Why Marble?
Marble is a luxe material, timeless and classic and never fails to bring the sheen of sophistication to your home. If you are a fan of effortless style, break out of the dull home decor mold and consider new ways to use this beautiful natural stone.
Marble is formed when limestone rock is exposed to high pressure and temperature, causing the calcite in the limestone to reform into denser marble stone. Typically starting as a light-color, it can become colored by small impurities in the rock (such as iron oxide). This gives marble some areas of gold or chocolate gue. When the stone is mixed with feldspar deposits, it will go on to form pink or red marble. When mixed with serpentine, it will go on to form green marble.
The area in the world that the marble comes from determines what kind of mineral deposit affects the color of the marble. A beautiful dark blue marble, called Azul Cielo can be found in Argentina. Deep red Rojo Alicante comes from the east coast of Spain, and the classic white marble with grey veins, Mountain White Danby comes from Vermont USA.
Uses for Marble in the Home
Once you have chosen your raw material, you then need to consider the finish you are looking for, which will depend on where in the home you intend to use it. A high-gloss mirror finish enhances the beauty of the stone, and a satin smooth honed finish is low maintenance, so perfect for high traffic areas.
Marble is not an economical choice for your home, but even if your budget is modest, you can incorporate the look by adding a few choice pieces. A hit of luxury stone accompanied by other textures and materials adds an undeniably chic factor to your decor. There are plenty of ways to use marble in your home.
In the Kitchen
The kitchen is the classic place to showcase some gorgeous marble, the heart of the home is a great place for this beautiful and functional stone. As a countertop, marble can be a spectacular choice, especially if you choose a chunky stone in an unusual color. You could even add to the look by using a waterfall cut, whereby the stone also covers the side of the islands or counters, as well as the top.
Marble looks deceptively simple, but paired with more rustic features like exposed stone walls, the look will be charming. You could also forgo kitchen tiles behind the sink and stove top, and opt for a marble upstand or backsplash to finish off the look.
If you prefer to keep the marble as an eye-catching detail, consider a few marble accessories carefully placed. A marble cheese board or pestle and mortar mean you are creating a high end feel with low spend.
Chic Flooring
If you prefer a more subtle look for your home, then think about using marble on your floors. A matte stone to match your scheme creates a casual elegance along with some gorgeous rugs to highlight the color and natural veins in the marble. Organic textures combined with marble, contrast to give a truly sophisticated feel. The subtle sheen of a stone floor paired with a linen couch and luxurious cashmere throws and cushions invites you to kick off your shoes and relax.
A detail popular in Europe is to have a lighter marble floor with a perimeter of darker marble inlaid in it. This creates the effect of space, and when the darker marble is also used in place of wooden skirting boards, the cozy effect is as if the inner marble floor were a rug.
Use as Furniture or Accessories
There is no reason that a beautiful piece of marble furniture can’t be the star of the show, for example, a statement marble topped dining table. You can really admire the true individuality of a piece of stone when you see it up close as a dining table or coffee table. If you choose a striking table top, then remember to keep the rest of the textures simple so that the stone can really glow. Consider sticking with neutral tones and clean lines to emphasize the natural beauty of the marble.
Opting for smaller pieces of furniture to create a chic look on a budget couldn’t be easier. Think about adding a trio of Carrera planters with this season’s cute succulent plants in. Maybe show off a marble tray on your nightstand to drop jewelry in at the end of the day, or even a set of coasters which combine wood and marble.
Use as a Feature on Walls
If you find a piece of marble that you really love, then there is no reason not to use it on your walls. You could use a slab of striking pink marble, for example, in a bedroom in place of a headboard. Then pile up the silk and velvet cushions to make a personalized artwork that is the perfect mix of modern stone and soft inviting fabrics.
A fire surround can be constructed with marble tiles to create a fireplace focal point with a real wow factor. An inset fireplace in a pale marble can add a fabulous contemporary finish to a room.
Bathroom
Another favorite place to use marble is the bathroom. The use of marble tiles gives the high-end hotel experience at home and makes you want to linger. If you stick to the paler marble color with minimal veining, you can create a room full of clean lines and surfaces that will feel elegant. A bath surround can also make a fabulous feature where you could go with a warmer tone without sacrificing the clean and spacious feel.
If you are remodeling a smaller bathroom in marble, then it will do wonders to eliminate any gloominess a compact space can have. The shiny light-reflective texture adds depth to the space by taking advantage of any light available to brighten the room.
On a practical level, marble works hard in a bathroom and kitchen as it is strong and water resistant. You don’t need to get tied up in knots of surfaces get splashed as any stains will be easily polished out with water alone.
On a smaller scale, the bathroom is also a great place to have a few marble accessories on display. Small useful items such as soap dishes or even a marble tray holding some luxury candles will give you lots of everyday pleasure for a small outlay.
A Sophisticated Choice
Choosing marble for your home is just the first step, you then have to consider where you are putting it and the atmosphere you want to create. There are a myriad of colors and textures available whether you want to go with a vibrant green threaded with shimmer, or a bright white with minimal striations. You are sure to find something that suits your personality and your home perfectly.
Author Bio: Nicole Andrews is the marketing manager for Euro Marble in Sydney, Australia. With a background in interior design, she enjoys writing about the latest industry trends. In her spare time, she walks her dog Rusco down at Bondi Beach.
