When it comes to choosing marble for your kitchen, bathroom,
foyer or even furniture, the options are endless. Marble comes in a wide range
of colors and patterns, making it the ideal choice for accentuating any type of
décor. Having recently designed a kitchen in San Diego, we got to explore
marbles many characteristics, including it’s easier to maintain counterpart,
Quartz. For this particular kitchen countertop, we went with warmer white and
grey hues; but if your not sure what type of marble you’re looking for, here is
a basic guide to it’s many timeless options.
Carrara
Marble
This is generally white, gray or blue-gray and commonly used in
sculpture and building decor. Its veining is more linear and can either be
small and fine or soft and feathery, although it can be dramatic. One of the
more readily available marble options, Carrara is one of the most commonly used
marbles in residences. Since it can have a stark, pristine whiteness, use it in
bathrooms to add an airy and clean feel.
Carrara Marble Countertop- Domaine
Arabescato Carrara- Wayfair
Statuary
Marble
A sister stone to Carrara, statuary
marble features a uniform background and light gray tones with distinctive
and more dramatic veining. Its semi translucent white background
gives it a shiny, glossy feel, reflects light and provides a radiant finish
that enhances any room.
Statuary marble countertops and ceiling height stuatuary marble subway tile backsplash- Decor Pad
Honed Statuary Classico-Walker Zanger
Calacatta
Marble
Calacatta marble is
quarried in the Carrara region of Italy and shares many similarities with
Carrara marble, such as their white coloring with gray veining, which makes
sense why they are often confused for the other. Although, they have many
characteristics that set them apart, Calacatta
marble is generally white with dark veining in large, thick patterns. For some
homes, it can add a striking look when paired with the stainless steel of
a kitchen or the white porcelain of a bathroom. Since it is rarer than
Carrara, many people consider Calacatta a luxury
stone. Calacatta gold marble adds a splash of richness to the tiles, and
it can radiate either warm and cool tones depending on what colors you match
with it. We used Calacatta Vicenza marble for the kitchen in one of our San
Diego projects.
Calacatta Vicenza slab
from Unique Stone Imports
Calacatta- Ollin Stone
Emperador
Marble
Quarried from three regions in Spain, this stone varies from the
whites and grays associated with Calacatta and Carrara and comes in different
shades of brown. It typically exhibits fine grains with irregular veins. Its
darker color makes it an ideal choice for a high-traffic floor or
a charming fireplace surround.
Silver Emperador Polished Marble- Madarin Stone
Crema Marfil Marble
Also quarried in Spain, crema marfil comes in many tonal
variations. The most prevalent and well-known tiles have a light-beige or
yellowish color with uniform backgrounds and veins varying in intensity and
irregularity. Crema marfil is typically used with other darker and more colored
natural stones, and is commonly found in exterior cladding, flooring and
decorations. A large reserve and wide market availability makes this an
appealing choice for homeowners and architects.
Honed Crema Marfil- Complete Tile Collection
Crema Marfil-Happy Floors
Hope this helped! Remember, even after considering your options,
it’s helpful to order samples to see the various shades of a particular type of marble in
person. Since marble is a natural stone, there can be a variety of color
streaks and vein patterns, even within a single set. There are also a number of imitations that are very impressively manufactured like quartz or porcelain; see our blog post on good marble look a likes for countertops and back splashes. ' Whatever you choose, faux or real; marble
is a gorgeous option for any home.
