Marble are both non-porous thus it would cause etching and corrosion. Besides that, marble are high maintenance materials. Marble requires proper care and maintenance. Acid should never be used on marble as it shall loose its shine. Marble should be regularly polished over a period of time to give it a new look. If proper precautions are not taken the marble becomes yellowish in colour. Italian marble is usually very soft and prone to cracks. Proper resins have to be used to make the surface strong and solid and avoid further cracks. Proper sealants should be used in marble flooring as the marble is highly porous and prone to staining. It absorbs stains very quickly especially kitchen stains hence are not appropriate for kitchen counter tops. In the long run, wooden looking tiles (made of porcelain or ceramic) would be more practical. You can also consider marble looking quartz. You may check out the D & L series of iQuartz range. If you're based in Singapore you may call Stone Amperor in +65 87879029 for more information. If you're based in Malaysia you may contact AmpQuartz in +6017-7320149 for more information.

Good point @dytecture! We always start our remodel projects with a set of "as-built" plans produced by a structural engineer in close proximity to the project address. This is important because the engineer will be looking at the existing "structural" issues that may limit or at least direct the team toward the most cost effective solutions. Also, once the design is finalized we use the same engineer to produce the "structural" drawings necessary for building permits and construction.

Thanks, lefty47. This is an older home, and just as One Plan guessed it is a soil stack from the upstairs bathroom. You are probably right that the cost of a custom solution may outweigh the benefits. Another idea I had, along the lines of the worktop bin suggested by One Plan, is a recessed spatula and long-handled utensil holder. I found out that Lee Valley sells motorized tv lift kits like the one used in the video above. It would be a matter of getting the contractor to build the box to go on the lift. I'm still a bit hung up on the idea, though it probably falls into your cost-outweighs-benefit category! I may bring this photo around with me when interviewing prospective contractors, just to see how they answer!

For your bathroom, why not try metallic epoxy? Waterproof, stain-proof due to our non-porous and seamless finishing will leave your bathroom floors looking luxurious. One of the most practical solutions in the market currently