My family upgraded their kitchen to marble everywhere, and it’s a nuisance I’d never choose. The open-concept design, while expensive, is incredibly loud. Every time someone closes the microwave, sets down a plate, or—worst of all—closes the trash compactor, the sound bounces off all the smooth surfaces and echoes throughout the house. Even with headphones on, upstairs, it disrupts my concentration and productivity.
If you’re considering a marble kitchen, especially with kids or anyone sensitive to noise, think twice. Leaving some textured surfaces to absorb sound could make a big difference.
Also, if you have tips to quiet a noisy trash compactor, I’m all ears
That’s unfortunate, but if your family is understanding, there are plenty of excellent options available these days for reducing noise: washable foam-backed kitchen rugs that look good, sound-absorbing door kits, decorative acoustic panels with eye-catching patterns or that can be printed with any image you desire, etc. Particularly when considering a home with a recently installed marble kitchen, the majority of these are really inexpensive. It would reduce noise and preserve the pricey marble surface if you could persuade them to cover the countertops with a runner or mat.
@Anne I’m grateful. Naturally, I’ll keep all of these things in mind for my regular residence and any future places. Perhaps I could even pitch them on the sound sealing kits and/or the runners to safeguard their marble.
@Gordon It seems logical to utilize a lot of soft, drapey fabrics to soften up a kitchen that is designed to resemble a mausoleum from an aesthetic standpoint. textile art, tablecloths, runners, curtains, etc.
You should try ceiling baffles for sound absorption. To lessen echo in a space, you can apply a few really simple arithmetic formulas. Place dampening materials on bounce points; you don’t need to fill the entire space.
@Cabby Reducing triggers is one of the answers, according to the results of my google search for “what to do about misophonia” after reading this comment. Set the kitchen on fire? I’m kidding; marble is probably rather fireproof.
I could also try to make myself less sensitive to noise, but I’m a little concerned that once I learn to ignore noise, that will be it. People have already complained that when they call my name, I don’t answer. Sorry, but that isn’t related.
The same issue affects me. We constructed an addition/extension that houses our bedroom above and a fully functional kitchen with granite countertops. We have different work schedules, so you can hear my wife getting up early and setting down the knife, fork, plate, and cup. I’m waiting for the next bang to reverberate through the walls, so I can’t sleep again.