Open-plan living spaces have become increasingly popular in home design. The seamless flow design allows for easy access to different areas of the home and helps to create a sense of spaciousness and facilitate social interaction.Â
Traditional layouts, on the contrary, often have multiple separate rooms, separated by doors and walls, which – while offering other advantages – don’t offer the same feeling of spaciousness.
If you are building or renovating an open living space and are looking to incorporate some marble stone – you have come to the right place. In this article, we will help you develop the perfect marble open-plan design to create the home of your dreams.
Before we dive into marble stone ideas, let’s ensure we understand how such a design differs from traditional living rooms.
Unlike traditional homes, open-plan living rooms require careful consideration of zoning. Different areas will serve different functions, for example cooking, dining or just recreational relaxing. Your design should reflect the different areas and different purposes each serves.
There are many luxury interior design trends that suit open-plan living. However, they all have one thing in common: Effective visual continuity. To really bring your space to life in a cohesive way, it is important that you maintain the visual harmony from one end of the open-space to the other. Remember: Visual continuity includes everything from colour to style and even texture.
There are many ways to incorporate a marble open-plan design to achieve your desired atmosphere, but you should also consider how the placement of your furniture will complement or hinder how you intend to use the space. Sofas, tables and other furniture can be used to divide the space effectively or can be positioned to complement the surrounding marble interior.
Open-plan spaces need sufficient yet cohesive lighting so that the different areas can all function independently and yet all complement each other to create a single, focused lighting scheme.
Flow is important when it comes to traditional living spaces as well, but in an open-plan home it requires careful consideration. For one thing, traffic patterns may be harder to predict and require some design-related management. For another, you don’t want to compromise the very thing for which open-plan living is appealing with your design: Spaciousness.
Open-plan spaces tend to be more noisy than traditional spaces. From your choice of design material, such as luxury marble, to your placement of furniture, acoustic reverberation and echoes can be effectively controlled with the right decisions.Â
Traditional living rooms are often designed around a single element that acts as a focus point. Sometimes this is a coffee table and sometimes it is a fireplace. With open-plan spaces there is potential for multiple focal points for different areas. While this may not be a problem depending on how you intend on using the space, it does require some prior planning and forethought.
Are you looking for some marble design ideas for your open-plan home or living space? Here are some ideas to provide you with inspiration.
The inherent design and layout of an open-plan living area makes the floor more than just something to work on: It’s a potential piece of art. Using marble flooring throughout this area helps to create a unified, glamorous look that will be even more impactful than a smaller, more enclosed space.
Some columns in a home serve load-bearing or other functional purposes. Others don’t. Either way, your columns present another unique opportunity to infuse some luxury interior design ideas. A marble column can help to add a glamorous touch to the open-plan space and provide opportunity to differentiate between different zones without making the open feeling of the room feel compromised.
It is common to think of floors and walls when it comes to marble stone. But there is no reason, especially for those on a budget, to limit yourself to big picture items. Even a marble coffee table or end table can work as wonderful statement pieces and focal points to help anchor the design of a room.
One challenge of incorporating wall cladding into an open-space is the potential difficulty and cost of installation across such a large area. This is where an accent wall, sometimes referred to as a statement wall, comes into play. You can choose any shade or style of marble you prefer and use it to bring a particular wall to life. It is an effective and understated way of infusing colour, personality and style into your home.
Marble kitchen countertops are a common application of this luxury material. Fortunately, in an open-plan home there is more opportunity for such a beautiful and eye-catching benchtop to bring aesthetic pleasure to more than just the food preparation space.
Once you have an idea of how and where you want to incorporate marble in your open-plan design, you need to find the right marble stone.
With the enormous range of colours, patterns and styles, the choice can be overwhelming.
The key is to understand what you are trying to achieve in terms of feel and ambiance. Do you want a warm and earthy atmosphere? Then opt for marble stone that is a shade of brown, beige or even soft blue or green.
For a light and airy feel that complements the spaciousness we know and love in an open-plan space, opt for white or offwhite marble. There are even options to choose a marble slab with coloured veining if you want to include a spot of colour and visual depth. Plus, lighter colours will reflect more natural light and brighten the space effectively.
If it is a more sophisticated and refined look that you prefer, gray or mauve toned marble is the way to go. Alternatively, you might want to choose a gold, black, or even deep blue marble to add depth and bold luxury to your living space.
Would you like more marble flooring ideas? Wondering how to best incorporate marble effectively to create a luxury interior?Â
The Euro Marble team is always here to help and happy to discuss all things marble open-plan design. So, contact us today and let’s explore how to use marble in your open-plan living spaces.
Marble stone has long been used in construction and interior design for its luxurious aesthetic and sophisticated visual flair. Whilst marble has and continues to be used in a variety of applications, the rise of boutique hotels using marble in their bathrooms specifically is notable.
This timeless natural stone is enjoying a resurgence in popularity within the hospitality industry as more and more luxury hotel interiors are turning to marble bathroom trends to make their guests’ next stay a truly memorable one.
The boutique hotel industry the world over is filled with organisations looking to enhance the sense of luxury and elegance associated with staying in their spaces. Marble, long used in foyers and lounges, has now well and truly made its way into the most intimate of hotel spaces: The bathroom.
Whilst the trend is most definitely driven by the desire to add a touch of spa-like sophistication, thereby elevating the entire experience, it goes beyond fashion. Marble bathrooms are highly functional and practical as well thanks to the durability, hardiness, long-lasting, and easy to clean nature of this gorgeous stone.
The use of marble in boutique hotel bathrooms can range in application and intensity. Some hotels are looking to simply use marble tiling across the floor, whilst others are using it sparingly to bring the bathroom vanity alike. The more luxury hotel interiors may opt for wall cladding, marble showers or a complete top-to-toe marble aesthetic.Â
Regardless of the chosen marble bathroom trend, the beauty of marble is always bound to be a stunning cherry on top of the boutique hotel sundae.
So, what explains the rise in marble stone’s popularity amongst luxury and boutique hotels? It could be one (or more) of the following features and factors:
Fashions change. Interior design styles change. But marble has remained synonymous with luxury design for literally centuries. This is one fashion choice that won’t go out of style.
As mentioned above, properly maintained marble can withstand the test of time and its durability and longevity makes it a smart investment for boutique hotels.
Marble stone comes in a wide variety of different colours, styles, designs and patterns. This allows boutique hotels to really create their preferred bathroom space that reflects their brand and ensures guests have a unique experience.
There is nothing more striking that beautiful marble stone in a boutique hotel bathroom. Guests will love the aesthetic of a carefully considered marble-style bathroom.
As the industry of stone maintenance develops, new sealers have helped to make marble even more resistant to stains and damage. For a hotel, which sees high-traffic and activity in their rooms, this can be truly advantageous.
Whilst the classic white and off-white marble stone remains the iconic – well – classic choice, there is actually a wider range of marble colours and shades than people realise.
We will start off with the timeless white marble. Versatile in its complementarity and application, white marble can be found in many boutique hotels around the world and offers a clean, elegant and bright aesthetic.
For the bold boutique hotel, a black and gold marble stone design adds a dramatic combination of both opulence and character. This stone aesthetic is particularly suited for statement walls or vanity tops. However, opting for bathroom flooring made of black and gold marble tiling is a fantastic option for a truly high-end look.
What screams luxury hotel interior more than gold? Gold marble is a truly luxurious-looking choice of stone and can be used as an accent material to add glamour to a bathroom space or used in broader application to infuse a sense of warmth and royal personality.
Green marble is a striking choice for a boutique hotel. However, it can be the perfect option for managing the aesthetic balance between a natural ambiance and sophisticated design. Green marble can be used for shower wall cladding, vanities or even as an accent piece to tie the bathroom space together.
The black and white marble combination blends the timelessness of white marble with the boldness of darker stone. Frequently used in flooring patterns or wall tiles, the contrast in elements can bring a boutique hotel bathroom to life and allow for some really creative tiling designs.
Grey marble is underestimated by many in terms of its aesthetic appeal and value. Beach grey marble, for example, evokes a calming and coastal feel that can perfectly complement a seaside, serene boutique hotel and turn an apartment bathroom into a private little oasis.
Blue marble, such as Blue Dreams, comes with striking gold and white veining set over a cream-to-brown background shade. This simply tops off the unique and striking appeal of blue marble and can be used to create visually arresting focal points and statement walls in a boutique bathroom, or even used for broader applications to evoke feelings of calmness, nature and joy.
With a lot of options available, even within the sub-category of natural stone that is marble, it can be difficult choosing the right bathroom aesthetic.
Fortunately, the team here at Euro Marble lives and breathes all things natural stones. We have helped customers find the perfect marble slab and design to suit their luxury hotel interior, and we would love to do the same for you!
So, whether you are a boutique hotel set on using marble in your bathroom but not sure which stone is right, or you are not sure how exactly to incorporate the latest marble bathroom trends in your accommodation, give the Euro Marble team a call today.
Marble stone has long been a popular and practical choice of material for building and interior design. However, in today’s world, where sustainability and environmentally friendly considerations are top of mind, the interest in eco-friendly marble or alternatives to traditional marbles is growing.
The reality of marble is that it can be more or less sustainable than materials depending on a number of factors. It is important to understand both what makes marble a sustainable stone and what doesn’t, and appreciate what the other green interior ideas are out there and their own respective pros and cons.
Marble stone does offer a number of environmentally-friendly attributes.
The process of procuring and manufacturing marble, being a natural stone, can produce less carbon than other manufactured and alternative products.
Procurement of marble stone does not require any processing or releasing of environmentally-damaging and toxic chemical substances.
Marble, like all natural stone, is long-lasting, durable and hard-wearing, so it is not subject to the same wear-and-tear and therefore needs replacing as some other materials.
Due to the durability of marble, this type of stone can be and is regularly recycled. The more material that can be reused and repurposed, the less rubbish needs to go to landfill.
However, there are some challenges in procuring eco-friendly marble.
For one thing, while its processing may emit less carbon than some other alternatives, there are still significant emissions associated with the quarrying of marbles in particular.
Similarly, the mining process produced marble dust which, in large quantities, can cause some deterioration in the air quality of the immediate vicinity, deteriorate local soil quality and contaminate water sources if left completely unmitigated and uncontrolled.
Marble stone also needs to be transported from its quarry of origin to its final destination around the world. While the shipping and transportation industry is undergoing a massive energy transition in and of itself, there may still be some level of a carbon footprint associated with long distance shipping in the immediate future.
Sustainable stone is becoming increasingly popular and, steadily, easier to find. Sustainable stone can be found for just about every type of natural stone, from granite to travertine, and from limestone to marble.
Natural stone material that offers environmental benefits, either in its procurement or in its application, can be considered sustainable and can positively contribute to the eco-friendly nature of the building or construction it is being incorporated into.
The processing of sustainable stone is critical. As the stone is extracted from the Earth with little or no chemical treatment, there is plenty of opportunity to reduce unnecessary pollution and carbon emissions in the process.
As with marble stone mentioned above, sustainable stone can withstand the elements and use for literally hundreds of years, reducing the need for replacement, waste and more stone to be quarried.
In the event that the stone does need to be replaced, the more it can be repurposed and used in another application the more eco-friendly it will be.
Energy efficiency is a factor many people forget to consider. Stone facades can effectively improve a home or building’s energy efficiency. The high levels of insulation reduce heat transfer and allow for better and more natural climate control.
Eco-friendly marble and sustainable stone can produce significantly less carbon in its manufacturing process compared to other synthetic materials like most ceramics and concrete.
If eco-friendly stone is your preferred choice, there are a few strategies you can use for discerning just how green the stone you’re considering is.
For starters, consider where the stone is sourced from and how it is being transported to your construction site, home or building. The shorter the distance, the less emissions-heavy transportation will be required. In Australia, the options may be limited so it is important to also consider what sort of sustainability and offset practices your supplier offers.
Secondly, there are certifications, such as the Natural Stone Sustainability Standard which helps to formalise and standardise adherence to environmental and ethical quarrying standards and practices.
Thirdly, and this is reiterating the points above, consider the entire lifecycle of the stone you are intending to use. It’s not just about its procurement and transportation. Are you intending on using the stone for long-term purposes? Are you able to recycle or repurpose the stone in the future should it no longer be of use or required?
Through careful selection and thorough research, sustainable stone is more accessible than ever before. However, if for whatever reason, eco-friendly marble stone is not an option, there are a few green alternatives you can consider for your construction or interior design project.
Sintered stone is made from recycled materials, such as porcelain, glass or quartz. Well-made sintered stone can be stain resistant and durable, as well as available in a variety of colours and styles.
Recycled glass is often produced through a blend of glass mulch and natural adhesives and aggregates. Recycled glass is increasingly popular for use as countertops in particular, making it a possible alternative for marble.
Ethically sourced bamboo can make for an excellent option to replace marble countertops. This increasingly renewable resource is unique in its look, natural in its origin and, when properly sourced and manufactured, carbon-neutral in its production.
Some porcelain can be recycled and reused in the form of countertops, vanities and other household applications. Non-porous, waterproof and requiring little maintenance, recycled porcelain can be an eco-friendly alternative.
Reclaimed wood is a wonderful option to incorporate aesthetic, natural character in your home whilst minimising environmental impact. Like the recycled material options outlined above, reclaimed wood makes the most of otherwise wasteful material to reduce the impact on the environment.
The team here at Euro Marble are passionate about all things natural stone, and in particular marble. But we are also passionate about being responsible and ethical about our carbon footprint and impact on the environment.