Homeowners and interior designers love marble in kitchens for many reasons. Its timeless, majestic veining and colorful designs are enough to make you stop and take notice. On top of that, marble also offers exceptional durability, making it a beloved choice for culinary spaces and other rooms.

You may have some questions if you’re thinking about adding marble to your kitchen. For instance, which marble is best for kitchens? Where does it make the most sense to install marble? Read on to discover the different ways to incorporate marble into your kitchen.

Where Do You Put Marble in a Kitchen?

There are numerous ways to upgrade your kitchen with marble. Let’s look at some examples below.

1. Floors

Your flooring is an ideal opportunity to integrate marble into your kitchen. Marble kitchen floors offer various benefits for your space.

• Beauty: Marble is a beautiful, exotic material that makes any kitchen floor stand out. No two slabs are the same, and there’s no shortage of varieties to choose from when matching your home’s aesthetic. From colorful hues to unique and intricate patterns, its timeless natural beauty will surely make a statement for your kitchen floor. What’s more, marble floors can boost your home’s value.
• Durability: Marble floors are highly durable, so they can easily support high foot traffic. While marble isn’t as hard as other natural stone options like granite, it has sufficient durability for kitchen flooring. This lower hardness level can work to your advantage, as it lends a warmer feel.
• Finish options: There are many finish options available for marble flooring. Honed finishes are particularly suitable for kitchen floors, as they offer traction to reduce the risk of slipping and falling.
• Allergen-resistant: Unlike carpet flooring, allergens don’t usually attach and accumulate on marble surfaces. If dust or pet hair build up, they are highly visible on marble and easy to eliminate with a broom.
• Comfort: Thankfully, marble floors don’t sacrifice comfort for durability. Because they’re softer than granite and quartz surfaces, they provide more underfoot comfort for cooking, washing dishes or walking through the kitchen. If you want to enhance your flooring’s comfort, installing radiant heating — which transfers heat through the floor rather than the air — beneath the marble is an excellent way to add some warmth and reduce energy costs.

Remember, marble is porous, so it’s susceptible to liquid and bacteria intrusion when left unsealed. You may want to have your floors regularly sealed to prevent water damage and staining. Darker marble can typically go longer between sealing, while white marble usually requires more frequent maintenance. Additionally, be aware that polished marble can be extra slippery.

2. Countertops

Countertops are the most prevalent use of marble in the kitchen, and it’s easy to see why. Marble countertops have elegant veining, character and feel that other stones and materials can’t achieve. Because marble naturally remains cool, it provides a stable surface for cooking and baking — another quality that makes it excellent for kitchens.

Here are two ways to incorporate marble into a countertop.

• Islands: A unique marble island may be the perfect addition for your kitchen. An island countertop with a distinctive inlay creates a beautiful focal point, contrasting with your other countertops for a one-of-a-kind look. Marble inlay is the process of carefully cutting and engraving marble shapes. For instance, an island countertop with a bright pattern and color scheme can beautifully offset monochrome cabinets and countertops.
• Bar tops: Marble lends style and refinement to any kitchen bar top, whether you opt for a lighter or darker color scheme. A bar top is an ideal spot for marble, as it likely won’t face regular traffic. Be careful when working with red wine, citrus juice and other acidic liquids. Consider using a protective mat or tray to shield the delicate marble. If any drips or spills occur — whether from water, alcohol or juice — be sure to wipe them up immediately to prevent the risk of scratches, stains and damage.

Marble isn’t heat-resistant, so you shouldn’t place hot cookware directly on your marble countertop. Always use hot pads, trivets and cutting boards for added protection. Never use knives and other utensils directly on the counter, as you can risk scratching the marble.

Like marble flooring, marble countertops can increase your home’s value, which is a plus if you ever plan to sell your house. With regular sealing, care and maintenance, a marble countertop can last many years in your kitchen.

As a reminder, marble is porous, so you should seal your countertop at least once a year to prevent significant staining — including right after installation. Experts recommend cleaning stained countertops with 12% hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia.

Marble can scratch with prolonged exposure to acidic liquids, or it can etch where the sealant or polish fades. Honing your marble countertop — a process that grinds the material to create a flat, smooth surface and finish — may help conceal noticeable etches. You can also try buffing out water spots and light scratches with grade-0000 steel wool.

3. Backsplashes

Consider a marble backsplash in the kitchen for a luxurious focal point that ties your space together. It’s an excellent way to highlight the marble’s intricate veining — whether coordinating a marble backsplash with your kitchen countertops, book-matching different slabs or selecting complementary designs.

A lighter backsplash can provide crisp contrast against dark cabinets, or further lighten an airy, elegant kitchen. Due to their porous nature, marble flooring, countertops and backsplashes all require the same upkeep, including annual sealing. Additionally, be careful when working with food and beverages to avoid premature scratches, etches and stains.

As much maintenance as a marble backsplash requires, the good news is that it’s much easier to clean than tile and mosaic backsplashes that have tough-to-reach grout lines, nooks and crannies.

Upgrade Your Kitchen With Aalto Marble Inlay

If you’re thinking of incorporating a marble floor, countertop or backsplash into your kitchen, our team at Aalto Marble Inlay can help bring your vision to life. We provide original, handcrafted marble inlays, adding style and luxury to any home.

Our custom marble inlays for backsplashes, islands and floors come in various ornate designs and colors, so we can easily coordinate marble with your existing aesthetic or add a distinctive flair to your kitchen.

Whether you dream of a lavish Parisian design, emerald green hues or another design concept, we can help you achieve the look you desire. We invite you to browse our design collections if you need inspiration for patterns and color schemes.

Let us help you create a marble backsplash, floor or countertop that speaks to your personal style. Contact Aalto today to learn more about our marble inlay services or request pricing.

Your living room is one of the most frequently used areas in your home, serving as a common gathering area for family members and guests alike. Therefore, an attractive living room aesthetic is essential. Marble can add a clean, elegant flair to any space, making it a beautiful choice for your living area.

If you’re looking to revamp your living room with a luxurious look and feel, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for plenty of marble floor living room ideas, as well as other ways to incorporate this exquisite material into your living room.

Is Marble Good for a Living Room?

Absolutely! There are various opportunities to incorporate marble into your home. Let’s look at some examples below.

1. Tables and Furniture

Marble furniture is a subtle yet beautiful way to work this material into your space. A marble living room table — whether a coffee table or an end table — is both stylish and functional with its smooth, durable top. You can add marble furniture to a room without other marble elements or use it to complement an existing marble accent wall.

Another benefit of marble furniture is that it uses a sustainable material. Extracting and cutting marble produces a low carbon footprint, making efficient use of natural resources. Investing in a marble table doesn’t just add elegance and refinement to your living room, but it’s also kinder to the environment.

2. Wall Slabs

A marble accent wall can transform an otherwise plain living room into a dignified space. It can tie an existing aesthetic together or create a starting point for an entire room remodel. An accent wall is essentially a permanent piece of artwork in a room, serving as a focal point that catches guests’ attention.

Commissioning a custom-designed marble mural is another way to add marble to your living room. While marble murals are common in showers, pool areas and spas, you can install them anywhere in a home that has stone.

3. Columns

While modern interior design trends emphasize open floor plans, you still want to highlight each room in your home. Marble columns can be an excellent solution. Marble columns feature clean detailing and straight edges, making them ideal for an elegant look and feel.

Floor-to-ceiling columns are often the first to come to mind, but they aren’t the only style to consider. You can also integrate smaller marble columns into a half-wall design. This allows for open lines of sight between spaces while still differentiating them from each other.

Because marble comes in a wide array of colors, you can easily find one that matches your existing design plans, meaning this renovation doesn’t have to be a major project.

4. Flooring

Marble is a timeless, luxurious flooring choice for a living room. Its unique shine and intricate veining are nothing short of elegant, taking your space to a beautiful new level. In addition, marble flooring is surprisingly easy to clean and maintain. It also stays cooler than other flooring materials, making it an excellent choice for regulating the temperature in a spacious living room exposed to direct sunlight.

There are also many design options for a marble floor. You can customize a marble inlay floor with intricate medallion designs or a beautiful border, creating a focal point that radiates class and grandeur. Whether nature-inspired designs or Greco-Roman-style patterns, you can tailor a marble floor to your unique taste.

How Do You Decorate a Room With Marble Floors?

Below are some styles, colors, patterns and customization options for marble flooring.

1. Styles

Here are two popular styles to consider for your living room’s marble flooring:

• Medallions: Marble medallions come in various sizes, shapes, patterns, colors and applications. They can be round, square, oval or rectangular, depending on your taste. They can serve as a grand focal point or subtle accent that discreetly ties the room together. You can choose from our signature medallion and classic marble floor medallion collections or work with our designers for a custom medallion.
• Borders and accents: You can have marble borders and accents installed in any area where stone is used. They can be combined with medallions for living rooms and other formal home areas. You can easily customize colors, patterns and stones, making it easy to incorporate a marble inlay border design into an existing design scheme.

2. Colors

You’ll have many colors to choose from when installing marble flooring in your living room. Here are some timeless, elegant color palettes to consider:

• Brown: Shades of brown like hazel and beige can bring warm, beautiful earth tones to your living room.
• White: White marble flooring is a simple yet luxurious choice for a living room. If you desire a light and airy feel, white and green color combinations exude a classy, relaxed ambiance.
• Gray: If a deep, sophisticated aesthetic is more your speed, consider shades of gray and mauve for a refined look.
• Blue: Deep blues exude luxury. The use of blue stones in your marble floors creates a beautiful contrast. Rich blues are often an excellent accent color for many homes and spaces.

3. Patterns and Customization Options

Our custom-made marble medallions take inspiration from geometric and nautical designs, flora and fauna and early art. Below are some patterns and customization options to consider for your marble floor:

• Parisian rotunda: Parisian rotunda is a sophisticated marble medallion choice, combining geometric and floral designs into a circular outline. Inlay it in your living room to light up your space instantly.
• Greek key border: Ornate and elegant, the Greek key border design provides a classical aesthetic for your home. It can accommodate almost any marble medallion design.
• Tivoli medallion: Tivoli marble medallion features a floral scroll-like pattern, mimicking Italian Renaissance and natural world designs. Its tasteful hues give way to rectangular geometry, undoubtedly drawing eyes to your living room floor.
• Geometric trompe l’oeil: Emphasizing different perspectives on twirling lines, the geometric trompe l’oeil design creates a unique illusion that will likely cause some double takes. These marble medallions work particularly well in open areas, making them ideal for living room flooring.
• Compass rose: Consider a compass rose marble medallion design for a nautical, whimsical feel. A simple glance at your living room floor may evoke feelings of nostalgia or the urge to travel.

Customize Your Living Room Flooring With Aalto Marble Inlay

If you’re looking to incorporate elegant marble flooring into your living room, turn to Aalto Marble Inlay for assistance. We specialize in original, luxury handcrafted marble inlays, which are fully customizable for any space.

For over 30 years, we’ve catered to a variety of clients, from interior designers to homeowners. As the nation’s only custom marble inlay manufacturer of its kind, you can count on us for luxury marble flooring and wall decor.

Whether you prefer vibrant floral patterns or elegant geometrics, Aalto can craft a customized marble inlay to suit your personal style. Contact us today to learn more about our products or request pricing.

Remodeling a bedroom is an exciting process that lets you add your style to one of the most important rooms in your home. You may have a few design ideas that you want to incorporate into your remodeling plans, but where do you start making these changes?

You can turn your vision into reality as long as you keep certain considerations and bedroom decorating ideas in mind. Follow this guide to bedroom remodeling to help you on your journey to designing the perfect luxury bedroom.

What to Know Before Remodeling a Bedroom

Bedroom renovations can take extensive planning and dedication before your vision comes to life. Consider the following luxury bedroom renovation steps to ensure everything goes smoothly during your remodeling project.

Consider Your Style

Before you start plannning the details, it’s important to settle on a desired style for the space. Your style choice will inform all your other decisions, so it’s important to have a clear plan in mind for your luxury bedroom to cometogether beautifuly. Everyone’s style preferences are different. You can incorporate your favorite designs into bedroom renovations through colors, patterns and decor. If you’re not sure where to start, you can take inspiration from several popular interior styles, including:

• Glam: Think of glam-styled interior design as old Hollywood regency. Timeless elegance, beautiful white and gold shades and 1920’s aesthetics make up this style. It’s a choice that’s sure to look beautiful in luxury bedrooms.
• Nautical: If you’ve always dreamed about living on the water, you can achieve the same aesthetic with a nautical-style interior design plan. Using whites and blues on the walls and in the decor can create a seaside atmosphere inside your home.
• Simplistic: Sometimes, less really is more. If you want subtle designs that complement the natural elegance of your bedroom, you can go with a simplistic style interior design plan. White, beige and black with touches of marble and wood is a simple and refined style that would look great in any home.
• Victorian: Make your bedroom feel like a dignified vintage space with historic architectural elements. Victorian-style rooms create the same elegance you would see in royal gathering areas or ballrooms with beautiful brown and ivory color pallets.

Luxury Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Now that you have some guidelines and inspiration, you can start establishing the areas in your bedroom that you want to enhance. Remember to keep your style in mind as you look at new features or themes to incorporate. Consider the following decoration inspiration ideas while you finalize your vision for a glamorous bedroom.

Wall Colors

Even the slightest pop of color gives your bedroom a stylish flair. For timeless elegance, you can choose neutral, vibrant or bold tones that highlight the various focal points in the room.

• Vibrant hues: For a bright splash of color that highlights your favorite tones and creates an elegant ambiance, you can paint your walls with vibrant shades. These colors include sunny yellow, burnt orange, blush pink, ivy green and lilac.
• Neutral tones: For timeless themed elegance, neutral tones such as ivory, cream, gray, beige and black work perfectly in bedrooms. These classy colors help easily highlight other furniture and decor in the room.
• Bold colors: Deep shades of your favorite colors can make your bedroom feel more comforting while keeping the elegant ambiance you desire. Bold colors you can use in your bedroom include navy blue, emerald green, burgundy, dark teal or aubergine.

Flooring

With the right wall color to make the room stand out, you can also install beautiful marble flooring that adds to the distinguished style of your bedroom. You can choose from various colors, patterns and materials, and there are no limits to the elegant designs you can create throughout this living space.

When remodeling a bedroom, you can use your floor as the blank canvas to transform the room into a beautiful living space for yourself or your client.

Choose from gorgeous finishes and colors from the marble collection that include onyx, semi-precious stone and marble for an undeniably elegant addition to your bedroom.

You can add even more timeless style to your floors with marble medallion inlays that bring symmetrical and distinguished designs to the center of your open space. If you want to incorporate a coat of arms or crests into your home, our customized signature medallions are perfect for your bedroom’s floor.

Decor

The decor you choose can make your new luxury bedroom feel larger and more elaborate. These bedroom decor ideas can help create an enchanting space while only adding a few extra steps to your renovation plans.

• Add textures: A few fluffy rugs and bed pillows can draw your eyes to the subtle details around the room. Even a few textured paintings create the illusion of a larger space.
• Hang mirrors: Create the illusion of a bigger bedroom with the help of hanging mirrors. Installing one or two elegant mirrors on your walls provides an additional perspective and light reflectivity to the room, making the bedroom feel bigger and more luxurious.
• Frame the bed: The bed is typically the main focal point in the bedroom. Your attention naturally goes to this area, and framing it can leave extra space in the other open areas. You can frame your bed by placing two nightstands on either side, installing art beside the bedframe or using sophisticated colored accents on the wall where the bed rests.

Lighting

Luxury bedroom lighting provides the perfect opportunity to explore different hues that complement the colors in your space. Depending on the wall color you choose for your bedroom, you can match the tones to your lighting to tie the room together perfectly.

Select white lighting for your bedroom if you choose a cool wall tone, such as blue, green, purple, gray or teal. If you plan to add a warm tone to your walls — like red, yellow, orange, brown or beige — yellow lighting works best. This subtle design element makes a significant difference in the aesthetic of your luxury bedroom.

You can also look for unique lighting styles that accentuate the elegant features you plan to include in your bedroom. Beautiful lighting features you can install include:

• Chandeliers
• Hanging lantern-style lights
• Crystal hanging lights
• Waterfall rectangular hanging lights
• Built-in bedside wall lamps
• Sculptural pendants

Contact Aalto Marble Inlay About Your Bedroom Remodeling Plans

If you desire beautifully crafted marble floors and medallions for your bedroom, Aalto can create the designs of your dreams. At Aalto Marble Inlay, we prioritize providing customized and intricate marble, onyx and semi-precious stone layouts that can fit any room in your home. We work with you to design your perfect floors, borders and accents, bathroom features or backsplashes. We also take care to record the dimensions in your desired living space to ensure your new styled addition looks perfect in your home.

We’d to love to talk with you about your remodeling plans! Contact us today to get started on your luxury bedroom renovation project.

Installing a marble medallion is a significant investment. Since they generally involve a long-lasting commitment, you should be certain about what kind of marble medallion is best for your space before you make your final decision.

One of the most important considerations when making your choice is the medallion’s design:

• What colors fit best with your space?
• Are there any cultural influences you want to be incorporated?
• Do you want it to be the room’s focal point or provide background ambiance?

Along with determining the best marble medallion designs for your space, there are also practical considerations to factor in:

• What size of marble medallion is best for your room?
• Are marble inlays slippery?

We’ll do our best to thoroughly answer both your aesthetic and practical concerns to help you choose your perfect marble medallion.

Types of Marble Medallion

Marble medallions come in all different shapes, sizes, patterns, hues and applications. They can be squares, circles, rectangles or ovals. They can serve as a focal point, filling a room with grandeur, or provide a subtle accent that quietly ties the room together.

Our custom-made medallions take inspiration from flora and fauna, nautical and geometric patterns and designs and art through the ages. Here are a few of our favorites.

Parisian Rotunda

With floral and geometric designs combined in a circular outline, a Parisian rotunda is the epitome of elegance for marble medallions. Inlay it in your kitchen, bathroom, dining room, living room or grand foyer — it will light up any room.

Greek Key Border

The Greek Key design is both elegant and modern, ornate and sleek.

This design’s Greek heritage allows homeowners and interior designers to stay true to classically inspired design. Meanwhile, its meandering and inward-turning lines create a look that fits equally well with modern design, a likely reason for the design’s sustained popularity.

A Greek Key border is adaptable to nearly any marble medallion design.

Tivoli Medallion

The Tivoli marble medallion, with its floral scroll-like patterns, echoes the look of the Italian Renaissance. Set with tasteful hues, its floral patterns and designs inspired by the natural world complement the geometry of its rectangular border.

Geometric Trompe L’oeil

Geometric trompe l’oeil designs are deceptively delightful, simultaneously drawing your eye and demanding you step back. Different perspectives on the twirling lines present a pattern that reveals as much as it conceals.

Marble medallions with a geometric trompe l’oeil design typically work well in open areas — a floor in your living area, accent wall in your dining room or statement piece in your dining area.

Compass Rose

The nautical design of a compass rose marble medallion will evoke feelings of nostalgia and whimsy in you and your guests. Install it in your bathroom as a backsplash, beneath your staircase as a floor piece or in your master bedroom as a personal reminder of where you want to go. Your home has countless applications for a compass rose design.

Best Marble Medallions in Kitchens & Bathrooms

Your kitchen and bathrooms are functional areas, naturally busy with appliances and other utility items. While you want the marble medallions there to dazzle rather than distract, there are still aesthetic elements to consider in these areas. Aesthetics are especially important in your bathroom. The right aesthetics create a calming atmosphere, making the room feel like a five-star spa.

Marble Inlay Showers

While your shower may seem like a purely functional item, a marble inlay medallion can help you turn it into a work of art. Select the colors and designs that fit your vision and make it as elaborate or as discreet as you wish.

Backsplashes

A marble medallion backsplash provides a background aura of extravagance, inviting attention without demanding it. These backsplashes are essential additions to your kitchen or bathroom to bring a subtle touch of elegance to the space.

Best Marble Medallions in Grand Foyers

A grand foyer offers your guests their first impression of your home, setting their expectations for what lies beyond.

For example, you can take your guests’ breath away with a custom Tivoli medallion or Parisian mosaic floor piece, inviting all who enter to witness its grandeur. Alternatively, you could opt for a medallion with a subtle allure — a round marble medallion with a geometric Trompe l’oeil or simple chateau design may offer that quiet attraction.

Marble Medallion Placement in Grand Foyers

Since you and your guests may track dirt in when you enter, you should set a floor medallion at a reasonable distance from the doorway. It’s also a good idea to place an area rug in the space between, catching any stray dirt before it gets to the medallion. Doing so will help your grand foyer marble medallion flooring stays flawless and pristine.

You can also dazzle your guests with a marble medallion in an accent wall. A mural of marble medallions is sure to catch your visitors’ attention.

Benefits of Investing in Marble Medallions

Investing in marble medallions will instantly upgrade your home’s interior with classically inspired art and design. However, marble medallions also have several practical benefits as well. We’ll cover the aesthetic and practical benefits of marble medallions below.

Great for Bathrooms

Marble’s limited porosity means it resists soaking up water and stains if you maintain it properly, making it ideal for areas that see plenty of water.

However, polished marble does have a higher slip risk than other flooring types. If you install polished marble, it’s vital to include rugs in high-slip areas of your bathroom. You can also choose a less polished marble for the floor and save the polished marble for the walls to minimize slips.

Unquestionably Opulent

Marble medallions inlaid in your floors, walls or countertops provide an air of sophistication. A hallway adorned with an elaborate rectangular marble medallion evokes hints of royalty and distinction. A grand foyer graced with a statement marble medallion is both exotic and classic, inviting your guests into the warm opulence of your home.

Endlessly Customizable

Marble medallions can be customized any way you wish. You can include art and design honoring and inspired by your heritage, choose from a broad marble floor color palette and select a size that fits your room.

Easy to Install

Marble medallions are incredibly easy to install, whether you want to apply them yourself or hire a professional stone layer to inlay the medallion.

Our medallions use a dry-fit method for inlaying to ensure correct placement. After dry-fitting designated pieces, the installer will set up the remaining inlay portions against the dry-fit piece. We pre-grout all of our sub-assembled pieces and include a matching grout to reinforce the remaining inlay portions.

Contact Aalto for Your New Marble Medallions

Marble medallions will imbue your walls, floors and home with an aura of unrivaled grace and sophistication. Let Aalto turn your vision for your home into a reality.

Wherever you choose to adorn your home with marble medallions, we have many customizable options to choose from. Contact Aalto Marble Inlay for more information on what marble medallion is best for you or request our marble medallion price listings.

A luxury bathroom renovation is a decision you’ll always appreciate. Create your dream master bathroom to give yourself a place to unwind. You can choose special features — such as an oversized bathtub or a cozy sauna — to make this place your own. This bathroom renovation guide will provide you with everything you need to design your ideal bathroom, from heated floors to marble inlay walls.

Factors to Consider for Your Luxury Bathroom Updates

Before you create your design, you need to figure out the best layout for your bathroom. Let your imagination run wild as you craft the ideal bathroom in your house. Think about the following features to guide your bathroom remodeling as you plan:

• How many people will use your bathroom? While most homeowners reserve their luxury bathroom for themselves, you may also design your guest bathroom with elegant, high-class materials. Before planning your decoration for this part of the house, think about how many people will be using it regularly. Knowing this information will help you figure out what storage and plumbing needs you’ll have.
• What is your morning routine? As you plan your bathroom design, consider how much time you spend in the bathroom throughout the day. Will you be using this part of the house to shower or just to apply makeup and freshen yourself up? For a spacious bathroom, you could create functional areas, like a double vanity or a water closet designed for your toilet.
• What do you need to store? Think about what you’ll keep in the bathroom, like toiletries or a hairdryer. Put the items you frequently use in an easily accessible area. Take this opportunity to go through your current bathroom storage and throw out what you haven’t used in a while.
• What are your daily habits? How you utilize your bathroom throughout the day will affect its design and layout. Figure out if your current bathroom has hindered you or accommodated any medical issues you may have. Design your living space with unique features like towel warmers or heated floors according to your personal preferences.
• Where do you see yourself in the next five years? If you’re planning on selling your house, you could create a luxury bathroom for its resale value. If not, remember that a luxury bathroom renovation is well worth the investment if you want to stay in your home for years to come. Make this room in the house your own by deciding whether you want it to be a place to relax.

How to Plan for a Bathroom Remodel

Once you have the vision fresh in your mind, you can put your ideas on paper. Follow these tips to start the process of installing a brand-new luxury bathroom:

• Get your budget in order: For a luxury bathroom design, you know you’ll be treating yourself by investing in the highest quality materials and layout. Save a little extra money for unexpected costs during the installation process.
• Find a professional contractor: Hire a licensed and insured contractor who can capture your vision for your luxury bathroom. Shop around and get multiple estimates from different reliable companies. Focus on what each contractor promises to do and the quality of work they can provide. If you try to save money by hiring the one with the cheapest estimate, you may end up with more unexpected costs and mediocre results.
• Plan for installation and get ready for demo: The project can take a couple of weeks, so you need to prepare your home and schedule. Order the materials before the contractor begins so that you don’t have to delay your project while waiting for the tiles and countertops to arrive. Aside from preparing your house for the renovation, adjust your daily routine to accommodate workers walking through your home and making noise.
• Inspect the bathroom: Keep all your paperwork and receipts related to the project to monitor what you’ve spent and what work the contractor did. When they’re finished installing your luxury bathroom, you should thoroughly check the shower, tub and tiles to make sure they all meet your expectations. Create a list of anything you’d like the contractor to fix, like sloppy grout work or a loose faucet.

Designing a Luxury Bathroom

While you’re creating your high-class bathroom redesign, first choose a theme. If you’re not sure where to start, look through pictures online or in a magazine and collect some that capture your attention. Knowing what design style you like will help you pick out the right materials for your bathroom.

1. Layout

If you’re doing a full bathroom remodel, everything in the room will change, including the layout. Draw up a rough outline of where you want to put the toilet, shower and sink. You should also figure out the best place to install outlets to use your hair products and quickly charge your phone.

Here are some standard layouts that may work for this part of your house:

• Three-quarter bath layout: Most guest bathrooms follow this floor plan because it doesn’t take up a lot of space in the house. The sink and shower face opposite each other, and the toilet is next to the shower. Having the plumbing on the same wall will save you money in labor.
• Full bath layout: If both children and adults are using this bathroom, a tub/shower combination will provide a functional place for all ages to wash themselves. The end wall of the tub and the opening of the doorway will help to separate the toilet from the rest of the bathroom. If you have enough space, you’ll be able to include a spacious vanity or double vanity.
• Master bathroom: For a master bathroom, install a large tub framed by an alcove with end shelves for added storage. A double vanity on the opposite wall of the shower will allow you and your spouse to have separate sinks.

Along with these standard floor plans, you also might be able to make a custom design for your elegant bathroom. Your contractor should give you a schematic drawing to approve before they start working. Take your time reviewing the plans so that you can make sure the format will accommodate this area’s intended purpose.

2. Materials and Colors

You can pick the materials and colors you want to include throughout the bathroom based on your budget and maintenance needs once you know your design theme. To help you figure out what materials you want, you should also pick out a color palette. Do you want colors that are classic and subtle or eye-catching and vibrant?

Here are some suggestions for materials for your floors and walls:

• Natural stone: For a luxury bathroom, you should have marble featured somewhere in this space. A marble inlay medallion in your flooring or tub will give your bathroom the focal point it needs to make a bold statement. You can design the natural stone in your bathroom with any color using a custom waterjet inlay design.
• Tiles: Standard bathrooms often have subway tiles covering the walls, shower and floors. For your high-class bathroom, you can find an ornate, unique pattern for this decorative material. Tiles are available in various colors and sizes, which you can choose based on your design preference.
• Wallpaper: While it’s not the most popular decorative material, covering an accent wall in wallpaper could serve as a focal point in a spacious bathroom. If you choose this option, however, remember that you’ll need to do your best to keep water away from the wall and install proper ventilation to prevent moisture from ruining the design.

3. Showers

A walk-in shower is a must-have feature of your luxury bathroom. Design elegant faucets and metal hardware to enhance your shower experience, along with these additional high-class features:

• Rain showerheads: These advanced showerheads pour water straight down in a gentler stream, like rain, to provide you with a relaxing experience. They typically mount on the ceiling, and you can change the pressure levels to your preference.
• Technological features: With modern technology available in the rest of your house, you may have been wondering when the bathroom would catch up — and that time has come. You can now use Wi-Fi to control the temperature and pressure of your shower. Some brands will allow you to preset the heat and create a timer for your shower to reduce the amount of energy you use.
• Shower body jets: Install wall-mounted body jets according to your height and proportions. The high pressure from these sprays can reduce pain and muscle aches just like the jets in a bath would.
• Shared showers: If you live with a partner, you could create a spacious washing area with two showerheads to make morning routines more comfortable. Even if you live alone, a massive shower will provide you with plenty of room.
• Curbless showers: These showers are level with the floor for a seamless design. A slight dip toward the drain will prevent all the water from flooding into the rest of the bathroom.

4. Tubs

If you have space for it, you could include a freestanding tub next to the shower for a place to unwind. Choose decorative faucets for your bathtub, keeping the following high-class features in mind as potential additions:

• Wall-mounted television: If the bathroom is where you relax at the end of a long day, put a screen on the wall to watch a movie in a spa-like environment. You can also use a TV as a way to catch up on the local news while you’re getting ready for work in the morning.
• Spa jets: High-pressure tub sprays relieve muscle pain and lower blood pressure. You can control these jets with an extra faucet on your tub.
• Clawfoot tub: This classic style for a bathtub is making a comeback in luxury bathroom design. These tubs come in a variety of materials, including porcelain and stainless steel. Along with a walk-in shower, you can install a clawfoot tub for a relaxing soak.
• Oversized bathtub: Normal tubs are often too small to submerge yourself fully, but an oversized one will give you plenty of space to enjoy your bath. These large tubs come in both simple and ornate designs to complement the aesthetic of your bathroom.

5. Curtains or Glass Doors

For your shower or shower/tub combination, you need an enclosure to prevent water from leaking all over the floor. Choose from any of these options:

• Curtains: Curtains work best in shower/tub combinations because they’re suitable for both children and adults, and you can easily switch them out if you grow tired of the design.
• Glass doors: Glass doors will make the shower feel more spacious, and you can design them with grilles, frames and decorative hardware for a luxurious appearance.
• No door or curtain: A doorless shower features a central drain and waterproof surface, but you’ll need to design it to keep water inside the shower.

6. Floors

Flooring has the potential to be the focal point of your luxury bathroom. Here are some features to consider when you’re designing the floors:

• Safety: Invest in nonslip flooring materials that can provide a safe place to walk, even with excess moisture.
• Comfort: When you come out of the shower or tub, heated floors will keep your feet warm. They also dry quickly and are less likely to be slippery.
• Elegance: You can decorate your marble floors with ornate medallions that can serve as the focal point of your luxury bathroom. For a simple, versatile appearance, choose an option from our classic medallion collection. To frame the medallions, select borders and accents for your bathroom flooring.

7. Storage

To make your bathroom functional, organized and decorative, think about where you’re going to store your essential items like toilet paper, towels and soap. You can have open storage with shelves and baskets, or you can conceal your belongings with drawers and cabinets. As you figure out the ideal storage solution, remember to give everything in your bathroom a place to call home.

Store your toiletries and other belongings in the following places:

• In the shower: You can install a recessed niche or a corner shelf in the shower. A corner shelf may be more affordable, but a recessed niche will give you more space. You could also have a recessed niche for your soap and a corner shelf for your razors, for instance.
• In the vanity: The vanity under the sink is a great place to store items you want to conceal. Invest in drawers to hide your toiletries and easily access what you need. Consider adding drawer outlets to keep your hair appliances or phone charger out of the way.
• On the walls: With all the space on your walls, the storage possibilities are endless. You could mount a mirrored cabinet on the wall or install floating shelves for open storage. Choose decorative wall hooks or bars for your towels, or even install a linen closet.

Contact Aalto Marble Inlay for Your Bathroom Flooring or Wall Design

Our artisans at Aalto will give your luxury bathroom a unique marble inlay. We’ll create this design with a water jet that uses an image from the computer to make sure it comes out exactly how you want it. For more information about how to design your luxury bathroom with one of our marble inlay medallions, fill out an inquiry form.

Marble provides an elegant, classy look for your living space. There are also green benefits of marble that enhance the quality of the environment. Homeowners today are concerned about the environmental impact of their home appliances and decor. As a natural stone taken from beneath the earth’s surface, marble produces fewer carbon emissions than those of manufactured products.

If you are considering marble for your flooring, rest assured that you are investing in sustainable material. Factories that prepare marble tables, flooring and inlay designs ensure that their companies make efficient use of the earth’s natural resources. This material also lasts much longer than standard flooring, but you can recycle it if you ever need to replace it. Here are four reasons why marble is good for the environment and a healthy choice for your home.

1. Marble Is Safe for Manufacturers and Homeowners

Sustainable organizations seek to improve the health of their customers, along with the well-being of our planet. Eco-friendly products like marble are free from toxic chemicals and gases that could reduce the air quality of your home. Choosing to decorate your home with marble is a wise investment for your mental, physical and emotional health.

While homeowners are concerned about their safety and health, they also care about the well-being of the employees manufacturing their household flooring, cabinetry and appliances. Factory employees often work long hours and receive a small salary while working in harsh conditions. The fumes from the factory could make them weak and dizzy, leaving them vulnerable to long-term health problems over time.

Manufacturing companies of sustainable materials pay their workers a decent salary. These corporations have established regulations that enforce the safety and health of workers in their commercial buildings. You can trust that marble comes from a reliable source and provides better health for your home because:

• It creates jobs for marble collectors: Since natural stone isn’t built in a factory by a machine like other materials, there are additional jobs available for workers to dig the ground and retrieve the stone. Marble collectors would be out in the fresh air instead of stuck inside a factory with toxic fumes.
• The worksites provide better air quality: The smoke from the machines in factories pollutes the atmosphere and reduces the air quality of the surrounding area. Since marble isn’t manufactured in a factory, marble flooring production sends less pollution into the air. Unlike human-made products, marble doesn’t produce toxins that can harm employees of the manufacturing site. The workers at these locations, as well as residents of the surrounding area, can breathe clean air during marble production.
• Manufacturing areas are safer and healthier for employees: The Natural Stone Sustainability Standard provides health and safety regulations for workers, including competitive salaries and proper accommodations. As a result, employers in the natural stone industry are aware of how their working conditions affect their employees. By investing in marble, you are supporting organizations that promote a better work environment.
• It promotes land reclamation after quarrying: When marble collectors create quarries, they need to dig hundreds of feet under the ground, removing trees and grass from the area. After the manufacturers finish quarrying, sustainable corporations strive to restore the land’s lush greenery and provide livable land again. This process includes filling the gaps in the area with heavy rock, cement, clay and dirt. Local towns use reclaimed properties for recreational areas, reforestation or grazing land.
• It brings fewer toxins into the home: Wood composite and other human-made materials could bring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your home, such as formaldehyde. Even mixing various ingredients to manufacture other materials requires the use of petroleum-based resins. As a natural stone, marble is free from contaminants that could harm the air quality of your living space. Since your flooring material is from the earth, you can trust that it’s safe to have in the house.

2. Marble Saves Energy and Resources During Production

The environmental impact of marble is minimal compared to manufactured products. Preparing natural stone as a flooring material doesn’t emit the same carbon as human-made materials. The Natural Stone Sustainability Standard enforces the healthy and eco-friendly production of marble. Sustainability organizations such as the Natural Stone Council help to create a better world for the next generation.

Marble’s environmental impact provides the following benefits to both factories and homes:

• Preserving clean water: Manufactured products require the use of clean water to power their machines. If the water isn’t fresh, factory workers have to treat it, which can contaminate our drinking water. Marble companies use less machinery to craft their products, thus using less water to power their machines. Any water used in the production of marble is collected rainwater or filtered, recycled water to make the most of their limited resources.
• Saving energy expenditure in factories and your home: Sustainable companies try to use the least amount of energy possible. The mining industry consumed 12% of the total energy of the United States industrial sector in 2018. Marble organizations strive to use energy-efficient machinery that creates fewer carbon emissions. Non-renewable resources, such as natural gas, petroleum and coal, produce pollution over time. Companies that pride themselves in eco-friendly practices have decreased their use of coal and increased their use of natural gas and renewable resources. In your house, marble has a thermal mass that naturally preserves the warmth in your living environment. You can save money and energy in the winter that you would’ve used to power your furnace, which typically runs on oil or gas.
• Reducing toxic chemicals during production: Toxic products can deplete the clean resources of the earth, including drinking water and farmland. Instead of using non-renewable resources and other pollutants, marble manufacturers have limited their use of chemicals while making marble slabs. The sustainable marble work sites send fewer harmful pollutants into the air than smoke from factories.
• Marble companies use less energy to transport their products: Trucks and other modes of shipping expend energy to carry products to their distributors, sending toxic gases into the air as they move. Sustainable corporations make a conscious effort to use less energy when transporting their products. This effort includes using virtual maps to find the shortest distance to a location or using alternative fuel in their vehicles.
• Limiting the use of resources: When manufacturers take more materials from the earth than their projects require, they produce waste. Instead of wasting their excess products, marble companies have a goal to use fewer supplies. Sustainable organizations also make the most out of their financial resources. Preparing marble is eco-friendly because the economy can sustain this cost-effective practice.
• You can use less waste to design it: If you choose a marble inlay in your flooring, a waterjet medallion design only requires water pressure and natural stone, so it has a smaller environmental impact than paint. After you decide on how you want your medallion to look, the same artist who drew up the plan puts the drawings in a machine. The waterjet machine etches the design right onto the same stone slab you’ll receive.

3. Marble Is Durable and Less Likely to Need Replacement

Marble can last for many centuries, as demonstrated by the Taj Mahal and the Washington Monument. It can withstand fire and weather-related damage, providing a long-lasting flooring material for your home. Since it lasts so long, marble won’t demand a replacement as often as other materials. Instead of changing your flooring every few years, you can save money over time with sturdy, reliable marble surfaces.

Here are some of the reasons why the durability of marble is good for the environment:

• Marble is easy to clean: Most marble stains come out with the same soap and water you would use to wash your hands. You should also clean up spills right away to further prevent etching on your marble flooring and use less cleaning products over time. Since the cleaning products for marble are free from harmful acidic chemicals, maintaining this luxury material provides safe and healthy stone surfaces. As you keep up with cleaning the marble in your house, you’ll save money that you would’ve spent replacing your flooring.
• Certain types of marble have higher durability than others: Marble is available in a variety of colors and porous qualities. The porous nature of this natural stone makes it vulnerable to liquid damage. If you want a floor that you don’t have to seal and treat as often, you can install a more dense marble, such as Carrara Marble. Consider moisture-resistant marble for your bathroom or kitchen.
• Safe treatments are available for your marble flooring: Every couple of years, you should apply a sealing to your floor to maintain its shine and prevent liquid damage. Eco-friendly marble corporations provide healthy alternatives to toxic sealants by including fewer chemicals in their products. Instead of using VOCs, these sealing agents contain water-based and plant-based ingredients.
• You won’t need to replace your marble flooring: By choosing a flooring material that will last longer, you’re providing more resources for marble artisans to create new products for other customers. Marble businesses create their flooring on demand to reduce the amount of waste they create during production. Instead of replacing your marble flooring when it gets dull, you can add a sealant to restore its shine. Since this material is durable, you won’t be required to switch it out as often as one that’s prone to cracking or chipping.
• You will want to keep your marble flooring: Marble is so beautiful that you won’t want to get rid of it. The elegance of marble is a cut above other flooring materials. If you wish to update your living space, you might have second thoughts about replacing marble. Organizations that prepare natural stone can save money and energy that they would’ve used to making you new slabs for your flooring.

Browse Aalto Marble Inlay’s Collection of Sustainable Marble Flooring

Is marble good for the environment? Yes, and it would be a great addition to your home. Our team at Aalto Marble Inlay will provide you with sustainable marble flooring for your kitchen, living room or bathroom. Browse through our collection of floors and marble inlay medallions.

You can customize your marble medallions to accommodate any design aesthetic. We use an energy-efficient waterjet method to etch a design into natural stone to create our inlays. Contact us online or call 319-237-7230 for more information about the installation and configuration of your marble remodeling project.

Perhaps nothing else offers the elegant beauty of white marble in a home. Whether it’s used for countertops, backsplashes or flooring, white marble is a luxurious, classic choice with timeless style. White marble kitchens exude classic design style and luxury. And white marble floors add an extra bit of opulence to any home. There are many different types of white marble and some things you should know about choosing the right type for your home and caring for it. Consider this your guide to white marble.

Types of White Marble

White marble includes a wide range of types of marble. Popular marble choices including Calacatta, Carrara and Statuario are all types of white marble, and there are many others too. Each variety of white marble has its own characteristics of the grain, base colors and patterns of the veining. The various types of white marble each have specific places of origin that set them apart as well. You can look at samples of each of the types of white marble to decide which type is best for your home.

If you’re ready to choose white marble for your home, keep an eye out for a few other things. Here are our favorite expert tips for what you need to know about shopping for white marble.

1. Stick With White Marble for Kitchens

Marble is available in various colors, but consider saving the other colors for other areas of your home. It’s generally recommended that you only use white marble for the kitchen. This is because common acidic substances like citrus juices and vinegar can cause etching on the surface of the marble. This etching leaves dull, whitish spots on the marble, but is less noticeable on white marble. With other colors of marble, you have a greater risk of spots and stains. White marble kitchen countertops give a luxurious look to any kitchen.

2. Consider the Veining Pattern of the Marble

Because marble is a natural stone, each quarry and even each block can be different. But the block can be cut in different ways to achieve a couple of different looks to the marble. A cross or fleuri cut gives a more random look to the marble veining, which is referred to as an “open flowered pattern.” Using a vein or striato cut slices the marble block along the natural veins to achieve a more striped, linear pattern. Know what pattern you want, and consider where in the home you will place the marble. Sometimes a different cut of the same type of marble can be used, with one on the countertop and one for flooring, for example, creating a complementary look without being too similar.

3. Know the Difference Between Cracks and Fissures

If marble has been dropped or improperly handled, cracks can easily form. These cracks are signs of damage to the marble. However, a fissure is a naturally occurring feature of the stone. Fissures add character to the marble and do not affect the structural integrity of the stone. Fissures are desirable for some styles, especially when aiming for a more rustic look. Be sure you can tell the difference between the two so you get a high-quality slab of stone.

4. Decide on the Right Type of Finish for Your Marble

With today’s tools and technology, there are more ways than ever to finish stone, including marble. Different techniques like brushing and polishing are used to create different effects in the marble. Decide if you’d like a high-shine type of finish or a more matte look. The matte finish in marble is called “honed” and is better at disguising stains in the marble from etching.

Also, consider having your marble sealed for the best protection against stains and etching. A penetrating sealant can be applied to your marble to protect its look for years to come. With a sealant, the marble may still show signs of etching with acidic substances, but it should be easier to clean spills before etching happens.

5. Know Your Options for Corners and Edging

Besides the veining and finishes, modern technology also allows for several options for edging your marble slabs. Marble can be prone to chipping in certain applications and high traffic areas. Curved edges and corners will make the marble less likely to chip and could be a better option for kitchen countertops. Computerized engravers can also give a truly custom look to the edges of tabletops and more, adding beautifully carved patterns or designs around the edges of the slab.

6. Consider Visiting the Marble Facility

You can often visit the marble slab facility in person to see all of the options up close. Choosing the right marble is a very personal choice, and it can be helpful to see the different options and compare the veining patterns, colors and finishes. If you do choose to make an in-person visit, call ahead of time to let the facility know what you’re looking for. They may be able to set out several options that fit your needs or arrange for someone to give you a personalized tour, pointing out slabs that may work for you. While visiting, you should always enquire about the origins of a slab of marble as well. Popular options like Calacatta and Statuario come from specific areas in Italy and should only be labeled as such if they originated there.

White Marble Maintenance

Marble is an elegant, durable, long-lasting surface that’s fairly easy to clean and maintain. It’s important to clean up spills right away on marble, especially acidic liquids like citrus, tomato or vinegar. Don’t use vinegar as a cleaning solution, and avoid other abrasive cleansers. Use pH-neutral cleaning supplies, and consider having your marble sealed for extra protection. You should also use trivets for hot pans and avoid leaving wet dishes sitting out on your marble surfaces. This will all protect and extend the life of your marble, ensuring it stays beautiful for a long time.

White Marble From Aalto Marble Inlay

The design professionals at Aalto Marble Inlay specialize in custom marble inlay work for your home. Our experts work with you to create a design and color scheme that matches your room and your design preferences. Whatever your dream home design looks like, the professionals at Aalto can help make it a reality. Contact us today to get started on the marble designs for your home.

Often used in grandiose architecture, such as in palaces, monuments and grand entertainment venues, marble has found its niche in home decor for one primary reason — it’s beauty. “Marble is one of those rare building and design materials that are both elegant and strong. Using marble in your home is a wonderful way to make a statement that will last for many years to come.

Marble’s long-standing place in architecture history remains secure. In the past, it’s been known for its prestigious applications in ancient Greek architecture, monuments around the world and its prevalence in the homes of nobility. Marble is a beautiful material, but it has also been favored because it stays beautiful even with the passage of time. This is why simple marble buildings and monuments around the world have become long-lasting historical treasures.

Today, marble interior design trends continue primarily because marble’s beauty and elegance can turn any space into a luxurious, one-of-a-kind retreat.

How to Incorporate Marble Into Your Home

How is marble used in homes? If you’re considering ways to incorporate marble in home design, there are several options to consider. Some of the most popular ways to incorporate marble home decor include:

1. Flooring

Among our favorite ways to use marble in your home is flooring. Marble has long been a standby for the elegant and wealthy when it comes to flooring. Its distinctive veining and elegant shine take a foyer or grand entryway to another design level. Practically speaking, marble floors are simple to clean and maintain. They also stay cooler than other flooring materials, which makes them a smart way to naturally cool spaces that tend to get hot, such as rooms that get a lot of direct sunlight or larger spaces that are more difficult to cool.

Marble flooring is also a good option if you’re interested in installing radiant floor heat in a bathroom or bedroom because it gently and evenly conducts the heat throughout the room, maintaining a comfortable temperature even in the cold winter months.

Imagine opening the front door to your guests and having the first thing they see be a beautiful medallion centered in your grand foyer. Or picture the pops of color that will come from inlay borders along a marble hallway. When you incorporate marble flooring and inlays into your decor, it makes a beautiful, distinct impression on guests. It also creates visual interest in your interior design, which helps keep your home’s appearance elegant and exciting.

If you’re considering marble flooring, this is a great time to go beyond a basic marble slab and incorporate custom marble inlays into the flooring. The design professionals at Aalto Marble Inlay can design a medallion, borders or even a family crest to incorporate into marble flooring.

2. Kitchen Countertops and Backsplash

One of the more popular uses of marble stone is as a kitchen material. In fact, marble is an excellent material to incorporate into any top-of-the-line chef’s kitchen. When you think of marble, you probably picture lighter shades, but consider using a darker, more muted marble for kitchen countertops, workspaces, wet bars and more.

Marble is commonly used as a countertop or surface material in kitchens. It also makes an elegant kitchen backsplash above stovetops, countertops and sinks. You can opt for a simple marble slab, or you can go a step farther and commission a custom marble backsplash that incorporates the colors and designs used around your kitchen.

When you work with a designer to customize a backsplash, you accomplish two things. First, your backsplash will perfectly complement the design and colors of your kitchen. There’s no settling for shades that “almost match” or materials you’d find in any other home. Second, the unique design and visual appeal of a custom backsplash will create a focal point for your kitchen design that will tie all the other elements together, as well as provide a taste of luxury.

3. Stairs

A grand home needs a grand staircase, and there’s no better material to complement this architecture with than marble. When you first think of marble, you likely picture a white marble with veins of gray running through it. But marble is available in a variety of shades and designs, which means that you can select from a wide range of options to perfectly complement your staircase.

When you design a marble staircase, you can use large marble tiles and can incorporate beautiful inlays and details as well.

Marble staircases tend to be incredibly heavy, so they’re often paired with wood or steel. A wrought-iron rail paired with custom marble stairs makes for a beautiful statement in your home’s entryway.

One thing to keep in mind is that marble does get slippery when wet. If you anticipate your guests going straight from the front door up the stairs, then you may want to consider incorporating a runner up the stairs or some other method of containing moisture.

4. Bathroom

Whenever you step into your bathroom, it should feel like you’re at a spa. Indulge yourself by incorporating custom marble inlays into your bathroom design. They can be used on any wall, but if you want a shower or spa bath to serve as the focal point for your entire bathroom, consider incorporating a marble inlay backsplash. The custom design can incorporate other design elements already in place, bringing pops of color and elegance to your existing space.

One of the wonderful things about marble inlays is that they can be used either to establish an ornate, classical design or to give off a more modern elegant vibe. When you work with Aalto, our designers dedicate significant amounts of time to determining the style of your space and developing ideas for translating that style into custom marble artwork. We tailor each design to the style you have in mind, whether its classical or contemporary in appearance.

Marble’s visual diversity also makes it an excellent choice for custom wainscotting in the bathroom, which is a wonderful way to tie the backsplash or flooring design together with the rest of the room. Custom borders and inlay can also be incorporated into bathroom flooring or countertops, customizing even the most personal of spaces in your home.

One concern we often hear about incorporating marble into the bathroom is whether or not it can stand up to constant contact with water. After all, even a luxurious spa bathroom needs to be functional. One of the reasons marble has a history of being a go-to building and design material is because it isn’t especially porous. In other words, when it’s properly maintained, it won’t soak up water or other liquids, and it doesn’t easily stain. This means your design will last for a long time, even when it’s used regularly.

5. Accent Wall

Kitchen and bath backsplashes are a beautiful way to incorporate marble inlay into an interior design on a smaller scale. However, marble is a unique and luxurious material that can shine in larger areas as well. Adding a marble accent wall to a formal living room or master bedroom suite can take the room’s appearance from average to opulent. A marble accent wall can be used to tie an existing design together, or it can be the starting point of redesigning an entire room.

Essentially, an accent wall is like having a permanent painting or piece of artwork on display in your home. It becomes the focal point of whatever room it’s in, catching the attention of guests as they enjoy your beautiful home.

A marble inlay accent wall in your home can enhance the elegance and timeless look of your design. When you work with Aalto, our designers translate your preferences for style, design and color into a custom, breathtaking marble inlay that will be the first thing anyone notices when they walk into the room.

Another option for incorporating marble’s elegance on a grand scale is to commission a custom-designed marble mural. Custom marble murals are often found in pool areas, showers and spas, but they can be designed and installed anywhere in your home that you have stone. These exquisitely detailed pieces of art can be crafted based on photographs or beloved artwork. They can be designed to be lifelike or abstract — whatever you envision for your space. They can also incorporate other materials besides marble, including metal, glass, ceramic and porcelain.

6. Columns

Today’s interior design trends heavily emphasize an open concept layout, but, even with an open concept, you’ll still want to define each space in your home. Marble columns are a great way to do this. Of course, you can opt for more traditional rounded columns and pillars, especially if your home has a Mediterranean design to it, but that’s not the only option. If you’re looking for a more modern way to incorporate marble columns into your home, marble columns that have straight edges and fewer decorative details on them tend to create a more industrial look.

When you hear the word “columns,” you’re probably picturing large floor-to-ceiling columns, but that’s not the only option if you want to incorporate marble into an open concept design. You could also incorporate smaller marble columns into a half-wall design. This keeps the lines of sight open between spaces but still differentiates one space from another.

Since marble comes in a variety of tones, it’s relatively simple to find a marble that ties into your existing design plans, so this addition doesn’t necessarily have to become a major renovation.

7. Fireplace Surround

Traditionally, fireplaces are known for featuring brick or stone. These materials are beautiful if you’re looking for a simple, more rustic tone, but if you’re in search of a more elegant way to showcase a fireplace — decorative or functional — consider using marble. A marble fireplace adds color and regal design details — the sky’s the limit in marble color and design — and it also anchors any room by immediately drawing all eyes to the fireplace.

One thing we love about the idea of a marble fireplace surround is the opportunity it presents to add marble inlay through detailed borders and designs. A custom inlay can be used to incorporate other details already present in the design of the room, or it can add detail to an otherwise plain space. If you want to integrate detailed and colorful designs into a room in a subtle way, this is a good option because of its size.

8. Furniture

Marble is such a strong, beautiful material that we always encourage clients to incorporate it into larger designs, such as marble inlay accent walls, murals or flooring. However, if you’re looking for additional or more subtle ways to incorporate the beauty of marble into your interior design, consider marble furniture.

Marble can make an especially beautiful tabletop — coffee tables, dining room tables, end tables, etc. Its smooth, hard surface makes for a beautiful, durable table that can be both elegant and functional. You can opt to incorporate marble furniture into a room that doesn’t have other marble pieces in it, or you can use a marble table to tie into an existing marble accent wall.

Another option for incorporating marble furniture into a living space is as a countertop for a wet bar. Give your social gatherings an elegant, polished look with a marble-topped wet bar where guests can go to fill their glass and admire your beautiful home. Since marble isn’t porous, it won’t absorb spills, and it will withstand regular use.

Add Marble to Your Home

Incorporating marble features, such as custom marble inlay designs, into your home decor is an excellent way to personalize and enhance existing interior design. Marble has so many different uses and can be incorporated into just about any space in your home. One of the keys to successfully incorporating marble into your interior design is to be selective about where and how you use it. For example, you wouldn’t want to have marble floors and marble walls in every room. Then it would no longer be an eye-catching statement piece! Instead, carefully consider the best use and location of marble accents to enhance the beauty of your home.

Marble is an excellent choice for home decorating because it offers an array of options to customize and personalize the space where it is being used. Marble can be used in custom, one-of-a-kind inlays and designs that turn a normal floor or wall into a lasting piece of art.

Aalto Marble Inlay sources quality marble from around the world, and we’ve been pioneers in using waterjet technology to bring marble inlay designs to life. Our designs can be customized to match your space, vision and style. Contact us to discuss adding a marble inlay accent to your home.