Marble is a natural stone: no two slabs are alike. That is why it is best chosen in person, with the slabs side by side. Two kinds appear most often in the showroom: Calacatta and Nero Portoro.
Calacatta: light and calm
Calacatta comes from the Apuan Alps near Carrara, in Tuscany. Its ground is a clear white, with broad veins from grey to golden. It makes a room lighter and suits a sleek kitchen as well as a classic bathroom.
Nero Portoro: dark and outspoken
Nero Portoro is a black marble with golden-yellow and white veins, originally quarried on the Ligurian coast near Portovenere. It gives a room depth and warmth. On the wall behind a freestanding bath or as a worktop, the stone itself becomes the centrepiece.
Choose the slab, not just the kind: the veins make the picture.
Polished or honed
Polished marble shines and shows its pattern most strongly. Honed (matt-ground) marble has a softer look and shows scratches and limescale less quickly, which helps in a bathroom or on a worktop.
Care
- Marble is porous: have it sealed so stains soak in less easily.
- Acids etch the surface. Wipe up lemon juice, vinegar and wine straight away.
- Use a pH-neutral cleaner, not descalers or abrasives.
Not sure which marble suits your room? In the showroom you can see both in complete displays, in daylight and under lamps.
