Marble is a classic material, but there are different marble countertops. Its timeless elegance lets it go well with every style, from traditional to modern to contemporary interiors. However, with anything luxurious comes maintenance. Marble is no different; it needs to be used delicately to avoid damage from staining and heat and demands periodic sealant application.
Types of Marble Countertops
There are a variety of Marbles available all across the world that one can choose from depending on the design, cost and utility. Here are some of them discussed in detail:
1.Calacatta Marble:
Sourced from Carrara’s queries, this marble is famous for its beauty and luxury in Italy. It’s amongst the most sought-after and expensive marbles in the world. This kind of marble is much whiter in appearance as compared to its counterpart, Carrara marble, and comes with thick veining. The colour of the veins of this marble varies from beige to gold to pale grey to dark grey. The heavy veining of Calacatta marble allows designers to create bookmatched installations where the bold and unique vein patterns mirror each other.
2.Afyon marble
Afyon Marble is famous for its pristine white colour and is considered the world’s highest-quality marble. It is procured from quarries in the mountainous region of Turkey near the Aegean Sea. Afyon marble has been used since ancient times and continues to be a popular choice in modern-day living spaces. It is a durable marble and can be easily shaped and polished for various needs in an interior space.
Afyon marble is light in colour, with beige, white and gray colour variations. Afyon Sugar marble, on the other hand, features calcite crystals that produce a semi-translucent appearance on a pale, gold-coloured background with delicate, thin veins.
3.Carrara Marble
Another classic stone from the Italian region of Tuscany is the Carrara marble. This stone has been mined for centuries and is amongst the most famous marbles in the world. It is renowned for its white-grey colour and soft and deep grey veining. This marble comes in 2 different grades – Grade C and Grade CD. Grade C marble has light gray veining on a white background and is relatively more expensive. Grade CD, on the other hand, has darker gray veins on a pale gray background and is a more cost-effective option.
4.Breccia Marble
Another statement marble from the mountains of Turkey is the Breccia Marble. There are various types of marble slabs, but the secret to this Breccia marble’s beauty lies in its composition. During the underground formation of this type of marble, tiny bits of rock became embedded in the stone. These bits of rocks create a unique, textured appearance within the marble’s smooth surface. Due to the presence of these rock bits in the stone, Breccia marble offers widely varying patterns in its veining. This type of marble makes for a great statement piece or a bold choice for a kitchen countertop. Its durability and tensile strength also make it a good option for indoor flooring.
5.Bianco Venato
Sourced from the Carrara region of Italy, Bianco Venato comes in plain white or grey background with gray veins. There are various types of marble slabs, but the patterns created by the veining of this marble type are genuinely unique. This marble’s durability and water resistance make it a good fit for outdoor application in flooring, water fountains, etc.B. Bianco Venato comes in various finishes depending on the process used, like sanding, tumbling, honing, etc.
6.Nero Marquina Marble
Black Marble with fine grain originated from the Marquina region in Basque, Spain. Nero marble has pure white veining. This Marble allows for a luxe look on a budget. It gives a dramatic yet elegant appearance to your kitchen. It goes well with metallic fixtures and finishes. There are different types of marble counters, but this one has the most character.
7.Stauario Marble:
Rarest of the rare marble from Italian quarries. It comes in a beautiful and vibrant white colour with grey veining. While Statuario is famous for its classic white base with grey veins, it also comes in other colour varieties like ivory and grey and different backgrounds with variations in the thickness of grey veins. Known for its artistic appeal, It is relatively more cost-effective than Calacatta marble but susceptible to staining.
8.Crema Marfil Marble:
Quarried in Spain, Crema Marfil Marble slabs are made from crushed marble mixed with polymer resin binders to seal off its pores, preventing the marble surface from staining.
The beige colour with sharper streaks of Crema Marfil Marble veining pattern adds a subtle coziness, softness and warm appearance to your kitchen.
9.Thasso Marble:
This pure white marble is known for its crystal white appearance from the land of the Greeks, making it reflect light. However, this stone is susceptible to staining; hence, it’s not considered the best choice for kitchen countertops.
10.Cedar Marble
This is a warm brown marble with stones ranging from dark pink to rich brown. The subtle white veining imparts a nice artistic touch. Cedar marble looks excellent as a vanity top, accent kitchen countertop, and fireplace surround, giving an earthy vibe to this space.
Conclusion
Adding marble to your space is a great way to add character and artistic touch to the interior design. Each marble type has its pros and cons. It is essential to consider the specific characters of the marble type. Installing a marble in your interior space is based on various factors like the design, cost, maintenance and the utility of the space.
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