“A sun — a shadow of a magnitude”
Keats, 1817
Since Parthenon, marble has held its elevated status as a purveyor of grandeur. The Parthenon marbles moved poets and politicians alike, they are miracles of sculpture, surviving centuries and remaining utterly desirable; the pinnacle of craftsmanship. The marble used to create them transcends even itself, they symbolise durability and light, sentiments which in this article we will show can be used across the breadth of interior design from traditional architecture to the latest contemporary designs from London and New York.
White marble versatility
White marble has a resolute effect upon an interior; it is both sensitive and bold, opulent yet subtle, smooth and also fresh. Its natural lines express the motion of water, bringing a living feel to a design, with dramatic and creative movement, breaking up lines and offering visual texture. Both optically and physically, marble evokes sensations through sight or touch that can be expressive, contributing space and brightness that give flair and creativity to design.
Timeless
The cool feel and look of white marble is distinctive. The grey-blue hues of Carrara marble, or the golden hints of Calacatta marble offer versatility to designers. The randomness of the grain texture break up lines and give a fluid feel. For centuries these marbles have been used in design from the statues of Florence in the 14th century to the Marble Arch in the centre of London. These marbles can be used in interiors from countertops to mantelpieces, giving a touch of subtle flair and history, whilst remaining cool and modern. White marble is both resourceful and versatile, bringing practicality and elegance to interior design.
Look and origin
White marble is quarried from around the world, with graining available to match any design in both size and colour. Strong dark graining is bold, and becomes a focal point of an interior, to be used with care. Yet a subtler graining with a close variation in hue can be understated, providing opulence without overpowering a room. Contrasting textures can be achieved by using the right marble, giving a natural feel to a design. Critical design thinking and a sharp eye can deliver simplicity through the complexity of the natural textures found in marble.
Travertine
Marbles come in many forms, though a travertine may also offer the look you require. With its uneven qualities, travertine can be used perfectly as a floor material both as mosaic tile or paving, its rough quality can add aesthetic depth to both traditional and modern designs.
Warmth and tone
There is nothing in nature as white as white marble, its natural luminosity provides brightness and the grain lines gives an accent to draw the eye to features within a design. It is an imperfect texture, delivering dove-white tones with off-white textures that are eponymous with marble and conjure memories in all of us. Yet marbles come in various hues to match your interiors, from the rich-green colours of Teos to the deep-red hues of Rosso Impero, marble can provide you with the spectrum you need to meet your design criteria.
Trends
The history and tradition of marble does not mean it can be used only in traditional design. The latest manufacturing technologies have breathed new life into marble with some of the most up-to-date designs incorporating marble in ways that complement lighting designs with shape and structure that can only be achieved through CNC machining. Waterjet cutting and diamond wire cutting deliver bespoke shapes to match design criteria to the millimetre. Custom shaped white marble surfaces are unique and individual, with the perfect finish to interiors incorporating hard stone and marble.
Marble technology
The application of white marble can take you as far as your imagination can perceive; hollowed Carrara marble is used to diffuse light, wood and steel can be cut to match marble shapes, the incorporation of differing materials offer design advantages from both an ecological and aesthetic standpoint. Extremely thin, 1 centimetre slabs can be lit from behind, using marble’s natural transparency to extenuate the grain and spread light through a room. Even room features such as clocks and furniture can now blend white marble into their design. The latest marble cutting technology is bringing with it a revolution in the use and incorporation of marble and hard stone into the most progressive 21st century interiors.
Prominence
When it comes to remodelling or constructing a new design, marble, with its versatility and exclusivity will work to elevate a design, providing a rich beauty and adding aesthetic value through colour and grain which is unique only to your home. Modern homes use marble for their kitchen and bathroom countertops; it is durable, easy to clean, bright, and smooth to the touch. These qualities are the reason that marble is gaining such popularity in modern design both in residential and business premises. The material is so durable that it will last for as long as the design, and cannot be easily scratched, it provides both practical and artistic quality.
Marble is simply beautiful
Regardless of latest design trends, regardless of traditional or contemporary constructions, marble is, and always has been a material of inspiration and beauty. From the Taj Mahal to the Altare della Patria, both the durability and the beauty of the white marble stand the tests of time. Throughout its exceptional history, marble has come to be much more than a construction material; it evokes sensations both to the eye and to the touch that other materials do not. Of quality, of durability and of astounding beauty that cannot be matched with other materials.
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