. Life's short-- enjoy you marble table top.

MCM slave?

Wow, I'm kinda surprised about the harshness that covering a marble table brings out in people.

This lady loves this table and wants to both keep it and not worry about it...so cover it.

Is the problem with plastic slipcovers that they exist to fulfill a protective function? I thought "we" hated them because they are uncomfortable to sit on and look totally ridiculous. So, marble table lady, count this as a vote to cover, if that is what you want to do.

Plus, I'm not too sure the people you see on a regular basis would ever even notice a glass (or acrylic) top to the table.

Get a high quality sealer, some marble specific cleaner, some place mats, and enjoy your table.

Putting glass on top of that beauty would be a shame. The glass is overly reflective and would hide the lovely natural sheen of the marble.

Agree. Seal the marble. (should be done a few times a year) and enjoy the table.

Wow. I have no real constructive advice to offer, as I know little about marble, but what I do know just reinforces what people have said: a good sealer is your best bet.

Really, though, I just can't believe how harsh some commenters are. These people write in for advice. It doesn't do any good to put them down. A gentle reminder that "life is for living; quit worrying," positioned in a light and friendly way, is more than enough.

And "MCM slave"? Really? A Saarinen table does not go in and out of fashion. After 50 odd years, it is still one of the most beautiful designs ever produced. If I were the owner, I would feel the same way about it (and just need someone to remind me to breathe and use it as it was meant to be used).

PS I do own an old Saarinen table with a reasonably clean but not that beautiful laminate top. Maybe some day I'll give it the marble it deserves.

isn't this why marble isn't recommended for kitchens?

Right after you put the glass on the table, please cover your couch with plastic. That'll do the trick!

I disagree with those who compare the glass to a slip cover. The pattern of the marble can still be seen through the glass, and may even enhance the table's beauty. In my opinion, you should put your mind at ease and purchase the glass.

*and the glass may even enhance*

Sorry. :)

Knoll sells a coated marble product for this very reason:

"Coated marble tops feature a transparent polyester coating to help eliminate use-associated stains"

I have the oval in black marble, and it has survived well over the past few years. If this is a Room & Board replica, then definitely seal the marble.

If you are going to put a piece of glass on it, then as others have said, best to retire it to non-dining use and get another table.

just seal the marble (there are great products available) please don't use glass. This great masterpiece is intended for use just the way it is. enjoy it

After reading some of the other comments, I had to come back to tell you *why* you shouldn't cover this table in glass. The Saarinen tulip table is a beautifully designed, iconic piece of furniture. Great design encompasses both form and function. It's meant to be displayed/USED as is. Covering this table with glass would be like covering a Barcelona chair with a cotton slipcover because you're afraid of dirt. If that's the case, save your money and buy a slipcovered chair. In other words, you didn't just pay for a table, you paid for an impeccably designed piece of usable art. Adding glass alters that design. That being said, I agree that your husband should not be so cavalier with his red sauce. Place mats are probably a must. And then you just have to let go. Trust me, this table was meant to be used. My parents have some marble topped Saarinen tables in their home (coffee and side, not kitchen) and they don't worry, they enjoy. Maybe after that first stain you'll start to relax. Years from now you'll be happy that your table was well loved and used. And if you can't relax? Move it to a different room. But no glass, please.

Change the chairs!

Space is screaming for some Miro!

i am also a long-time lurker who finally felt compelled to respond to something here. generally i am very anal about all my furniture and want all my things to look new, always. i have had the same table in both the knoll coffee table and end table versions, and have left them uncovered since i bought them three years ago. in fact, they are our primary tables in the family room, and i have a 6 year-old who eats, colors, and generally plays on the coffee table everyday. though the table looks great superficially, there are plenty of topical scratches and maybe a stain or two here and there. so yes, it's getting worn but tastefully and slowly. part of me is okay with this because marble is specifically meant to patina - i mean the italians have used carrera on cook tops and work surfaces for hundreds of years and these things age well and gracefully. also, since i plan to own these forever and will hopefully pass them along to my kids as true vintage designer pieces, i think there is something cool about them being able to look back at these tables and see how they've evolved with them. another point that someone else brought up was that if all the wear ever did truly reach a boiling point, i could have the tables restored to as-new condition for a small fee. what a great fall back option. but ultimately, i like what has been said here which is if it truly pains you to use your table, then it's probably not right for you. i have plenty of nice things i don't want to see ruined - my rolex, my ferragamos, my audi, etc. - but if i can't bear to use them, then i probably shouldn't have bought them in the first place (maybe they were too expensive if it's that painful). so i use my things and enjoy every minute doing it. you earn your money to buy them things to enjoy them, and unless your joy comes from viewing them through a pane of glass or plastic instead of using them, interacting with them, and experiencing them, then i think you should leave your table uncovered. i think about the people who buy all these covers for things - like car bras, sofa covers, etc. - what are they covering them for and for whom? who will ultimately benefit from this covering craziness? it seems to me the real beneficiary is the next owner (of the car, sofa, etc.) who will inherit a mint object, not the original owner who had to endure the use of a cover for their entire ownership! i would rather that the beneficiary be me so that i can enjoy my things when they were at their best and as they were meant to be. that's my $.02...

You're nervous. Put glass on top. What you may slightly lose in aesthetics will be more than made up for in peace of mind.

I don't think glass would look tacky. People have glass topped tables all the time. However, it sounds like it would be very heavy!

Thank you everyone for the advice. I've decided to just use the table (with coasters and placemats as needed) and let it age gracefully. I'll reseal it annually and see how it goes. I just can't bring myself to cover it.

great. I'm glad you decided not use glass. IT would have been tacky. What size saarinen is this?