The elegance of marble is timeless: the ancient Greeks already used marmaros, the “shining stone,” to create magnificent monuments dedicated to the most famous personalities of their time, but they weren’t the only ones. Before them, the peoples of Mesopotamia had exploited the superior qualities of this stone material, and later, the Romans followed suit.
These civilizations were already aware of the extraordinary aesthetic and performance qualities of marble, which have remained unchanged over the centuries. It’s no surprise that we still use it today to elevate the design of our everyday environments, not just for flooring but also for wall cladding.
Cladding for Interiors and Exteriors
Today, marble can imbue both interior and exterior walls with its unmistakable prestige. Focusing on interior walls, marble can be used in any space. Its versatility is nearly boundless, thanks to the numerous colors, finishes, and customized textures it can offer. However, it is most commonly used in bathrooms and showers. Regardless of the walls being clad, the recommendation remains the same: for interiors, it’s best to choose lighter-toned marbles, like travertine or Carrara white marble, to bring brightness to the rooms, create an illusion of depth, and make the space more welcoming and elegant.
On the exterior front, marble stones are often used to cover the façades of houses and buildings, conveying a sense of luxury and refinement. A wide range of marbles is available for this purpose, though historically, lighter-colored marbles have been the favorites. Another important factor to consider for exterior walls is the wear and tear caused by weather conditions. To improve the durability of the surface, protective treatments can be applied to make the marble less porous.
How to Combine Marble and Wood
Among the most successful (and perhaps riskiest) aesthetic combinations with marble is pairing it with wood. These two materials have quite different characteristics, but the glossy effect of marble can pair beautifully with the natural grain of wood, creating striking combinations. However, balance is key—one must ensure that the elegant grandeur of marble does not overpower the warm familiarity of wood, and vice versa.
The success of this pairing depends on careful color management. The material used for the flooring sets the tone, dictating the dominant color, to which at least two other colors in the space must align: one similar to the floor and one that contrasts with it. For example, if the floor is wood and the walls are marble, the marble should match the dominant color scheme, fitting into one of the two categories mentioned. It is advised not to use more than four colors in total to avoid overwhelming the space with too many visual stimuli. This temptation is strong when working with materials like marble, which come in many shades and variations, but balance should always be the guiding principle if you want the marble-clad walls to truly enhance the space with their refined elegance.
Source: www.marmomac.com
