Our favorite marbles

When most people think of marble, they might assume that all marbles are essentially the same.  However, there is so much more to this amazing design element.  Here are a few of our favorite marbles and what makes them so special to us!

Why marble?

Let’s start with this question, because there is a wide range of natural stone options.  Marble is one of the most well known types, and it has connotations of luxury and elegance.  It occurs naturally, and this gives it a feeling of exclusivity and distinction.  Because of this, it adds value to your home.   In addition, marble is versatile as well as very heat-resistant, which makes it the ideal choice for countertops, islands, vanities, and fireplace surrounds.  Our favorite marbles can be large slabs or small tiles, and function beautifully as surfaces, walls, and flooring.  We really enjoy mixing and matching tile shapes and sizes in custom, luxe baths, showers, and backsplashes.

Okay, now that we’ve opted to go with marble, what’s next?

The next step depends on how the marble will be used as well as your budget and style.  Do you like a very white marble with simple veining?  Would you prefer something warmer or more colorful?

Marble is an investment, and we pride ourselves on tailoring the final selection to your wants and needs.   If we’re designing a shower, tub surround, niche, or floor, we carefully select tile samples that will fulfill both the aesthetic and function.  Our Wyndmoor en suite bath, pictured above, features different sizes and shapes of Calacatta marble tile to create the ultimate in luxury bath design.

Calacatta marble tile for en suite bathroom

For countertops (kitchen and bath), backsplashes, and fireplace surrounds, we visit the stoneyard and peruse a variety of slabs until we find the perfect one for you.  We carefully looked at slab upon slab before selecting this stunning Fior di Pesco for our client’s new wet bar and backsplash!  Just look at that fabulous veining and rich gray tones.

Fior di Pesco marble slab

 

What are your favorite marbles?

Now we’re getting to the best part!  We’ve worked with different types of marble in a breadth of projects, from Bardiglio pencil tile accenting a luxe stall shower to Emperador mosaics adding an elevated touch to flooring.

Carrara

Carrara is one of the most well known marbles, as well as the most common type of Italian marble.  It has a cool look with its soft gray veining, and is a classic for a reason!  We used Carrara tile to create a tub surround and niche for this hall bath, because our client wanted a soothing vibe with a touch of timeless luxury.   Note how we tied in a waterjet Bardiglio marble border to add contrast and definition to the floor.

Carrara marble tub surround and niche with Bardiglio marble floor border in hall bath by Glenna Stone Interior Design; photo by Rebecca McAlpin

Calacatta

Calacatta is another familiar name, with a bright whiteness and intricate veining.  It also includes several subtypes.  Calacatta Gold is very much a GSID favorite; we love it in upscale bathrooms for a tailored, high-end feeling of sanctuary and elegance.  We used Calacatta Gold in our Villanova master bath in multiple applications, including the tub deck, accents, custom tub and shower niches, and flooring.  The result is a space that feels like a five star retreat. 1xbet India is offering a great offer for its new Indian players. All 1xbet promotional code offers come together with very important terms and conditions that are crucial for redeeming them. We have listed some of the most important ones for taking advantage of the 1xbet promo code India welcome offer below. However, make sure to visit the brand’s website and find all the T&Cs there.1xbet India is offering a great offer for its new Indian players. On using the 1xbet welcome bonus promo code 2023, the players will get an additional 30% bonus on top of the standard offer.

Different Calacatta Gold marbles in custom master bath
Calacatta Gold marble in Villanova master bath by Glenna Stone Interior Design; Photo by Rebecca McAlpin

Calacatta Borghini and Calacatta Oro are the best of the best, prized for their refinement.  We loved this Calacatta Borghini lot we selected for not one, but two kitchen projects we are currently working on.  We can’t wait to show you the full reveal of these kitchens next year!

Calacatta Borghini marble slab

Bursa Beige

As we mentioned earlier, not all marble is cool and white.  For our client’s open and welcoming guest bath, we designed a skylit shower surrounded with warm Bursa Beige marble.  Unlike the previous two marbles, which are quarried in Italy, Bursa Beige comes from Turkey.  The sense of warmth created by the sandy tones and earthy veining in the tiles exudes soft sophistication.  Bursa Beige marble is also an ideal choice for pools and fountains, if you’d like to bring the luxury outdoors.

Bursa Beige marble shower walls

These are just a few of our favorite marbles, and we’re looking forward to sharing more in future projects as well.  Is there anything that you’d like to know about these or other marble varieties?

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Glenna Stone Interior Design is an award-winning Philadelphia interior design firm serving Philadelphia, the Main Line, and surrounding cities. Utilizing her background and training in interior design, architecture, and engineering, Glenna specializes in creating interiors for residential and commercial design settings. We invite you to visit our website, view our portfolio, and catch up on the latest interior design concepts on our blog

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