Make sure the stove is required distance + a few more centimetres from the splashback. In our experience gar burners with a large pot direct the heat toward the splashback. Burning the splashback. Stone can usually be repaired and our team have developed the Fusion Polish method to repair and restore stone when burned - however we can not on a vertical surface. Let's avoid the disaster. Give The Marble Man a call for stone - polish, repairs & sealing 1300 627 626

Personally if I had the access to the marble I would take it! Traditional concerns regarding bleach spill etc are not that relevant these day s. If you keep these items like laundry powders and cleaning chemicals off the bench and in the cupboard they shouldn't cause you much trouble. I keep all mine in a caddy that keeps them off surfaces and easy to move around the house and store in the cupboard. How many of us hand colour or hand bleach anything anymore. Most laundry troughs these days are too small to make these jobs even possible. Or if you are a craft lover do these things in the outdoors or garage. Hand washing is usually with very gentle detergents on smaller items and usually done with care. If the laundry is a chore make your work area a pleasure to be in!

Can you use the bench top for the splashback? Gives a nice cohesive look.

Hi 1991_kid, though this image may be a render, the stone tops do represent an actual material. You may like to look at the Natural Stone type called Quartzite. Quartzite comes in smaller slab sized that Granite and Man Made Quartz Reconstituted stone slabs and it is very hard (unlike marble) and comes in a variety of different colours. Quartzite stone slabs do come in various types of Grey and does come in a type that has a formation which looks similar to your image. Perhaps something like the Atlantic Stone Quartzite or the Taj Mahal Quartzite or the Grey Cristallo Extra Quartzite. Hope this is of help, Malcolm