European Stone Design Ideas
European stone is renowned for its timeless elegance and enduring visual appeal. European stone and marble have long been used in construction and design and continue to be popular today.
If you love the idea of incorporating natural stone in your home, but are not quite sure how, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll introduce you to European stone, marble and design ideas so you can bring to life the home of your dreams.
What is European Stone?
The term European stone simply means any natural stone sourced from quarries across Europe. There are multiple types of stone, including but not limited to marble, limestone, travertine and granite. While they all offer the durability and hardiness typical of stone, each comes with its own qualities, patterns, colours and styles.
Some of the most well known quarries are located in Italy, Spain, Greece and France. The meticulous extraction and processing techniques, combined with the rich geological history of the quarries themselves, produce stones that are visually stunning. Combine that with their resiliency, and it’s not hard to understand why construction and design industries have favoured European stone and marble for centuries.Â
What Makes it so Unique?
European stone and marble, in particular, are unique natural materials to be used in construction and design. The distinctive quality and aesthetic characteristics make stone from Europe notable even compared to other stones quarried in different countries.Â
Overtime, European stone has become associated with luxury, opulence and even royalty. This has contributed to its popularity and enhanced its symbolic value.Â
Additionally, the many quarries across Europe and the many different types of stone available means there are a wide variety of options to cater to widely varying and diverse design preferences.Â
European Stone Design Ideas
So, how can you incorporate this amazing material into your home?Â
1. Marble in the kitchen
The kitchen is an area of the house that needs to be highly functional and practically designed. But there’s still plenty of potential to add a sense of luxury and sophistication, and with European marble that’s easy to do.
The elegant veining of marble adds visual complexity whilst maintaining a refined subtlety in sharding and patterns to keep the interior design of the kitchen balanced and calming.
2. Travertine in the bathroom
Stone in your bathroom is a fantastic way of infusing natural warmth and practicality in one of the most often used rooms of the house. Travertine in particular is exceptionally well suited to be used in bathroom walls and flooring. Robust in its hardiness and aesthetically pleasing to a fault, you can opt for top-to-toe travertine or contain it to the floor or a single feature wall.Â
3. Granite outdoor kitchens
Outdoor kitchens are very popular at the moment and offer a great utilisation of a backyard or courtyard to entertain the family or friends. Granite countertops for your outdoor kitchen offer a heat and scratch resistant material to withstand your cooking and activity whilst also coming in a range of shades and colours to suit any aesthetic.Â
Uniquely, granite also offers a complex visual component thanks to the granular makeup of the stone. It looks natural yet spectacular when incorporated in an outdoor kitchen.Â
4. Limestone fireplaces
Fireplaces are excellent opportunities to incorporate European stone in a home and limestone is one of the best materials for just such an application. The subtle beauty of this Earthy stone offers a beautiful focal point for the living room and exudes immense amounts of warmth and elegance.
5. Entryway floors
Welcoming guests into your home with a grand entryway of European stone and marble flooring will be a treat for everyone. There are plenty of styles and a range of differing intricate patterns to choose from so you can find the perfect slab to suit your preferences and match the rest of the house.
6. Garden paths
European stone pavers are a hassle-free way of creating a charming garden path. Even the natural, weathered look perfectly suits the rustic charm of many an outdoor landscape. Practical, durable and stunning, there are many ways of using stone to create walking paths in your backyard and garden.
7. Sculpture Art
Most of our inspiring ideas so far have focused on structural features of the home. But European stone and marble can be used, valued and appreciated as a piece of art in and of itself. A marble sculpture or a granite statue can suit both interior spaces and outdoor spaces. Timeless, stunning and highly reflective of your personality, they make for a fantastic addition to any home.Â
8. Bathroom or kitchen backsplash
The humble backsplash offers some disproportionately sized design opportunities. A patterned European stone backsplash either in the kitchen or bathroom can subtly elevate the space with more visual interest and aesthetic depth.
9. Staircases
Humble staircases can be brought to luxurious life with European stone. There are plenty of colours and styles, not to mention types of stone, so finding the perfect visual aesthetic to suit the rest of your home is easy. Stone staircases aren’t just easy to maintain, durable to foot traffic and gorgeous to look at, they’re also effective in turning a highly practical feature of the home into a work of art.
Bring Old World charm to your new home
Contact the Euro Marble team today to explore new and inspirational ways to use this amazing material.
Backlit Onyx Wall Designs to Inspire You
If you’re looking for a way to help your interior design choices stand out and make a memorable impression, a backlit onyx wall is a fantastic way to go.
However, you might not quite be aware of just how much versatility and customisability there is on offer. In this article, we’ll introduce you to all things onyx and backlit wall designs to inspire you to create something truly special and unique for your home.
Choosing Onyx Stone
Onyx stone is a mesmerising natural stone that has been prized and used for its exquisite beauty and translucent aesthetic.
Formed from calcite crystals, onyx often features striking layers of various colours that range from delicate whites and soft creams to bold reds and rich greens. When cut and polished professionally, it’s a fantastic material to use throughout the home as it exudes a sense of elegance and level of sophistication. For backlit walls especially, the translucency of onyx allows light to pass through and create a captivating and jaw-dropping visual effect.Â
Designing Your Home with Onyx Walls
Beyond its aesthetic allure, onyx walls offer several practical advantages.
Durability
Durable, strong and hard wearing, onyx walls will stand the test of time with minimal wear and tear. This means your investment in this precious stone will be well worth the money.
Maintenance
Fortunately, onyx also requires minimal maintenance. Regular, simple cleaning is more than enough to keep your walls looking as sparkling and stunning as the day the stone was installed.
Uniqueness
Onyx backlit walls are unique for a variety of reasons. Of course, being natural stone quarried from the ground, every individual slab of onyx is unique in and of itself. Additionally, the veining patterns of this one-of-a-kind stone will bring a distinctive, iconic and visually dazzling element to your home.
The Appeal of Onyx Backlit Walls
Due to the translucent quality of onyx, it makes for the perfect material to accompany a backlit wall design. If you’re looking for a way to infuse a sense of relaxation but also practicality in a particular spot in your room, an onyx backlit wall is the way to go.
By placing light sources strategically behind the stone, the lights will illuminate the room from behind. Without the translucency of onyx, this light would be softened by the material in front of it. The translucent quality allows the light to pass through and make a significant impression on family and visitors alike.Â
Backlit Onyx Walls - Ideas to inspire you
1. Breathe life into a living room
If your living room feels a little lackluster, installing a backlit onyx panel behind a television, fireplace or other feature wall can be just the element you need. The soft glow from the light will help set the tone of cozy, comfortable evenings whilst the thin onyx panel will ensure that you have all the light you need as well.
2. Kitchen backsplash to make visual splash
Splashbacks are highly practical additions to a home kitchen but there’s no reason why you can’t make the most of the opportunity to infuse a bit of a wow factor into your home. Subtly illuminated backlit onyx tiles will add glamour and luxury to the entire kitchen space.
3. Turn heads with a bedroom headboard
Bedroom headboards offer another underutilised opportunity for incorporating backlit onyx. The gentle radiance from the light and the serene glow through the translucent stone makes for the ultimate atmosphere of relaxation and calmness for the end of a busy day.
4. Up the ante with your bathroom vanity
Backlit onyx panels are a great addition to a bathroom, specifically the vanity. The translucent quality of onyx helps to diffuse the light offering plenty of practical illumination whilst also ensuring a flattering glow to accompany your daily grooming routine.
5. Elevate your staircase walls
Staircases are not just functional features of a home but are also blank canvases for great interior design ideas. Illuminate your staircase with backlit onyx panels and the play of light and shadow will add a sense of drama and opulence to your stairs.
6. Office backdrops that will really impress
If you have a home study or office consider installing a backlit onyx background behind your desk. The soft, diffused lighting will help create a calming environment in which to focus, whilst also incorporating some impressive styling and making the entire space look all the more professional.
7. Dining room to die for
If you have a dining room that needs something a little extra or even need a divider between an open dining area and living room space, backlit onyx panels are a fantastic option. The subtle illumination can complement existing lighting features, whilst the aesthetic of onyx will add elegance to both the dining room and the living room areas.
8. Feature onyx in a feature wall
Feature walls come in many styles and types, but few offer as much beauty as a backlit onyx feature wall. Whether in the home or in your outdoor entertaining space, the transformational nature of this gorgeous stone will make a positive impression on visitors, guests, friends and family.
Looking for onyx? Euro Marble is on it!
Contact Euro Marble today to explore how our high-quality onyx can transform your home with custom backlit panels and walls.
All You Need to Know About Ordering Custom Furniture
Furniture plays a crucial role functionally and visually in a living space. Nowadays, it’s more common and more accepted to incorporate mass-produced furniture into a home. As far as cost and convenience is concerned, this is understandable. However, custom furniture pieces offer a lot of value and potential that its generic counterparts can’t quite live up to.
In this article, we’ll dive headfirst into all things custom furniture and help you understand what you need to know and consider when ordering your next piece.
What is Custom Furniture?
Custom furniture, sometimes called bespoke or made-to-order furniture, is precisely what it sounds like: Furniture that is made to the custom requirements, requests and preferences of a customer.
In contrast, mass-produced furniture is made from a predetermined template where every aspect of its design, dimension, material and finish is identical. Custom furniture allows you to choose the specifics of each of these factors and aspects.
Should You Order Custom Furniture?
As with all home design and decor decisions, the right option will vary from person to person and depend on a number of highly personal factors.Â
To help you with your decision, however, we’ve highlighted some of the considerations to take into account.
Advantages of Custom Furniture
1. Tailored to your needs
Starting with the obvious, custom furniture is made just for you. If you have exact specifications, need it to meet particular functional requirements or have narrow aesthetic preferences, custom furniture may be the way to go.
2. Unique
By definition, a custom piece of furniture is one of a kind and reflects your personal style and taste. Mass-produced furniture is made to look, feel and function identically.
3. Quality
If you find a high quality furniture maker, these skilled artisans offer high quality craftsmanship. There’s often a deep sense of pride and a meticulousness in attention to detail that results in higher quality and also higher durability.
4. Material options
With custom furniture there is far more versatility in material options. You could have a preference of feel, love luxurious, premium materials, or want to veer towards eco-friendly options – the choice is up to you.
5. Perfect fit
Custom furniture is made to order and for that reason will fit your room’s layout and dimensions perfectly. When it comes to creating a cohesive look and optimising the functionality and accessibility of a space, there’s nothing better.
6. Flexibility
Mass-produced furniture is limited to set and pre-existing designs. Custom furniture is not. You can work with your chosen supplier to create a piece that perfectly brings your vision to life.
Disadvantages of Custom Furniture
1. Cost
One of the main reasons why people choose to go the mass-produced route is cost. The labour involved in personalised design and one-of-a-kind craftsmanship means that the price of the furniture, regardless of material, will be significantly higher.
2. Lead time
Custom furniture is made specifically to suit your order so there’s a lot of fresh designing, building and delivering that needs to go into it. For that reason, you need to be aware and accepting of the longer lead time until your order is completed and in your home.
3. Limited warranty
Custom furniture, due to their nature, comes with either a limited warranty or none at all. Mass-produced furniture provided by large, commercial furniture retailers on the other hand often provide extensive and competitive warranties.
4. Design challenges
While customising a piece of furniture offers near endless possibilities, it can be overwhelming for those who are new to the process or unsure of their preferences to determine what they want and what will work.
5. Hard to change
By their nature, custom furniture is hard to change. Once the piece is finished, making significant alterations can be either impossible or, in the cases where it is a possibility, highly expensive.
Examples of Popular Custom Furniture
Dining room tables
Dining room tables are popular pieces of custom furniture. Apart from the size and material, custom dining room tables can be made to exact shapes, sizes and proportions as befits your dining room. For those who love hosting family, friends and guests, having the perfectly created dining room table can be invaluable.Â
Couches, chairs and sofas
Much like tables, seating furniture offers a lot of different customisable aspects depending on your preferences. Style, upholstery, level of cushion firmness are all examples of ways in which your couch, chair or sofa can be customised.
Bed frames
A unique bed frame can be an excellent way to take your bedroom aesthetic up a level. Whether you choose a minimalist platform bed or an ornate, upholstered headboard, the personal nature of a bed lends itself perfectly to the inherent intimacy of a bedroom.
Desks and workstations
For many people, the ideal workstation or workspace will incorporate all of the functionalities and features they need to be at their most productive and creative. A custom designed and produced desk will not only be perfectly functional if designed with consideration but can be visually appealing by matching the room’s decor and overall interior design.
Shelving and storage
Storage solutions are an aspect of the house where the more customisation the better. Custom cabinets, bookshelves, wardrobes, drawers and bookshelves allow you to not just meet your specific needs in totality, but also ensure the shelving and storage incorporated complements the rest of the space perfectly.Â
Need Custom Furniture?
Contact Euro Marble to explore how natural stone can enhance your custom furniture design.
Marble Colour Palettes: Creating a Cohesive Interior Design
The wide variety of marble stone aesthetics provides plenty of potential in achieving the room colour schemes you’re looking to achieve in interior design.
Using marble in interior design allows you to achieve a timeless elegance in your home design–but ensuring a cohesive colour palette is very important in doing so effectively.Â
In this article, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know to achieve a balanced, beautiful colour palette interior design.
Colour Palette: The Essentials
When you’re considering your chosen colour palette, consider the palette as essentially a roadmap for your space’s colour scheme.
Having a cohesive colour palette is about achieving a balanced aesthetic and ensuring that there are no mismatched tones that might provide a clash of visuals.
Many people are pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of different colour schemes available in marble. While the iconic white and grey-veining is an iconic form of the stone, it is far from the only option you have for colour combinations in your interior design.
So, how do you incorporate a cohesive interior design with your marble’s colour palette? Let’s break it down for you.
Creating a Cohesive Colour Palette for Interior Design
1. Define your vision
When we talk about defining your vision, we are not referring to any special ability to conjure a picture perfect mental image of what your home will look like.
Your vision, by contrast, should be your overall objective. What is the tone and feeling you are trying to create with your colour palette? Do you want something bold and dramatic, luxurious and opulent, or something calming and minimalist?Â
Knowing what you are looking to achieve will help you find the right marble to complement your colour palette.
2. Consider the room’s function
Colour palettes need to be cohesive but they also need to be reflective of the type of room in the house which you are designing.
For example, you might want a certain element of relaxation in a bathroom. Whereas, in a kitchen, you’re opting for a more high-energy, activity-driven sort of feel. The function of the space should be enhanced by the colour palette of your choosing–not stand out in contrast to it.
3. Identify the marble’s dominant colour
One of the fantastic features of the metamorphic process by which marble stone is created is that it provides a rich aesthetic which can include multiple colours in complex, unique patterns.
When you find a marble slab that you love, take the time to have a closer look. Often, the dominant colour is obvious. For example, white marble with grey veining is easy to identify. But there might be more complex colour palettes as well, such as warmer creams with hues of brown accents. Even blue, red, pink, green, gold and black marble can feature a variety of different hues and colours.
Take the time to look beyond the obvious and determine the dominant colour of your chosen marble. From that foundation, you’ll be able to build out a cohesive style.
4. Choose complementary colours
With a base colour in the bag and your intended ambience in mind, you can begin to build out your palette with more colours.
The key when working on colour combinations for interior design is complementarianism. In other words, which colours match your foundation colour.
Many interior designers find the classic colour wheel a good guide for choosing matching room colour schemes.Â
5. Add accents and textures
In addition to a complementary colour palette interior design is all about nuance. Don’t be afraid to use accents and textures to your advantage.
Pops of colour in the form of artwork, furniture or even a feature wall can help to not only create a central aesthetic focal point but can also be very effective in actually trying a cohesive room colour scheme together.
When it comes to texture, you can use this pivotal feature to great effectiveness. A variety of different textures can go a long way to infusing complexity into your colour scheme without ruining the cohesiveness.Â
6. Play around
Choosing and implementing your interior design colour schemes should be fun! Play around with different ideas, embrace new possibilities and test and refine as you go.
The key to a successfully cohesive colour palette is playing around. Paint different swatches, use different fabric samples and even try a variety of different art features to help slowly refine your choices to what works best.
Don’t be afraid to experiment a little until your colour palette achieves the perfect harmonious balance you’re looking for.
Colour Scheme Examples
Calacatta Belgia Marble
- Dominant colour: Cool white with subtle grey veining
- Ambiance: Relaxation and serenity
- Use: Bathrooms
- Suggested colour palette: Pale blues, grey-beiges, and light greys
Ebony Black Marble
- Dominant colour: Bold black with some subtle off-white veining
- Ambiance: Sophistication and dramatic mood
- Use: Living room
- Suggested colour palette: warm whites, brushed golds
Crema Marfil Marble
- Dominant colour: Warm cream with some light brown veining
- Ambiance: Warmth and naturally inviting
- Use: Living room and dining spaces
- Suggested colour palette: taupe and terracotta
A World of Marble Awaits: Explore Euro Marble's Extensive Collection
Finding the right room colour schemes for you should be a fun and enjoyable process. But if you’re finding it overwhelming or are still not sure where to begin, don’t worry! The team here at Euro Marble can and would love to help.
Come on in to our showroom and we’ll show you around our full range of marble colours and help you make the right colour palette choice for your interior design.Â
You’ll find us at 11 Rich Street, Marrickville. Or you can contact us at sales@euromarble.com.au and by calling (02) 8585 2999.
Find the perfect marble here at Euro Marble
Finding the right room colour schemes for you should be a fun and enjoyable process. Click below for expert help.
The Origins of Marble
For centuries, marble stone has been used for both exterior construction and interior design. This stunning material was used in everything from opulent palaces of days gone by and ancient statues to modern day mansions.
But where does marble come from?Â
In this blog, we’ll explore what makes a stone marble and explore marble’s origin… Not in the quarry from which it is cut but from deeper within the Earth where immense heat, pressure and time transform bland rock into this magnificent stone.Â
The Marble Origin Story
Natural stone is a broad term that is generally used to refer to any solid rock or mineral aggregate found naturally in the Earth. Granite, limestone, and even marble are all different types of stone.
Marble, however, is unique both in terms of how it formed and in terms of its origin and characteristics.Â
Marble features a characteristic and unique interlocking crystalline structure. This is due to the process by which it is created. Other stones feature different patterns, such as a granular aesthetic or a layered structure depending on their respective origins.
Due to the process by which marble is created, it is actually one of the softer types of stone. This makes it easier to work with and is the reason–in addition to its beauty–that it has been long favoured by builders, sculptors and artists.
So how is marble created exactly?
Metamorphic Transformation
Marble stone is formed when another rock is transformed under extreme amounts of heat and pressure over a significant period of time. Other stones, such as granite which is igneous (i.e., formed from cooling magma) or sedimentary stone (i.e., formed from an accumulation of other materials) are formed under different processes.
The metamorphosis of multiple sedimentary rocks begins with the shifting of the planet’s tectonic plates. This massive movement forces the minerals to rearrange themselves, creating the signature interlocking visual and also imparting a strength and veined appearance.Â
An intrusion of magma is another possible cause of marble formation. The intense heat and pressure from the magma is often enough to cause the minerals to crystallize and form marble.Â
Another unique feature of marble as a result of how it is created, is its translucency. While this does vary from slab to slab, marble offers more light diffusion than other natural stones. This means that light can pass through the stone to varying degrees. It’s part of the reason why marble is such a popular choice for backlit design elements.Â
Finding Marble Deposits
So, where does the marble come from? Marble isn’t found in a specific place or quarry. It occurs wherever the metamorphic process takes place.
Because of this fact, each marble deposit found boasts its own visual signature and unique characteristics. For example, the famous pristine white Carrara marble is found in Italy. The dramatically veined green marble of Greece is distinct in its own right. Plenty of other places, such as Spain, Portugal and India also have their own special and stunning marble deposits.Â
Extracting Marble
Extracting marble from the Earth is not an easy or simple job. In ancient days, more traditional tools such as wedges and chisels were used. But more modern techniques, such as diamond wire saws, are now used to cut through this exquisite and delicate stone with perfect precision.Â
When the slabs are cut, the different pieces are polished, honed and sandblasted to achieve the desired finish. They are then carefully transported by ship to showrooms around the world, like ours at Euro Marble.
Using Marble in Construction
As mentioned at the top of this article, marble has a long and illustrious history of use by builders, royalty and artists throughout human history. There are records of the ancient Egyptians using marble for their sculptures and sarcophagi. Both the Greeks and Romans used marble generously in their architecture. Kings and emperors displayed their opulence and wealth by featuring marble in their palaces.Â
All of this serves as testament to the enduring beauty and useful strength of this special stone.
Today, marble is used widely in the home. It is used to create stunning kitchen benchtops, flooring, wall cladding, fireplaces, staircases, vanity and even furniture. Beloved for its aesthetic, it also offers everything from heat resistance to easy maintenance and cleaning.Â
Explore the World of Marble by Contacting Us Today
The team at Euro Marble have been providing marble products and advice for over 30 years. We’re more than just the leader in the industry of marble and natural stone–we’re passionate advocates for this wonderful material.
Our highly skilled artisans bring hundreds of years of collective experience and can blend traditional methods of stone cutting with the use of the most state-of-the-art modern technology.Â
It doesn’t matter what sort of marble you’re after, when you need it and what you budget in, marble stone is a wonderful option that should be available to everyone. And with the team here at Euro Marble, it can be.
Discover the Beauty of Marble with Euro Marble
For over 30 years, we've provided top-quality marble and expert advice. Contact us today to explore marble's origins and add it to your home.
16 Ways to Update Your Dining Room
If you feel like you need to update your dining room but are not sure where to begin, we have got you covered.
In this article, we’ve curated 16 inspiring ideas on how to update a traditional dining room to infuse modern interior design trends, sustainable materials and practical solutions.
16 Dining Room Update Ideas
1. Natural Stone Feature Wall
Feature walls are a great idea for incorporating some visual variety and beauty withouting having to commit or risk changing the aesthetic of the entire room.
A natural stone feature wall is a classic and timeless way to bring out the best in your dining room. There is a wide variety of options to choose from, such as stunning white marble, grainy granite or earthy limestone, to suit just about any interior design aesthetic.
2. Curated Artwork
If you love the idea of a feature wall, but aren’t sure how to incorporate it, consider curated artwork.
This wonderful solution utilises and elevates your walls with a curated series of artwork. It acts as a fantastic visual focal point and allows plenty of personalisation and sophistication.Â
3. Stone Dining Table
The humble dining table is more than just a surface upon which you eat. You can effectively update your entire dining room interior design by incorporating a stone table.
Using stone so centrally adds a relatively subtle yet distinct touch of luxury and sophistication. How bold you go with your stone table is up to you, but there are plenty of options when it comes to finding a beautiful stone slab that perfectly updates your dining room.
4. Use Mixed Metallics
Don’t be afraid of mixing and matching different metal finishes in your dining room. Using a contrasting combination of metallics can help bring a level of visual depth, interest and even glamour to the space.
The choice of metals is up to you. There is a variety of warm metals, like brass or gold, to bring a traditional, royal feel to the space. Or you can opt for cooler metals, such as chrome and nickel, for a curated and more industrial look.
5. Lamps and Sconces
Your dining room’s lighting can offer a lot of potential for stylish updates. A stone sconce subtly placed on the wall or an ornate lamp in an otherwise unutilised space of the home offers more than just physical light–it adds a unique and organic touch to the room.
Consider, of course, what sort of lighting and what sort of intensity of lighting you need. If your dining room is smaller, think about how you can include more lighting without taking up too much space.Â
6. Curved Furniture
Have you considered curved furniture in your living room? This hot new trend is a great way to update your dining room. Curved tables and curved dining chairs come in a variety of different styles–so you can find the perfect option for your aesthetic.Â
Either way, the graceful softness and sublime fluidity that curved furniture brings to a space inspires intimate conversation, complete relaxation and a beautiful visual element.
7. Bold Textured Fabrics
Furniture, lighting and feature walls are all great ideas for updating your dining room. But sometimes, an even more subtle approach can make an outsized impact.
Incorporating bold, textured fabrics, like velvet or boucle, to your chairs will add a touch of luxury and a lot of visual interest to a space.
8. Japandi Design
This more robust dining room update design is an ever increasingly popular trend in the world of interior design.
Japandi incorporates a Japanese-inspired minimalism with Scandinavian functionality. Think clean lines, natural materials and a nature-centric aesthetic. If you’re looking at creating the ultimate experience of serenity and comfort out of your dining room, this is the update for you.
9. Biophilic Design
Biophilic design refers to the incorporation of nature into your dining space. The way in which you do this is up to your personal preference (not to mention budget).
Consider sources of natural light, use of natural materials such as wood and stone, and organic plants, shapes, colours and designs.
10. Earthy Tones
If you’re after an infusion of earthy aesthetics but do not want to incorporate specific nature-inspired features, consider highlighting earthy tones in your dining room.
From the furniture to the walls, there are plenty of spaces in a living room where grounding colours such as beige, brown, green and terracotta can be used to fantastic effect.
11. Statement Chandelier
For those wanting a more glamorous update to their dining room, an ornate statement chandelier will do just the trick.
In addition to the practical lighting it offers, a chandelier brings sophistication to the space and adds a royalty-inspired flair that will bring joy to you, your family and visitors alike.
12. Unique Patterned Flooring
Do not underestimate the impact your choice of flooring holds when updating a dining room. Of course, the material you choose needs to be appropriate for your lifestyle.
Stone flooring brings beauty and functionality. Finding the right style, shade and patterned stone tiles is a great way at adding colour and pattern to your dining area.
13. Organic Table Runner
A table runner delivers a surprisingly impactful visual element to the dining room. Instead of more traditional table runners, consider a natural material, such as woven jute or linen.Â
This organic element will complement an earthy colour scheme, other natural elements in the room, and provide a unique textual element.
14. Sculptural Centrepiece
While many of our dining room update ideas include a functional and aesthetic element, this inspiring idea is just fashion!Â
A sculptural centrepiece to replace the traditional floral arrangement will do more than just bring a new visual element to the space. It will infuse your personality into the room and provide a wonderful touchpoint for striking up interesting conversation during your next dinner party.
15. Mixed Seating
Mixed seating is a trending fashion choice in the world of dining room design. Instead of a uniform set of identical chairs, this concept opts for a mix of chairs of different styles, materials or colours.
Apart from the visual interest it brings to the space, it also allows you to achieve some of the other ideas we’ve included in this list and allows you to also infuse pops of colour which can be critical in bringing the space to life.
16. Sustainable Materials
From recycled wood for your dining room table to bamboo furniture, there are many ways to consider using sustainable materials in your dining room.
Apart from being eco-friendly, using natural-looking and sustainable materials creates a comforting ambiance of healthy, responsible and enjoyable living.
Bathroom Window Treatment Ideas to Suit Your Needs
Renovating a bathroom provides a ton of opportunity to enhance the entire space. One of the more subtle yet impactful areas you should focus on has to be the bathroom window treatments.
Windows in all rooms play a crucial role in shaping the ambiance of the space. In the bathroom, this is even more pronounced. Windows are not just opportunities for you to add aesthetic flair, it offers functionality too. After all, it allows natural light to flood through and should be functional enough to offer you all of the privacy needs you need.
Finding the Best Bathroom Window Treatments
How do you go about assessing which of the many bathroom window treatment ideas are right for your home and application?
Here’s a step by step breakdown to help guide you through the process.
Step 1: Assess Your Needs
The first step is to stop and take stock of what you are looking for and what you need from your windows.
Privacy
Where is your bathroom located? Is it on the ground floor? Is it visible to neighbours or in close proximity to public spaces?
Determining how much privacy you require is a critical consideration before evaluating which treatment suits your space best.
Light Control
Windows – of course – can offer an abundance of natural light. While for many this may be ideal, some people prefer a more subdued and insular feel in an intimate space like a bathroom.
Note where your bathroom sits, how it lets the sunshine in and the direction in which natural light streams through. This will help you determine the right treatment to achieve your objective.
Moisture Resistance
Steam, moisture, water… Bathrooms are humid environments and are required to withstand a lot of moisture.Â
Don’t neglect to take into account how your window treatments will affect your ability to keep the space clean and withstand the exposure to moisture and other elements.
Aesthetics
Of course, your chosen bathroom window treatments need to complement your chosen aesthetic and live up to your design preferences.
There are many different treatment ideas out there, so it’s easier to come to the table with an interior design in mind than without aesthetic direction.
Which takes us to…
Step 2: Evaluate Aesthetic Impact
Aesthetics are not just important, they can be complicated as well. Think about the different treatment options and consider how they will influence the overall feel of the room.
Which of the following bathroom window treatment ideas are you aiming to achieve?
Light and Airy
If you want a bathroom that feels and looks light and airy, consider something along the lines of sheer curtains or even light-coloured blinds. Whilst functionally softening harsh sunlight, they are also subtle enough treatments so as to maintain the spacious, airy atmosphere you’re after.
Luxurious Elegance
If you’re after a more luxurious and even indulgent vibe in your bathroom, heavier drapes and even velvety curtains can be a strong option. Deep colours and rich textures add a touch of tangible opulence even in a room like the bathroom.
Cosy and Rustic
For homes that have embraced a rustic charm vibe, wooden blinds or woven shades can help to echo and reinforce that cosy and warm feel. Bathroom window treatments are a no-hassle way to incorporate that cosy cottage feel.
Minimalistic Modern
Do you prefer sleek, modern, and minimalist styling? Simple blinds or shades in a neutral, monochromatic colour offer all the functionality you need whilst complementing a modern design aesthetic. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t hero other areas of the bathroom either with more bold or colour design elements.
Vibrant and Playful
There’s nothing wrong with a whimsically designed and vibrantly coloured bathroom, whether for the kids or not. Strongly coloured shades or patterned curtains infuse a sense of life and joy in what otherwise could be relegated to just a functional space.
Step 3: Determine the Treatment Type
Once you have a strong understanding of what you need from your bathroom window treatments and have a grasp on the aesthetic of your choosing, it’s time to find the right treatment idea.
Curtains and Drapes
Curtains and drapes are popular for adding warmth to a bathroom. You can choose the colour, fabric and thickness of material to allow as much light to filter through as you want. Additionally, curtains and drapes add another level of depth, softness and visual complexity for those wanting such an aesthetic.Â
Blinds
Blinds are highly practical and make controlling light coming through easy. However, with many types of blinds out there, there’s nothing holding you back from incorporating your design preferences with this practical bathroom window treatment idea.
Shutters
Like blinds, shutters are practical and stylish. Perfect for bathrooms needing high levels of privacy and light control, you can find the right style of shutter to suit your needs and complement the existing or intended design.
Frosted Glass
Frosted glass has been a consistently popular option for window treatments. They both allow light to come through the glass and obscure transparency to provide privacy. Of course, frosted glass cannot be open and closed on a whim, though the window itself can.Â
Textured glass functions similarly to frosted but adds a slightly different aesthetic.
Roman Shades
Roman shades are fabric coverings that don’t open by sliding to the side but fold neatly when raised. With a ton of variety in terms of texture, colour, pattern and material, if you’re not quite sold on shutters or regular shades, these can be quite a versatile and practical solution.Â
Here at Euro Marble, we may specialise in all things natural stone, but we also boast a ton of experience helping our customers curate a personal home style that brings joy to their hearts and lives.
How to Use Onyx in Interior Design and Decor
In the world of interior design and decor, the choice of materials can be just as significant as the way in which you use them to create the right aesthetic and ambiance.Â
Natural stone is a very popular choice of material in interior design and amongst the different types of stone, onyx is among the most exquisite and versatile.Â
The Uniqueness of Onyx Stone in Interior Design
Onyx is visually stunning. This semi-precious stone has an iconic translucency to it which – combined with the striking veining patterns and rich variations in colour – makes it unique and highly aesthetically pleasing. In interior design, onyx can help to add a sense of elegance to a room and infuse luxury and visual sophistication. But there are advantages far and beyond just the surface level appearance.
Being stone, onyx offers a ton of durability and longevity when well maintained and taken care of. Investing in onyx stone is a long term decision that will reap aesthetic and functional rewards for many years into the future.
Additionally, as with all stone, onyx comes in slabs that are cut and hewn from quarries around the world. To this end, every single slab is unique in its own way and is not identical with any other slab in the world. If you’re looking for something truly original to add some life and art and beauty to your home, onyx is a great option.
So, how can you use onyx in your interior decor?Â
10 Ways to Use Onyx in Your Home Interior Design
Onyx is an opulent-looking stone. For some, it can be tricky knowing how to deftly yet effectively utilise it to its most beneficial in your interior design.
To help inspire you, we’ve put together 10 different suggestions for how you can use this amazing material.
1. Kitchen and bathroom countertops
The countertops in your home offer a lot of surface area to hero a particular material and what could be more beneficial to highlight than gorgeous onyx? Kitchen and bathrooms also tend to be areas of the home with highly effective lighting solutions (for practical reasons) so the onyx in your countertop will shine all the more so and the translucency of the stone can create an ethereal, stunning effect.Â
2. Backlit onyx wall panels
Using onyx stone for your wall panelling is a great idea on its own. The variety of shades of this material means you can mix and match until you find the perfect slab for your home. But if you want to go the extra mile and really bring your onyx wall to life consider some backlighting. The warm and inviting glow created by the effect of LED strips behind onyx panels is as mesmerising as it is impressive.Â
3. Flooring
When you need to choose a material for your floor practical considerations are really important. You need to think about foot traffic and ongoing wear and tear. While onyx is a durable material it is not ideal for high traffic areas. Instead, we recommend adding a touch of onyx-related luxury to less frequented areas where you really want to make a captivating impression on guests. Think of onyx flooring in a foyer or power room, for example.
4. Fireplace
Fireplaces are wonderful spaces in the home. They’re comfortable, inviting and ambiance-creating. With onyx cladding, you can transform your fireplace into a real work of art. Just imagine the visuals of dancing flames behind this absolutely stunning translucent semi-precious stone.
5. Sinks
Sinks are often relegated to the practical concerns and considerations. However, an onyx vessel sink is guaranteed to be a game-changing, head-turning addition to a bathroom. With complementary and stylish faucets and fixtures the complete look is a knock-out.Â
6. Bathrooms
If you love onyx as much as we do, you may be looking for a way to incorporate the stone more substantially in your bathroom. Vanities, bathtubs or feature walls in a bathroom made from onyx can create a spa-like oasis feel which is exactly what you’re after in such a space.
7. Furniture
So far we’ve focused on the more structural elements of the house but there’s plenty of potential to use onyx to amazing effect elsewhere in your home decor. Onyx furniture, from coffee tables to side tables, allow you to highlight this sophisticated material in selected and contained places of the house.Â
8. Lighting fixtures
Lighting fixtures offer a lot of potential. These practical additions to a home don’t require significant material investment, so an onyx pendant light or chandelier is a perfectly understated way to showcase the stone’s beauty in a refined and controlled way.
9. Wall art
As we have mentioned a few times, onyx is such a stunning stone that it’s a piece of artwork in and of itself. You can take this to its logical conclusion though as well in your interior design. Commissioned onyx art pieces or sculptures can adorn the walls or shelves of hallways, living rooms or lounge areas to add an artistic dimension (not to mention conversation starter) to your decor.Â
10. Accents
Last but not least, onyx accents are budget-friendly ways to infuse the impact of this stone into your home. Coasters, trays, vases and tabletop decor are all excellent opportunities to create a bit of opulence in the home without the cost or commitment of a major structural renovation.Â
Find the perfect onyx stone for your interior design at Euro Marble
The Euro Marble team aren’t just passionate experts in all things marble, we love all natural stone and onyx is among our favourites.
Kitchen Remodelling With Superwhite Dolomite
A kitchen remodel requires more than just a monetary investment: It requires time and energy to consider everything from the layout to the aesthetic to the choice of material.
Superwhite Dolomite has been steadily increasing in popularity over recent years as a material to use in kitchen remodelling. This exquisite natural stone has a lot to offer and can be an ideal choice for many homes and kitchens.Â
But what is Superwhite Dolomite and why should you consider using it in your upcoming renovation?
What is Superwhite Dolomite?
Superwhite Dolomite is a type of natural stone that is known for its creamy white and grey colour palette. Often, slabs of Superwhite Dolomite will feature subtle yet beautiful veining as well.Â
Like all natural stone, it is quarried from select regions around the world – most notably Brazil and Italy – and is similar in aesthetic to the iconic milky whiteness of marble stone. Nevertheless, despite its similarities with its more well-known cousin, Superwhite Dolomite has a number of advantages that marble does not share to the same extent.
It is highly durable
Superwhite Dolomite is a very hardy and very durable stone. Being less porous than marble and other materials, it stands up better to staining, scratching and etching. In an application like a kitchen remodel, this can be essential considering the type and level of activity likely to go on in and around it.
It is beautiful
Of course the timeless and stunning aesthetic of Superwhite Dolomite makes it a popular material for use in all sorts of home applications and in all sorts of design aesthetics, whether it is traditional or modern, without going out of fashion.Â
It is affordable
Superwhite Dolomite is more budget friendly than many other types of natural stone. Yet despite its relatively affordable price tag it still offers a high-end and opulent aesthetic for the perfect kitchen remodel.
How to Use Superwhite Dolomite in your Kitchen Remodelling
Getting started with your kitchen remodel
1. Set a budget
Crucially, you need to set a budget of how much you are willing and able to invest in your kitchen remodel. This will help keep you financially on target but also allow you to focus on the design and material choices that are realistic within your constraints. Remember, it’s not just about material costs either. There are labour costs to consider as well.Â
2. Layout and functionality
Considering the layout of your kitchen and the functionality that it needs to have can help you focus in on the areas that need to be remodelled more extensively and the areas that just need a surface level makeover.Â
3. Design style
Determining and settling on your style and aesthetic will help you not only work towards a goal in your kitchen remodel but allow you to better understand how you can incorporate Superwhite Dolomite into that design.
4. Lighting
Kitchens require adequate lighting for effective food preparation and clean up. Plan how and where you’ll be incorporating lighting so that the space is fully lit and perfect for everyday use.
5. Seek professional help
Consider hiring a professional designer or contractor to help on your kitchen remodel. While many people might feel hesitant to invest the money from the outset, the truth is that the time, energy and cost savings down the road can pay back more than the initial consultancy costs.
Practical Ideas for Kitchen Remodeling with Superwhite Dolomite
Kitchen countertops
Replacing your kitchen countertop with Superwhite Dolomite can transform the entire space. As a central feature of a kitchen, the countertop is a focal point visually and so the material you choose will have an outsized aesthetic impact.
Kitchen island
If your kitchen has an island countertop or you’re considering incorporating one during the remodelling, cladding it with Superwhite Dolomite is a great way to create a sense of luxury and functionality.
The backsplash
The backsplash of your kitchen is an often-neglected area but one full of potential. This understated area can complement and reinforce the overall aesthetic of the room and Superwhite Dolomite won’t just look a treat, it’ll provide an easy-to-clean surface as well.
Flooring
Kitchen flooring is integral for creating the visual ambiance you want and for providing enough durability to be able to stand up to the exposure to high foot traffic and activity. Fortunately, Superwhite Dolomite has what it takes on both accounts and is a great option for your flooring.
Shelving
Shelving, open or otherwise, can be taken up a level with Superwhite Dolomite. The classic white look of this amazing stone can add a layer of lightness and brightness to your kitchen without threatening to become out of date in a few years. Open shelving in particular offers the opportunity to showcase dishes and glassware enhanced by the soft background of Superwhite Dolomite shading.Â
Sinks
Think about all the beauty of marble but with the non-porousness of Superwhite Dolomite incorporated into your kitchen sink. Elegant, subtle and beautiful you can turn your sink from a purely functional feature of the kitchen into a decorative one as well.
Accents
Last but not least, Superwhite Dolomite accents offer a low effort and low cost way of adding some visual interest and cohesion to your kitchen remodel. A custom Superwhite Dolomite range hood for example or some decorative wall panels can make all the difference without requiring an out-sized commitment.Â
Love Superwhite Dolomite?
Get kitchen remodel inspiration with Euro Marble's experts. We offer design tips and high-quality stone!