Your kitchen countertop offers a wonderful opportunity to incorporate a beautiful slab of natural stone marble. This iconic-looking and beautiful material can be used throughout the home to great effect. However, there is something truly special about choosing a marble benchtop for your kitchen.

To help inspire you, we’ve put together a guiding list of beautiful marble kitchen countertop ideas. But first: why choose Marble?

The Benefits of Marble

Durable

Marble, like all stone, is a highly durable and hardy material. With some simple sealing and good maintenance habits, a marble benchtop is not just an opportunity to add elegance to your home today but a chance to invest in a long term solution that will add value to your home.

Heat Resistance

You know the saying, If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen? Well, it applies to your countertop as well. Marble offers excellent heat resistance which is one of the reasons it makes for such a good kitchen countertop. Of course, we still recommend using trivets and kitchen mats for pots and pans as with all benchtop materials.

Unique

Due to the fact that natural stone, like marble, is quarried from the ground and cut from slab to size, no two blocks of stone are exactly the same. If you want a truly unique and magnificent kitchen countertop, there’s nothing better than marble.

Beautiful

Marble is beautiful. That’s the truth. While we may be biased, the aesthetic of marble has long been associated with luxury and sophistication. While you might not be in a position to use marble throughout the home or even kitchen, your benchtop is a practical, affordable application for this most gorgeous of stones.

11 Beautiful Marble Kitchen Countertops Ideas

1. Pietra Medicea Kitchen Island

The deep textures of this stormy grey coloured marble is excellent for a wide range of marble kitchen countertops. We especially recommend using a honed, smooth slab or pietra medicea as part of a chic kitchen island. Available in either a matte or normal finish, this special marble is perfect for both modern and rustic kitchen designs.

2. Super White Benchtop

Nothing brings minimalistic simplicity and pure beauty like a super white dolomite marble benchtop. Easily complemented by either blue kitchen tiling, gold fixtures or a range of other colours, an all-white countertop will infuse a lightness and spaciousness to your kitchen. 

3. Classic Italian Benchtop

When you think of marble, you’re probably picturing this classic Italian marble with milky colouring and light grey veining. This iconic type of marble will instantly elevate your kitchen and bring a sense of grandeur and luxury to the home. While suitable for a wide range of interior design styles, it’s particularly stunning in traditionally styled homes.

4. Beautiful Blue Stone Benchtop

Blue marble might not be what first comes to mind, but this beautiful material is becoming more and more popular. It’s easy to understand why. Despite its name, blue marble offers rich colouring and a range of patterns and shading, so you’ll certainly find the one that’s right for you and your kitchen. Plus, there are plenty of blue marble options out there such as:

• Blue Dreams 
• Calacatta Manhattan 
• Verde Kamaleo 
• Verde Van Gogh

5. Green Marble Countertop

 A green marble countertop is an impressive sight. With intricate veining patterns and a rich yet earthy tone, green marble can be used in conjunction with a range of colour schemes and design styles.

6. Black and Gold Kitchen Countertop

Nothing says bold and beautiful like a black and gold kitchen countertop. If you’re out to really highlight your kitchen bench, a stunning slab of black and gold marble will be the cherry on the cake. Black is best suited in kitchens with white or light cabinetry and flooring so that it doesn’t make the overall colour scheme seem too heavy.

7.  Curved Edges

Now onto some marble countertop design styles. A curved edge marble countertop looks absolutely beautiful in any kitchen. If you’re not a fan of modern-style hard 90-degree corners and rectangular aesthetics, a curved marble kitchen countertop will add a touch of softness and beauty. Plus, curved countertops are less likely to get chipped!

8. Miter Joint Edges

Marble slabs come in all shapes, sizes and thickness. If you’re putting in a relatively thin marble benchtop, an affordable and easy way to achieve the impressive aesthetic of a thicker slab is through using a miter joint around the countertop’s edging. 

9. Multi-Slab Countertop

As mentioned, every piece of stone and marble is different. One way of making your marble countertop stand out is by actually incorporating two different blocks of stone with two distinct patterns and veining. This allows you to achieve an even more unique aesthetic that will absolutely draw the eye of visitors, friends and family. 

10. Pair With Wood

Wood and marble look absolutely fantastic! If your kitchen boasts wood or timber elsewhere, consider using a classic white or grey coloured marble for your countertop. This semi-rustic and semi-Scandinavian aesthetic is pure elegance. 

11. Juxtapose Black and White

Black and white are two opposite colours that just work a treat. If you’re thinking about what the right marble countertop is for your kitchen, consider going for the contrasting black and white design style. Marble comes in both luxuriously dark shades and gloriously white colours, so no matter what the rest of your kitchen looks like, you’ll find a more-than suitable slab of marble. 

You Can Count(ertop) On Euro Marble!

There you have it, 11 excellent ideas for a marble kitchen countertop. As you can see there’s plenty of options available from the type of marble, to the overall kitchen design and even the shape of your actual benchtop.

If you’d like additional help finding the perfect marble countertop for your kitchen, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today. 

Using stunning marble in your bathroom is an excellent way to showcase this luxurious natural stone in a tasteful way. Marble has been used in construction for centuries thanks to its aesthetic and functional properties, and your bathroom offers plenty of potential for continuing the timeless trend.

Why use marble in your bathroom?

Beautiful

Nothing looks as magnificent as marble. With plenty of shades, patterns, colours and styles to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect marble slab for your preference and home design without sacrificing the gorgeous aesthetic of marble. 

Unique

Marble, like all natural stone, comes in 100% unique slabs that can then be cut to size for your vanity, wall tiles or shower. This means that any application of marble in your bathroom or home is unlike any other slab anywhere in the world.

Durable

Marble is a hardy stone that offers plenty of durability. As far as investments go, marble is up there not just in add-on value for your home but also in the long-term return on investment thanks to this long-lasting material.

Heat Conductivity

Of all places in your house the bathroom is one where you’ll want strong heat conductivity. Paired with strong underfloor heating, marble effectively conducts the heat so you’ll be able to control the temperature of your bathroom more easily. Think warm, comfortable stone during those winter nights and cool-to-the-touch stone for those balmy summer evenings. 

10 Stunning Marble Bathrooms For Inspiration

Have we convinced you to include some gorgeous marble in your bathroom build or renovation? Here are 10 excellent marble bathroom ideas to help provide you with inspiration.

1. Blue Marble Bathrooms

While the classic marble look is iconic and stunning, there’s plenty of scope to diversify aesthetics. Blue marble stone, for example, can be used for your bathroom vanity, a feature wall, or in your shower to provide a really distinct and effective contrast to the various metallic features. 

2. Pink Marble Bathroom

If blue isn’t quite your vibe but you’re looking to incorporate a different coloured marble, consider a pink marble bathroom. There’s plenty of personality in a stunning slab of pink natural stone and it’s easy to incorporate this sophisticated aesthetic in your shower, vanity or bathroom walls.

3. Carrara Marble Showers

One way to really turn your bathroom into a stylistic statement is by going for a full-scale marble shower. With Carrara marble’s stunning milky white shading and cloudy veining it will turn your shower into a corner of opulence and luxury while bringing light and spaciousness to the entire room. For tips on maintaining stone showers, read our article here.

4. Grey Marble Walls

Grey marble comes in a variety of shades so you can find the perfect level of light/darkness to suit your aesthetic and preference. Whichever slab you choose, a grey marble wall (or multiple) in your bathroom can elevate the entire space and make the whole bathroom look and feel fit for royalty.

5. Wraparound Marble Half-wall

A marble half-wall is exactly what it sounds like: Marble stone cladding on the lower half of your wall. When you apply it in a wraparound fashion to your bathroom you’ll be allowing your marble to feature and shine without becoming too overwhelming. It’s a great way to incorporate beautiful marble without committing to floor-to-ceiling application. 

6. Subway Tiles

Another excellent option for marble walls is to incorporate the stone in the classic subway tile pattern. This allows you to benefit from all the aesthetic of gorgeous marble and add a subtle yet distinct level of depth through the pattern. Elegant and minimalistic, yet arrestingly beautiful and easily complemented with the rest of your bathroom.

7. White Marble Floor

If you love minimalist aesthetics and really want to brighten up your bathroom, consider a white marble floor. Polished marble (complete with non-slip coverings to ensure your safety) effectively reflects natural light and bounces it around the room giving your bathroom that extra sense of spaciousness. Plus, pairing simply white marble flooring with intricately designed vanities, feature walls or other furnishings can work wonders!

8. Checkered Marble Floor

Checkered stone flooring is making a real comeback and with the wide range of marble colours available at Euro Marble, you can achieve the same look. If you’re after a bit of extra visual depth in your marble flooring, consider a checkerboard-style marble floor. You can pair white marble with grey, or go for the classic and bold white and black checker design. They all look amazing.

9. Black Marble Vanity

There is unlimited potential when it comes to your bathroom’s basin and vanity. One stunning bathroom idea to inspire you is the bold black marble vanity. This jaw-droppingly beautiful feature will stand out amidst the rest of your bathroom’s style. It’s an excellent way of incorporating something a bit different and out-there without going overboard or cramping your style.

10. Marble and Wood

Using wood and timber in a bathroom helps to infuse a sense of Earthiness and nature. Fortunately, few materials complement wood accents–be it wall paneling or anything else–better than marble. Light marble stone combined with the warmth of deep brown wood allows you to benefit from the best of both worlds. Subtle and elegant, there are plenty of ways to incorporate marble in your bathroom with wood.

Explore More Marble Bathrooms

The team at Euro Marble know a thing or two about bathrooms, marble and incorporating marble effectively into bathrooms. So whether an idea we’ve listed above has inspired you or you want to talk through some other options for your particular application, make sure to reach out to our team today. We love nothing more than bringing luxury, dreamy marble bathrooms to life!

When it comes to building materials for use in your home marble is amongst the most premium of choices. Marble has been popular for centuries and has long been associated with luxury and opulence thanks to its beautiful aesthetic and elegance. While great for application just about anywhere in your home, marble flooring is one of the best ways to maximise the impact of this stunning natural stone.

However, marble does have some unique features compared to other types of stone and construction materials. So, to help you decide whether marble flooring is right for you, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the pros and cons of choosing marble for use in your home’s flooring.

Pros of Marble Flooring

Range

Marble might be most commonly associated with white shading and intricate cloudy or grey veining, but this stone actually comes in a wide range of colours. There are plenty of options in terms of veining, patterns and shades and they all boast a special aesthetic depending on your preference.

Unique

Marble flooring is made from cut-to-size stone slabs quarried directly from the Earth in various places around the world (depending on the type of marble). This means that every single slab and piece of marble in your home is unique in the sense that no other stone anywhere is exactly like it. Unlike engineered stone or other man-made construction products, your marble slab is a truly one-of-a-kind product. This, of course, makes your marble flooring all the more special.

Conducts Heat

One of the most important advantages of using marble for your flooring is its thermal properties. Marble stone conducts heat exceptionally well. What does this mean for you? It means that you don’t have to worry about the often brought up concern of marble flooring being cold on bare feet. With simple below-ground heating systems, you can easily and affordably keep your marble warm to the touch no matter how cold it gets. In the summer months, when the temperature heats up, your marble stone can still remain cool and soothing underfoot giving you the best of both worlds.

Adds Value

Marble is a luxury building material. While marble flooring is certainly value for money and an excellent long term investment, it isn’t the cheapest option available. Nonetheless, where marble really offers benefits is in its add-on value to your home. A jaw-dropping marble floor will not only add tangible value to your home, it will also never cease to impress potential buyers if you’re looking to sell in the future.

Adds Light

A polished marble flooring can achieve wonders. Marble as a stone is already visually stunning, but if you go for the polished, smooth look you’ll be achieving more than just enhanced aesthetics. Marble wonderfully reflects natural light and can effectively brighten up the entire home when used as flooring. This is especially true if you opt for the classic, lighter shades of marble. 

Simple Maintenance

Keeping your marble flooring beautiful and clean is relatively simple and easy. While it does require semi-regular resealing (more on that soon) your daily or weekly routine doesn’t need anything more than a soft, wet cloth. Avoid harsh cleaners and acidic detergents, and ensure any spills and mess is cleaned up promptly and your marble flooring will look as good as new for long into the future. 

Cons of Marble Flooring

Cost

As mentioned above, marble flooring is not going to be your budget option. While certainly still a good investment, marble is amongst the more costly natural stones. If you’re considering using marble for your internal floors you’ll need to ensure that you have a budget that allows for this. Of course, there are plenty of other applications for marble as well that don’t require the same quantity of stone like basins, vanities, splashbacks and benchtops. 

Repair

Marble, like all stone, is very hardy and durable but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be damaged if subjected to extensive trauma. Marble flooring especially, due to the traffic it is likely to endure, can be damaged if not taken care of properly. While marble repairs are possible by a trained professional, it’s not as easy as some other materials. 

Porousness

Marble is a more porous stone than others. This means that it can be more prone to staining and damage when exposed to water and other liquids. Nonetheless, if you’re careful about the type of cleaning chemicals you use, ensure that any spills that could potentially cause permanent staining are cleaned up straight away and are on top of your resealing maintenance this shouldn’t pose much of a problem. 

Installation

If you’re a DIY enthusiast, take note. Marble slabs and tiles can be heavy and difficult to install. Professionals use specialised tools to cut and install marble. If you’re not experienced in working with marble, it’s highly recommended you opt for professionals to do your installation. This means that the cost will go up as you’re now paying for labour.

Slippery

Polished marble especially can be somewhat slippery, especially in places of the home like kitchens or bathrooms. This can cause some concern but it is also easily dealt with. With non-slip rugs or mats, you can easily counteract this. Not to mention the fact that Euro Marble also offers non-slip coverings for marble flooring and other similar applications, like staircases. 

The Sky’s the Limit with Marble Flooring 

While there are certainly some considerations to take into account when it comes to applying marble flooring in your home, there are certainly plenty of reasons why marble makes for an excellent material. Here at Euro Marble, we’ve been working with this beautiful stone for many a year, so we know exactly how to find the right slab to suit your style and preference. Not to mention our professional installation services, resealing and maintenance, repair work and non-slip covering options. Ready to find out more about marble flooring? Contact our friendly team today.

Featuring natural stone in your home is an excellent way of bringing a sense of luxury to your house and bringing your house to life. The bathroom in particular offers wonderful opportunities to infuse stone either in the shower, flooring, walls or vanities. However, knowing which type of stone is better for the bathroom, granite or quartz or even marble, is a different story.

If you’re not sure which type of stone is right for you, we’ve broken down everything you need to know right here and if you’re still not sure, make sure to get in touch with our team today.

Quartz, Granite and Marble

Quartz

Quartz or engineered quartz as it’s called is actually not a natural stone at all. Man-made and manufactured in a factory, quartz is a mixture of about 90% natural stone and 10% polymer pigments and resins. Because of the fact that it is in fact an engineered stone it offers some unique advantages and disadvantages when applying in your home, but we’ll get to that in just a moment. 

Don’t confuse quartz with quartzite, which is indeed a naturally occurring stone and is often contained within engineered quartz. 

Marble

Marble, one of the most iconic natural stones, is a metamorphic rock that is formed inside the Earth over time and with intense heat and pressure. Known for its silvery veins and clouding, it is a highly practical and visually stunning stone that can be used throughout the house. Marble is commonly quarried from Italy, Brazil and the US.

Granite

Granite, another popular natural stone for construction, is an igneous rock formed through compressed magma from a volcano. In addition to its hardy and durable features, granite is known for its granular composition bringing a unique visual depth to any application in which it is included. Granite can be found around the world including Italy, Brazil, the US, India and China. 

Which to use: marble, quartz or granite for your bathroom?

Aesthetic

When it comes to the aesthetic of each stone, it’s a matter of personal preference. Quartz, being manufactured, comes in more uniform and predictable patterns and shades. It can also be produced at any size and shape so you don’t have to worry about visible seams.

Granite and marble however are quarried stone so every piece is unique and unlike any other. Both stones come in a variety of colours and shades and while marble typically has beautiful veining, granite is known for a denser concentration of different flecks of colour. 

Cost

If the price point of each type of stone is of the most concern for you, quartz will likely be the cheaper option. But this is not necessarily so. Granite and marble can both fetch quite expensive price tags but they also range considerably, so you can find stone for just about any budget. Plus, remember to consider stone as an investment and not just an initial expense. 

Maintenance

Using marble or granite in bathrooms is very practical in terms but being a porous and natural stone, it is more porous than quartz and other engineered materials. That’s not to say it’s difficult or expensive to maintain. Simply keep it cleaned regularly with soap and warm water, and remember to have it professionally resealed every few years. While quartz is non-porous it still requires basic cleaning to keep it shiny and beautiful.

Durability

Mable, quartz or granite for bathrooms are all good choices. Each stone is durable and hardy, especially when well maintained and offers strong resistance to basic wear. Nonetheless, being more porous, natural stones are relatively easier to stain or scratch than engineered quartz. However, quartz is more likely to be damaged by heat and UV light. 

Environmentally Friendly

Quartz, marble and granite all offer different advantages on the environmental side of things. While marble and granite require less manufacturing and thus energy use because they are quarried, they do need to be transported around the world. On the reverse side, while quartz does require fabrication in a factory, it does recycle and reuse quarried stone offcuts in the composition of the man-made stone. 

Repairs

Despite their hardy nature, whether you’ve installed marble, granite or quartz, there’s always the possibility of damage. From small chips to long cracks, sometimes it’s just unavoidable. Fortunately, all three types of stone can be fixed with special adhesives, resins and epoxy products. For large-scale damage, we do recommend you contact a professional regardless of what type of stone you are using in your bathroom. 

Value Add

Once again, all three types of stone are popular and valuable materials for use in your home and bathroom, but if you’re particularly interested in the add on to your house’s resale value, natural stone–either granite or marble–is recommended. 

Uniqueness

As we mentioned briefly before, engineered stone–quartz–is produced in a factory and so it is unlikely that the stone applied in your bathroom is going to be 100% unique and unreplicated. Granite and marble in your bathroom on the other hand is quarried straight from the ground and the slab cut to size for your vanity or shower tiles. That means every individual stone is unique and that there is no other stone in the world quite like it. 

Let’s Talk More About Which Stone is Better For Your Bathroom Today

At the end of the day, whether you choose quartz or granite or marble for your bathroom, we’re sure you will be more than happy with the choice. Though making that choice for your specific application and according to your preferences can understandably be overwhelming.

The friendly team here at Euro Marble are always happy to help. So give us a call today and let’s talk about all things bathroom stone!

Knowing how to clean a natural stone shower the right way so as not to cause damage, staining or scratches is very important.

While stone is a hardy and durable material for use in and around your home, you will need to be mindful of the cleaners you use and the way in which you keep it spotless. Fortunately, it’s not actually too difficult and our step-by-step guide will break down everything you need to know about stone shower cleaning.

Cleaning Stone Showers 101

Before we get started, there are some ground rules you should know before you get stuck into cleaning your shower.

Know your stone

Natural stone comes in a variety of different materials including marble, granite, onyx, limestone and travertine. Not all stones are the same in terms of surface and cleaning. For example, marble is more porous than either granite or limestone.

Make sure you know what kind of stone shower you have so that you can choose the appropriate cleaning materials.

Regular Cleans

The best way to clean stone showers is to do so regularly. A quick wipe down and gentle clean more often is better than an overly thorough clean infrequently. Not only will this allow you to easily get ahead of any build-up of unwanted grime, but it will also ensure that your stone is less likely to be stained. If you let mould build up in your shower, you’ll find it difficult to clean while also taking the required soft touch to your precious stone. 

No Harsh Chemicals

When it comes to bathroom stone cleaners, make sure to move away from harsh and acidic chemicals. While it may be tempting to apply some stronger cleaning solution to get rid of any scum or grime buildup, highly acidic cleaners can wear down your stone shower’s sealant, and cause discolouration or even staining and scratches. Use pH-neutral products only and, if possible, opt for stone-specific cleaners.

Microfibre Cloths

Similarly, we recommend using microfibre cloths to wipe down and clean your stone shower. Soft yet effective, microfibre won’t damage or make you beautiful stone. Abrasive sponges, steel wool or scourer-like cleaning utensils may damage your stone as well as remove dirt. So don’t use any of them. If you don’t have a microfibre cloth, any soft cleaning cloth will do. 

Professional Resealing

Being relatively porous, natural stone showers require professional resealing every 3 to 5 years. (Though this depends on the type of stone your shower is made from.) Resealing keeps the stone protected from potential damage caused by water and moisture getting absorbed into the stone, as well as other dirt, grime and debris. Plus, it makes the stone surface far more resistant to stains and scratches. 

How To Clean A Natural Stone Shower

Step 1 – Mix a cleaning solution

Ideally you would use a stone-specific cleaning product but if you do not have one available, a low, neutral pH cleaner will do.

Mix a few tablespoons of the cleaner with 2-3 cups of water into a spray bottle. 

Step 2 – Dry the shower

It’s best to clean your natural stone shower when it is dry, as opposed to right after you’ve used it. Using a clean and soft microfibre cloth (or one similar in feel), gently wipe over any wet areas of the shower.

Step 3 – Spray the solution

Spray the stone tiles of your shower with this solution making sure that generous amounts of solution is being applied all over, especially where you notice a particular build up of dirt or grime.

Step 4 – Wipe

Using a soft cloth or brush, wipe away gently at places where there seems to be light staining, scum build up or mould. Be careful to wipe hard enough to actually remove and dislodge the dirt without scratching or damaging the stone tiles themselves.

Step 5 – Rinse

Using either a bucket or another clean spray bottle, rinse the shower with clean water. You can even use the shower head itself if it detaches from the wall.

Step 6 – Dry the shower…again

Once the shower is completely cleaned and rinsed, take another cloth and wipe down the surfaces until it is completely dry.

Step 7 – Polish

Polishing your stone is an easy yet effective way to keep it as beautiful as it can be and as gleaming as the day it was installed.

You don’t need to purchase fancy stone polishers either. Simply get baking soda and water and combine about 45 grams of the former and a litre or so of the later.

Using a clean cloth, apply the polish mixture to your shower as evenly as possible. Leave the polish to dry for a few hours before using a microfibre cloth and warm water to rinse it off.

Antibacterial Products

There are a number of natural stone-friendly anti-bacterial products on the market that are safe to use. As long as the cleaner is not ammonia-based, highly acidic or containing harsh chemicals, it should be okay to use in your stone shower.

Of course, you’ll want to ensure that your stone tiles are as well taken care of as possible so if you’re not sure what sort of products to use to clean your shower, make sure to contact us here at Euro Marble. 

Euro Marble – For all your stone-related needs

With over 30 years of industry knowledge providing professional advice and experience working with over 150 variations of stone, our team is made of leading experts who are more than ready to help you.

If you would like more guidance on how to clean a natural stone shower or want to double check that the bathroom cleaner you have won’t leave a mark, feel free to contact us today. We’re here to help.

Travertine is a stunning natural stone that has been used in construction since the time of the ancient Romans. While always popular, travertine flooring in particular is enjoying a resurgence nowadays across a variety of different applications.

If you’re considering using travertine stone for your flooring, it’s worth familiarising yourself with the pros and cons of travertine tiles.

What is Travertine?

Travertine is a type of natural stone most commonly found in Italy, Iran, Turkey, Mexico and Peru. Formed from the mineral deposits at the bottom of water beds, travertine is actually a preliminary form of limestone. Similarly it is made from the collected and compressed shells and debris of dead aquatic creatures. All of this gives travertine a dense, fibrous texture with beautiful earthy tones and deep, intricate detail.  

Travertine Flooring Pros and Cons

The Pros of Travertine

Strength

Travertine, like other naturally occurring stones, is very hardy. Difficult to chip or break, travertine floor tiles can stand up well to the inevitable foot traffic your home’s floors are bound to sustain.

Durability

With some simple and affordable maintenance, you can keep your travertine flooring looking as beautiful as the day it was laid for many years into the future. That’s why this particular material is a strong long term investment option.

Suitable for the Elements

Travertine makes for a strong choice of flooring outdoors as it’s quite hardy against a variety of environmental elements including rain, heat, sun and moisture. 

Timeless

It’s not just the quality of stone that will last with travertine flooring. The neutral, earthy aesthetic means the style won’t date regardless of whether you incorporate it in a modern or traditional design.

Beauty

Just because travertine flooring is suitable for a variety of applications and home decor, doesn’t mean it’s not eye-poppingly stunning. This stone, with its rich shades and colouring, is absolutely beautiful and will bring any space to life. Thanks to the way the stone is formed, there is a naturally subtle yet visible texture to travertine whether you opt for grey, brown or beige coloured slabs. 

Easy to Repair/Replace

While hardy, no stone is completely indestructible. Fortunately, travertine isn’t difficult to source or overly expensive to replace. If you need to repair some damage or replace a slab or tile, you won’t find it too difficult to do. 

Non-slip

When it comes to travertine flooring, it’s natural non-slip surface makes it excellent for use anywhere in or around the home. Kitchen floors, bathroom tiles or pool coping and surrounds, travertine works a treat for them all. 

Environmentally friendly

Compared to other materials commonly used for home flooring, travertine offers a surprisingly green alternative. Without much in the way of processing or manufacturing, this stone is simply quarried and couriered to help beautify your home. 

Affordable

Natural stone, travertine included, is not the cheapest building material to use. Nonetheless, as far as rich stone goes travertine floor tiling is quite affordable. You can enjoy all the elegance and sophistication of stone flooring without the hefty price of marble or granite.

Home Value

When it comes to selling your home, or simply adding value to it in the marketplace, travertine flooring can do wonders. Not only will it make a distinct impression on future buyers, it can also add tangible dollar value to your house.  

Versatile

A travertine floor is highly versatile. Thanks to the easy nature of cutting travertine tiles and pavers, you can create just about any pattern across your floor and even fit odd-shaped rooms and spaces with travertine as well.

The Cons of Travertine

Resealing

Travertine is a relatively porous material as far as natural stone goes. That doesn’t mean that it’s unsuitable for us as flooring in your home, even in areas prone to exposure to water like bathrooms and kitchens. But you will need to ensure your travertine floors are properly sealed by professionals. Every few years, it’s important to get them resealed as well to ensure that moisture doesn’t get caught in the tiles and cause long-term damage.

Damage from Cold

While not particularly relevant for the majority of Australian fans of travertine, this beautiful stone can be damaged in extremely cold conditions if not properly sealed. When water or moisture gets caught in the stone and then freezes and expands it could cause cracks and breakages. 

Sensitive to Chemicals

Using acidic cleaning chemicals can cause damage and staining to your gorgeous travertine flooring. But don’t worry! It’s not impossible to keep your travertine gleaming and it doesn’t require superhuman effort. Simply mix a mild detergent with warm water and give your flooring regular attention and it will be beautiful for many, many years. 

We’d also highly recommend you avoid abrasive sponges or other wiping implements as travertine can be scratched or damaged when you use overly rough cleaning tools.

Expense

Travertine flooring is by no means expensive compared to other alternatives out there but if the cost is your one and only criteria, no natural stone is going to top the list for cheap options. Travertine pavers do come with a price tag but you always need to bear in mind the longevity and long-term return on investment. 

Holes

The fibrous and textured surface of travertine does come with a relative cost. The holes can catch dirt and make the stone susceptible to signs of general wear and tear, especially in a floor. However, remember that with regular, professional resealing you can minimise potential damage to negligible amounts.

High Traffic Areas

Travertine is a very hard and durable stone but it is not the strongest in its category. While it will more than measure up to use for flooring, some people do advise avoiding travertine in areas of extremely high traffic such as entrance halls. If you’re concerned about whether travertine flooring is suitable for your intended application, make sure to give the Euro Marble team a call.

Contact us to see your new travertine flooring

Whether you are already sold on the idea of a travertine floor or want to discuss some of the listed pros and cons, we’re here to help.

Euro Marble is the premier provider of natural stone and is both enthusiastic and experienced when it comes to infusing the beauty of travertine in your home. So, give us a call on (02) 8585 2999 or come into our showroom today!

Marble is one of the most beautiful of natural stones. This stunning material has been used for construction purposes for many years and continues to be popular in use as flooring, benchtops, fireplaces, staircases, vanities and more. 

Dark marble countertops are one of the many amazing uses of this natural stone. While marble might be well known for its signature white-and-grey veiny patterns, there’s a whole world of wide-ranging coloured marble, including dark colours and shades. 

If the thought of black countertops made from marble intrigues you but you’re not too sure where to start, we’ve curated a list of dark marble countertop ideas just for you. 

Dark Marble Countertop Ideas

Colours

Black Fantasy

Black Fantasy is as striking as it is beautiful. Dark and moody with flecks of white and grey veining, using black fantasy in your kitchen countertop will bring something alluring, exotic and altogether unique to your home.

Ebony Black

If you want something that’s even darker, you won’t be able to go past the sleek blackness of Ebony Black Marble. With a gleaming, seamless surface, this beautiful stone emulates the starry night sky and brings the transcendent down into your kitchen. 

Nero Fossile

Nero Fossile is an excellent choice for a dark marble countertop for the designer who wants their black marble cake and to eat it too. With a pitch-black colouring, the pattern of randomised shimmering fossils brings a sense of depth, vibrancy and sophistication to this magnificent stone. 

Nuova Portoro

Black and gold is, in a word, classy. The Nuova Portoro Marble is proof of that. This intensely black marble is broken with a refined spread of golden shapes, veins and patterns. The result? An absolutely delicate and decadent balance of prestige, blackness and glamorous gold. 

Nero Marquina

Nero Marquina is at once both classically marble visually and uniquely different. The dark black marble brings with it a gorgeous pattern of shimmering white marble in the form veins and thin clouding. Charming to the last, this sleek marble makes for excellent countertops and benchtops. 

Style

Matte Finish

Black marble countertops can come in a number of different finishes, yet our recommendation has to be matte. Ground to smooth perfection, your flat benchtop will be shimmering and gleaming in a way that is designed to bring out the luxuriousness and depth of the marble’s colouring. 

Golden Fittings and Appliances

Black and gold is a winning colour combination anywhere in the house but if you’re thinking of incorporating a dark marble countertop you can accentuate the choice by incorporating gold elsewhere in the kitchen. Gold fittings, such as door handles and drawer knobs and lights, do a wonderful job at tying the entire area together and highlighting the feature black marble.

Incorporate a Black Sink

Incorporating a sink into the slab of your kitchen countertop is nothing revolutionary. However, when you put a sink into a black marble countertop you’ll be blown away by the effect. For some, a solid surface of dark marble might seem like a lot. With the visual and literal depth of a kitchen to break up the surface of the marble you’ll see the entire area transform into life. Plus, now you have a beautiful matching dark sink!

Matching Backsplash

A black marble countertop is a statement and will be sure to draw the eyes of family, friends and visitors. Pairing your dark marble slab with an equally dark and matching backsplash can help to balance a space and add a bit of soothing symmetry to the room. There’s still plenty of variety in choice of how to incorporate the marble as your backsplash, but no matter what you choose the double-punch impact of a dark marble countertop and backsplash will be a jaw-dropping combination. 

White Kitchen

If black and gold isn’t quite your style, black and white might just be the colour scheme for you. There are plenty of ways to incorporate a black and white style into your home. However, if you’re sold on the idea of a dark marble countertop–and why wouldn’t you be–you can ground the central feature piece with a minimalist and sleek white kitchen. There’s a lot to love about this choice: You get all the benefits of a white, bright and light kitchen and the stunning, luxurious aesthetic of dark marble.

Waterfall Style Kitchen Island

Kitchen islands are popular both for their look and for their functionality, and if you’re thinking of adding a black marble countertop to your kitchen island bench you’re seriously going to be taking things up a stylistic notch. Waterfall-style kitchen islands do a lot more than add to the fashionable nature of your kitchen. It also gives you plenty of opportunity to show off the investment you’ve made into the glorious dark marble. Make the most of your chosen marble by incorporating it into a waterfall-style kitchen island countertop. 

Solid Slab Kitchen Island

A great alternative to the waterfall island style is a simple prism-shaped solid slab of stunning black marble. Elegant in its utter simplicity and beautiful in its unparalleled ability to showcase your chosen stone, the solid slab countertop island is particularly well suited to modern-style homes. 

Let’s Find Your Perfect Marble Countertop Today!

Have we given you some great ideas? Are the mental wheels of your inner designer turning? Fantastic! We can’t wait to help you find the perfect dark marble for your countertop. Our friendly team of experts here at Euro Marble love nothing more than helping our customers find the perfect natural stone for their particular application. So give us a call today or come on in and visit us in our showroom.