Finding Your Marbles
Marble has been used for centuries, both for its hardwearing, practical use in building and as a decorative material, well known for its versatility. Formed from crystallised minerals it comes in a huge range of colours, often with patterns or ‘veins’ which contribute to its allure.
What sets marble apart from other building or decorative materials is its flexibility in terms of use. There are hundreds of types of marble, all offering different properties, styles and colours and knowing a little about the stone allows the user to determine which type is appropriate for any intended use.
The Taj Mahal in India is clad in some of the finest white marble the planet has to offer. Built between 1632 and 1653 as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, third wife of Mughai emperor Shah Jahan, this impressive wonder is clad with tonnes of Makrana marble which appears to change colour depending on the time of day. Brought from Makrana, Rajathan, this translucent white marble has a high percentage of calcium meaning that water absorption is the lowest among all types of marble quarried in India, containing 98 per cent calcium carbonate and a meagre two per cent of impurities. It is strong, hard, and maintains its shine and brilliant white colour. Twenty-eight other precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the marble, including jasper from Punjab, jade from China, turquoise from Tibet, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, sapphires from Sri Lanka and carnelian from Arabia. It’s fair to say that the emperor would always have chosen a superior canvas upon which to lay these exotic jewels.
But the virtues of marble exceed its use as a building material. Being high in calcium carbonate, it is very effective at neutralizing acids. High purity marble is crushed and processed and used to make products such as Alka-Seltzer. In this form it also serves as an additive to neutralize acid in soil, streams and in the chemical industry. Marble with an exceptionally white colour serves as a pigment, brightener and filler in paint and paper to name a few.
So why the obsessive design aesthetic for homes and businesses for a material that is easy to come by, affordable, and with an endless list of uses? It’s true that we’re often sold on a product as soon as we hear the word “practical” but, rather than just opting for stainless steel or polished concrete, marble offers us an incredible range of colours from nature's palette too. It’s hard wearing, it keeps its colour, you don’t have to sand and repaint it once a year and the choice of colours and patterns means that no two pieces will be the same – and it won’t break the bank either. Obviously if you clad your entire house in it, in the style of the Taj Mahal, you may need to stretch your design budget, but generally marble can be sourced at a reasonable price and, given its longevity, you can also consider it an investment.
Where marble was once considered dated, from an interior designer’s standpoint, its application has changed from covering an entire floor and kitchen surface to just one surface on a kitchen island, for example. Mixing marble with concrete or wood and other natural materials also brings the look straight into the 21st century. The key, it would seem, is moderation. It can even be used in tile form as a feature wall and not just in a bathroom – it would be stunning anywhere. If changing surfaces or walls is not feasible try adding marble accessories. Almost any home accessory is available in marble or marble-look thanks to the style being so popular again. Mix it with warm metals, light wood and any accent colour such as blush pink with linen soft furnishings- this will avoid the scheme looking cold or hard.
When it comes to interior design for homes and businesses, marble is frankly unavoidable at the moment -but don’t think for one moment that this means it is common or overused. This is a material that can be restyled, reused and revived to rejuvenate any space.
If you’re looking to incorporate marble into your home or commercial design, contact our interior design team in Marbella and let us work with you to find the perfect design mix for your space.
