Last Updated on October 26, 2026 by Royal Stone Care
Natural stone countertops are a big draw in any home, whether they’re in granite, quartz or marble. And one growing trend for these worktops is to have them in leathered stone.
You may not realise it, but when it comes to natural stone worktops for your kitchen, you don’t have to settle for a basic flat finish to your surface.
Leathered surfaces
Essentially, in most cases, craftsmen polish the slab to make a natural stone product. Because of this, the stone has that glossy look which many homeowners love. But you may prefer the look of leathered stone instead. This really just means that the surface is pebbly and textured, like leather. And you achieve this look with buffing and sanding, often with water jets and/or brushes.
Brushing achieves a leathered surface’s distinct texture. Plus you can apply this technique to a number of different natural stones, although each material reacts differently. However, you invariably get a soft, textured look and feel that’s non-shiny.
Fabricators use diamond-tipped or wire-brush tools to scrape the cut stone. This accentuates its natural grooves, crystal structures and mineral variations, resulting in a tactile, dimpled feel resembling real leather. The end look is a low-level sheen which brings out the natural rich colour of the stone.
What’s more, you can have this finish on darker stones like quartz, marble or granite, to highlight these materials’ rich texture.
This surface hides daily smudges and fingerprints well, whie feeling warm to the touch. The finish also emphasises the stone’s natural, authentic nature. It’s uneven and heavily textured, plus it catches the light so that the texture becomes even more pronounced.
Wipe down with a mild detergent and microfibre cloth. Some crumbs and other debris may take a little longer to remove from the small grooves of a leathered surface.
Finally, this type of finish needs proper sealing during installation to safeguard against staining.
Leathered stone: the pros and cons
You should find there are a number of these, including:
- It enhances the stone’s colour.
- You don’t need to reseal leathered stone as often.
- If there are fingerprints or scratches on the surface (it happens!), it will be harder to see them.
However, as with anything else, there are some potential pitfalls. In the case of leathered stone, these include:
- Price – It takes longer to process leathered stone, and this can push up price. So can the fact that it is made to order, which always costs more. Of course, countertops made from natural stone are never exactly cheap, but leathered stone can make having them even more expensive.
- Harder to clean – Although, as we mentioned above, smooth stone shows up fingerprints more easily, the leathered variety takes a little more effort when it comes to cleaning. That’s especially true given it’s a pitted surface. So you may just need to put in a little more elbow grease. (Or to call in a professional.)
- Personal taste – In truth, and despite the higher price tag, the look of leathered stone may not appeal to everyone. So you may decide that, in truth, it’s a safer bet to spend the money on a higher-quality stone. And the leathered variety may ultimately be a better option if you’re fitting out a high-end, luxury-style place.
Consider these three kinds of unusual textured kitchen countertops
One thing you no doubt already appreciate is the difference between polished and honed or matt options. Once the most common type of finish, gloss can occasionally feel a little too shiny, particularly beneath a source of light such as a big window. What’s more, fingerprints can show up on your surface pretty easily.
So, probably for those reasons, honed worktops are the most favoured choice these days. But, especially in the wrong space, they can seem dull.
Yet some of the alternatives on the market today will lend your surfaces a more interesting sense of texture and nuance, while providing a tactile surface you’ll enjoy touching every day.
Antiqued surfaces
This is a softer finish which looks a bit older or more distressed and less uniform. You achieve the look with a combination of brushing, washing and sandblasting. And, in fact, most natural stone is tough enough that you can weather it to a subtle finish.
With this style, you create matte textures, softer edges and fine cracks mimicking centuries of use.
Flamed surfaces
This involves treating the stone with extreme heat until its crystals expand to form an interesting texture. On a practical level, you may need to be careful that the end result is not so rough that it becomes hard to wipe clean.
We stand ready to help
Royal Stone Care specialises in tasks such as granite chip repair, quartz restoration and marble polishing, so make us your first port of call for natural stone cleaning. And do get in touch today, whatever the product and material. We operate at commercial and residential premises across London.
