Sunday, October 9, 2011

Marble rocks!

Good morning! OK, if you have been coming here for any period of time you know I LOVE marble, especially white marble...ahhhhh, so beautiful! I have gotten so many emails from people either contemplating on using marble or people who want to down the road but the fear of God has been placed in them about doing so. I personally always say for me there was/is no second choice. I would rather have cardboard than anything else but marble. It is so rich, elegant and timeless. 

I always go back to how it is used in Europe...it is EVERYWHERE. In every pizzeria, every fine restaurants kitchen countertops, in small bakeries and cafes, on building steps for Petes sake, in virtually every hotel lobby and bathroom.....I mean everywhere you look, there is marble! Marble that has been there many many years. What does that tell you? Tells me a lot. In my old house where we lived for seven years, I had Carerra on my countertops, did it have a random nick or small imperfection here or there? Of course, did I love it any less....NO! In fact I loved how that added to the character of the stone, gave it that worn patina and there literally wasn't a day that I walked into my kitchen that I didn't marvel at how beautiful it looked. So clearly my love for marble is strong, unwavering and here to stay! Today a look at marble and why it rocks!

Prime example of white marble's beauty in the kitchen, love it on the coutertops and going all the way up in subways.....perfection! Collection 17
Beautiful mini subway bricks adorn this fabulous backsplash
Nothing like a long stretch of scrumptious white marble...love it! Peter Pennoyer
Look familiar?
Since its covered up now, this gives me another chance to enjoy it!
No its not a carpet, its inlaid marble! New Ravenna
A set of very old white marble steps in Umbria, Italy
Beautiful inlaid marble mosaic backsplash....New Ravenna
Never met a white marble sink I didn't love! Massucco Warner Miller
Love the mile long bar at Eastern Standard (we always go when in Boston) of Calcutta Gold! (and you just know lots of red wine is being poured on that baby)
Stunning, the way this honed tumbled white carerra marble is used for the vanity area and tub, Veranda.
You can never have enough....case in point is this bathroom!
Just want to point out the WHITE CARERRA MARBLE TOPPED tables being used in this restaurant
Why not use the whole block? Talk about creating drama! David Powell
Love how an entire slab was used for this backsplash and island...fabulous!
A gorgeous white carerra marble bar in Todd English's Food Plaza..case in point, it works!! 
Nothing like a huge slab of thick gorgeous white marble to top an island!
Check out this vine detailing all in marble by none other than New Ravenna!
Love this bar smothered in delicious white marble!!
Beautiful sink and flooring in white marble...Gast
Fountains meant to brave the outdoor elements are made in marble! New Ravenna
And how about this wonderful candy bar in Atlanta? Yep, white marble countertops and white marble topped tables!!
Perhaps the ultimate indulgence in marble, a sumptuous bath tub!!



So what do you think? Are you already a fan of marble? Do you have it or would you use it? Would love to know!! Wishing everyone a happy Sunday!



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54 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 9, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    The marble is gorgeous. I LOVE that ZEBRA wallpaper! So fun!

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  2. Kim @ Savvy Southern StyleOctober 9, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    I do love it, but don't have any. Memories of a day trip in Umbria came back when you shared those steps. Such a pretty place.

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  3. Renée FinbergOctober 9, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    T,
    you have the same 'rap' i have about marble.
    that is my same speech!!!

    you are the best!!
    xxx

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  4. Nita StacyOctober 9, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    I love it and would be thrilled to have it as my kitchen counter.

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  5. AnonymousOctober 9, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    Gorgeous... I am dying over that first image!!! xo

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  6. Debbie@Vintage Scout InteriorsOctober 9, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    Preaching to the choir here. I LOVE marble and recommend it to my clients, at the same time making them aware of its characteristics and maintenance. It has a life to it that granite or quartz can't replicate. You have to be willing to accept the "patina", which I think is one of it's wonderful qualities. I am starting a bathroom reno tomorrow with marble everywhere. One of these days our blog should get switched over to WP and I'll have pics and a story. We did her kitchen in marble too. I had to really convince her to use it; now she says how much she loves it everyday. I anxiously await pics of your finished home. ~Debbie

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  7. Luciane at HomeBunch.comOctober 9, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    Oh... marbles! Yes, white ones! They're also my favorite!!!

    Lovely post, my dear Tina.

    I hope you're having a great weekend.

    xo

    Luciane at HomeBunch.com

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  8. Barbara@HausDesignOctober 9, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    I haven't been as big of a fan of it in the past but your points about how it has stood the test of time throughout Europe have got me thinking! and I guess environmentally, if it lasts forever it doesn't need to be replaced (something the Europeans do MUCH better than us) - that's a good thing too!

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  9. LisaOctober 9, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    What a beautiful post about marble! I put marble in my small ktichen last year and like you, there is not a day that I dont smile looking at it..it makes my kitchen. And so true about how its used in Europe, thats the best testament to its lasting power and durability! We are soon going to be doing our master over and I am planning on doing it in white marble with cream marfil accents. There simply is no substitute for beautiful marble.

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  10. The French HutchOctober 9, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    I remember all those cafes in Europe with their bars and counters covered with white marble. One hotel we stayed in, The Balmoral in Edinburgh had the most luxurious white marble bath I've ever seen. Great photos with great inspiration Tina.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  11. AnonymousOctober 9, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    YOUR marble is totally perfect, you are so lucky! I cannot wait to see your finished kitchen/butlers. Had to settle for granite which looks fine but cannot wait till my next permanent house where I will use marble.

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  12. Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid SassOctober 9, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Beautiful. Anything other than marble is s compromise.
    The floor? I am in love. What can i say?
    Have anice Sunday Tina.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  13. KathysueOctober 9, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    Love love marble especially Carrera. I have it on my entry floor,guest bathroom floor and counter and walls in the shower. When it was put in I told my hubby if I died right now, just bury me in the bathtub. I waited for Yeeeeears to get it and I have never regretted it either. Loved all of the above images, thanks Tina for your ever so sweet comment about my home,I must say we do love being home. I know you will feel the same way about your new gorgeous home in a very short period of time. I can tell you have put your heart and soul into making it perfect for your family, Happy Sunday sweet lady,
    Kathysue

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  14. Julie Taylor and Danni GreenwaltOctober 9, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Gorgeous pictures. I also am a marble fan. I can not wait to see your kitchen. Your whole house! Love your blog. Try to visit it every time you post.

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  15. Karen October 9, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    You sold me!

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  16. KarenOctober 9, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    Gorgeous! I love those marble subway tiles.

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  17. Barb @ The Everyday Home October 9, 2011 at 11:08 AM

    I needed this post. I have wanted Carrera in my kitchen for years but my stone guy keeps convincing me otherwise. You made excellent points, ones which I think he will have a hard time arguing against. LOL I have been following your home like a stalker, an online stalker. haha I can't wait to see it finished. Thank you so much for taking us along on your journey. Happy Sunday!

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  18. 'LUSH'October 9, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Have ALWAYS been a fan of marble (white marble at that)! Love the selection of photos!!!!!

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  19. Melissa @ Veranda InteriorsOctober 9, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    I LOVE my marble!!!

    We used it in our kitchen for the perimeter and full slab back-splash, again in our master bath and a solid slab shower, and on our bar as well. Every time I look at it I smile.

    My only complaint is how soft it is, slight scratches, but relatively easy to care for, no staining (knock on wood) so far and we are not a 'white food' household.

    As long as people educate themselves on the things to use and not to use (vinegar & citrus = disaster) then they will love them for years to come.

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  20. Amy ChalmersOctober 9, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    Wowsers! I love it!! Hey how about the Taj Mahal?? All done in white marble for his wife~thats true love!! And when she died young he built himself a matching palace out of black marble.

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  21. Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home}October 9, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    OK, Tina. I'm sold! I'm a believer!

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  22. quintessenceOctober 9, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    Totally agree - I had Carrera in my last kitchen as well and I LOVED it!!! It adds so much character to a space. I wouldn't have wanted it to remain perfect and pristine - that would have meant I wasn't really living in or using the space. It's not just a house - it's a home!!

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  23. Acquired ObjectsOctober 9, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    I love the veining in your counters and love the various uses and it is gorgeous but when doing our homework before choosing our counters I wouldn't go with marble, to many problems. I didn't want something high maintenance and since this needs to be sealed, chips, burns, scratches and stains we took a pass. We went with soapstone that doesn't have these issues of course then you only get a black counter top but with veining. Great examples and thinking of marble for our bathroom.

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  24. mwaxterOctober 9, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    That first picture and picture of your kitchen and stone are my faves. We put it in my master bath and my daughters bathroom and we really love it. Its so fresh and clean, no maintenance at all! Thinking of when we do the new kitchen to use it but have to admit am a little nervous though your points about it being used so rampantly in Europe is a good point.
    My husband and I are both cooks, and there is always lots of food being prepared in our kitchen, I just don't want anything I have to think about too much, on the other hand I do love the look of worn in antiqued marble.
    Great post and something for me to think about!

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  25. Hill Country House GirlOctober 9, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    I love white marble and always have. My parents had some in their home many years ago and I am so glad to see it come back into style - although if you look at historical buildings it has always been in style! Thank you so much for the amazing images - I have saved a few for my dream house file!

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  26. Donna in PotomacOctober 9, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    French chateau's require marble, non? Vous etes chanceaux - You are lucky!

    I fell in love with marble after my first walk through Harrod's Food Halls. It is the perfect backdrop to food, glorious food! I would however purchase one of those giant sized Boos cutting boards (beautiful in their own rite) for the serious prep work.

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  27. Desiree {CHIC COASTAL LIVING}October 9, 2011 at 12:49 PM

    Gorgeousness! Love marble and wish I would have done the white marble....:(

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  28. Sherry @ No Minimalist HereOctober 9, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    Tina, My next kitchen will have marble! The kitchen in the first photo is gorgeous and how I would love the marble tub.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  29. Janey and Co.October 9, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    You sold me!...Janey

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  30. Splendid WillowOctober 9, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Test...

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  31. Splendid WillowOctober 9, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    Tina, I better comment quickly before your system kicks me out again!!!

    Love marble! And you are showing some beautiful examples. That mini subway bricks on the backsplash is so me. And the marble floor with circles is AMAZING. Never seen a floor like that before!

    Happy Sunday Dear!

    ox, Mon

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  32. Julio MuaoOctober 9, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    Great post Tina! I wished you could have posted this 3 weeks ago. It would have given my partner and I the courage to stand up to our contractor and insist he install marble or we would have someone else do it. It would have costed a little more but would have been worth it. Although we love the white granite that was just installed about a week ago, we are both still day dreaming about how even more beautiful white marble would have been. At least we get to enjoy it in our master bathroom for now. Looking forward to your next house update.

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  33. SuzOctober 9, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    You sold me. It's marble for me next time we redo.

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  34. Jennifer @ Timeless InteriorsOctober 9, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    Love marble! Nothing is more timeless. It is always in style, never dates itself, best investment you can make. I recommend it to my clients and use it on projects all the time. Thanks for the nice selection of marble in this post.

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  35. VictoriaOctober 9, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    Tina,
    I am totally in the same camp as you when it comes to white marble. I love, love, love it all. My honed Calacotta Oro island countertop will be installed next week and I cannot wait. I will be using it on the perimeter countertops and as a full backsplash as well. Fabricators are totally against using marble in a kitchen and try to scare you into not using it. Mine even puts a disclaimer on his contract absolving him of any responsibility for stains. I say, "I am not afraid."
    Are your countertops honed? I cannot wait to see your island top. Have a great weekend.
    Best...Victoria

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  36. SHERRY HARTOctober 9, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    You didn't have to convince me but you did!!! It is so beautiful and reminds me that things can not stay perfect but it doesn't mean that we shouldn't use them.....

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  37. Fashion-ishaOctober 9, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    Ahh I've always love white marble. Thanks for this gorgeous showcase...especially the circles floor!
    xo
    Sharon

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  38. NanaDianaOctober 9, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    I have always loved white marble too. I love all your examples here. I don't have it in the kitchen here but we used it in a couple of niches and I have an upstairs area with a "breakfast bar" that I used it on. LOVE IT! xo Diana

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  39. Castles Crowns and CottagesOctober 9, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    My dearest!!!! MARBLE DOES ROCK, indeed! AND I love the picture of your developments!!!! KEEP 'EM COMIN'!!!! Anita

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  40. Cindy AlbertOctober 9, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    So many beautiful images! The bathroom with the marble up the wall has always been a favorite. I actually have it in my dream book of ways I hope my future home could look.

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  41. Georgica PondOctober 9, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    Tina - I'm so glad you did this post. I am about to pick our marble island counter top and I was trying to decide whether I should consider stainless steel around the cooktop, because of the spills. Now maybe I don't have to? I have been talked out of marble by 90% of people, including kitchen companies and marble companies for the benchtop for all the reasons were hear so often. And despite that I have not been swayed. I just won't have anything else, and would rather give up everything other thing in the house except the marble. I know that every time I walk into our kitchen I'm going to get a little thrill. And the odd scratch, spill, chip or stain will be worth it. As you say, if marble was tough enough to construct buildings from throughout the centuries, then it's tough enough for my kitchen!

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  42. Leo October 9, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    I am a big marble fan even though I always complain how high maintenance it is - I would not want anything else. I have it mostly everywhere in my house. Floors, bathroom, countertops, outdoors, pool - yup, I love my marble.

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  43. AnonymousOctober 9, 2011 at 8:25 PM

    We live in a house that is almost 100 years old. Ironically in the pantry the floor is white marble ( I think carerra) as are the countertops, theyare not the original but are quite old and are very beautiful. To me, the small imperfections are what makes this so much more beautiful than say shiny perfect granite. There simply is no comparison. So when we redid the kitchen almost 10 years ago we of course used carerra on the countertops and like you, we love it. It adds so much to the kitchen and as long as you seal it and use common sense, there should be no issues. I swear I really don't "get" all these people acting like you are putting gold on your countertops, its stone people, its part of our earth for goodness sake!!

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  44. Town and Country HouseOctober 9, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    Love, love, love marble and planning a kitchen reno to include it.

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  45. La DolfinaOctober 9, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    I agree with you 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!
    It's as classic and timeless as it gets.
    Great examples as always Tina :)
    Thank you for your comment on my Ginger Jars, your opinion holds a lot of weight with me.
    T

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  46. Summers CottageOctober 9, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    I would love to have marble in my kitchen. I've never had it - my one chance to get it I let myself be talked out of it by the salesman! (I was young and stupid.) I forgot if you are honing yours or not?

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  47. UnknownOctober 9, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Tina,

    I wholeheartedly agree! Love marble it is a timeless classic that exceeds all expectations goes with every decor and makes me smile too!

    Marble is in my future renovation plans also. It just sings to me, fresh, historic, stunningly beautiful, timeless and worth every provision you make to include it in your home. Love it too!

    Bette

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  48. AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 12:57 AM

    Hey that's really a great post and a wonderful description out here, I really like the way things are being executed and discussed here.

    Bathroom lighting

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  49. VeronicaOctober 10, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    I too adore marble Tina and yes the little imperfections makes it just more home!! why are people so scare of adding a bit of patina to their homes. Nature adds it naturally to our faces for goodness sake! will use it again in the future...just love it!!

    Veronica

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  50. travelkateOctober 10, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    I'm 100% agreement with you on marble! It is the best!! I can't even tell you how many people I had to convince that putting marble in my kitchen was a good idea (can't believe it's still up for discussion). And to get honed marble in my house this time was a battle that I had to take the top with our developer. I guess law school paid off for something :)

    I always say the same thing about it being used in Europe for 100's of years too and in plenty of restaurants!!

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  51. Kitchen BenchtopsNovember 21, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    Marble is available in different color but the one that is perfectly white is the most expensive. If polished well then it is very shiny in appearance, but this natural stone is highly porous thus absorbs water and dust easily.

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  52. Cat RayDecember 6, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    I am currently in the process of redoing my kitchen. I am debating whether or not I should change to Marble Countertops .

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Would love to hear what you have to say......happy thoughts only please!!