Carrara Marble is an exceptional choice of natural stone and is a popular option if you are looking to find the perfect Italian marble countertop for your kitchen.
What is Carrara Marble?
For many people, Carrara Marble is what the mind conjures up when you think about marble stone in general. And while there are many different types of marble, each with unique and varying shades, colours, patterns and styles, Carrara Marble is certainly iconic.
This world-renowned stone is recognisable for its bright, white or off-white colouring, and subtle yet bold veining. Its distinctly opulent and beautiful aesthetic has contributed to its popularity for use in homes, buildings and even art sculptures for millenia, such as Michelangelo’s famous statue of David.
Today, Carrara Marble is popular for high-end residential and commercial applications. Whilst often used for floor tiling, countertops or wall cladding, it is also used as purely decorative elements, such as a feature wall, thanks to its stunning beauty. Of course, because the marble is quarried directly from the ground and not produced in a factory, no two slabs are exactly alike and therefore every particular application is unique.
Are there types of Carrara Marble?
There are actually a number of different grades of Carrara Marble. The classic bright white marble you might have seen is most likely called Bianco Carrara. Whereas the type of marble stone with pure white shading and minimal to no veining is likely to be Statuario Marble.
Another popular form of Carrara Marble is Calacatta. This grade features an often warmer tone and shading, with bolder veining and more intricate patterns. In some classifications, Calacatta is considered a distinct variety of marble from the Carrara region.
Where does it come from?
Carrara Marble is so named because it is exclusively quarried from a place called Carrara in Italy. This town is situated in the northern region of Tuscany and near the foothills of the famous Apuan Alps. Even the mountainsides of the region often exhibit the same bright white shades and stunning grey veining of marble.Â
Like all marble, Carrara is formed naturally in the Earth as a result of extreme levels of heat and pressure. The Carrara region has been quarried for its uniquely beautiful stone for many years – at least since the days of Ancient Rome – making it one of the oldest sources of marble stone in the world.
Why is Carrara Marble such a popular Kitchen Stone Option?
The truth is that Carrara Marble is popular throughout home interior design, not just the kitchen. However, Italian marble countertops are particularly popular for a number of reasons beyond just the pure aesthetic beauty of the stone.
Marble, due to the way this metamorphic rock forms in the ground, can be finished in a polished or honed (matte) way to both showcase a smooth and practical kitchen countertop surface whilst also reflecting its fine grain structure.
On a functional level, marble is a highly durable and hardy material. With professional resealing every few years, your Carrara marble benchtop can be kept looking and functioning as good as new for a long, long time with little maintenance.
Carrara Marble - Your Kitchen Stone Options
Carrara Marble makes for an excellent choice of stone for your kitchen. The fashion and functionality of marble is simply unmatched.Â
Kitchen Benchtop
Using Carrara Marble for a countertop in your kitchen is a classic yet highly effective way of showcasing this stunning and luxurious material. However, if you are considering an Italian marble countertop, it is always recommended that you choose a thicker slab for extra durability. Approximately 3cm in thickness is ideal. Plus, always keep your marble well sealed and ensure you clean up any spills as quickly as possible.
Kitchen Island
Distinct from a standard countertop, the kitchen island is a standalone feature that can be customised in many ways to suit your home and life. However, using Carrara Marble is an excellent way of transforming a purely functional section of the kitchen into a work of art in and of itself.
Shelving
If your kitchen features open shelving, why not consider using Carrara Marble? It is a subtle and effective way of using this stunning stone without breaking the bank or requiring a top to toe kitchen renovation? Marble shelves offer a sleek storage option and can be helpful in keeping your kitchen bright, beautiful and opulent.
Accents
As mentioned above, Carrara Marble’s unrivalled beauty means that it can stand alone as a piece of art, as well as a functional piece of home furniture or infrastructure. Marble incorporated into windowsills, cabinetry inserts, tray boards or feature walls can be a delicate way of making the most of this luxurious material.
Explore Your Marble Stone Kitchen Options with Euro Marble
Euro Marble is Sydney’s premier provider of marble stone, and our range of Carrara Marble needs to be seen to be believed.
There are many ways in which you can incorporate this fantastic Italian stone into your home and near infinite opportunities to customise and make your application of the stone your own. If you would like to find out more about all things Carrara Marble, want to organise a time to come into our showroom to see our slabs for yourself, or just want to explore more ideas for how to infuse stone into your kitchen and home, give the Euro Marble team a call today.
