Marvelous Marble

An utterly unique material, marble adds luxury in design statements from countertops to clocks

Written by Virginia Fay

Adding richness in ways both subtle and striking, marble is an ideal material for out-of-the-ordinary home décor, as no two slabs share precisely the same pattern. Today, a white-and-gray motif called Carrara is one of the most popular, says interior designer Nancy Mayerfield. When decorating, she says, homeowners are won over by marble’s “natural feel, coloration and depth in the material.” For a striking combination, Mayerfield especially likes to pair marble with natural materials.

Take one such white-and-gray design that she contrasted with floral wallpaper in a bathroom setting. “Marble was a natural backdrop for a vibrant and organic wallpaper. It works beautifully with the overall design of the space,” says Mayerfield.

Continuing the traditional use of marble in kitchens and bathrooms, Kara Smith of SFA Design says the recent high demand for the material indicates a turn away from tile. With variations across the spectrum—from light to dark, delicate to bold—nearly any look can be achieved with marble. In designing an open, white kitchen, Smith says, “We wanted the kitchen to be light and airy, so we chose a white marble with warm veining.”

To create a smaller impact that still packs a punch, marble is popping up in accents like clocks, cutting boards and coffee tables. A subtle pattern on a tabletop, meanwhile, elevates a room with a luxurious look that’s not cost-prohibitive. While Mayerfield often turns to marble for conventional kitchens and bathrooms, she says it also works well for walls and flooring, and often selects the material for furniture like consoles and dining and coffee tables.

With the almost endless iterations of marble, it is universally appealing just about anywhere. As Mayerfield says, “Marble works well with any style.”