In recent years the top trends in interior design all feature marble as the material of choice.

This material has a natural elegance and a romantic vintage appearance. It is also one of the most expensive, however, and is extremely fragile. Together let’s take a look at its pros and cons, but above all, let’s see what the most valid alternatives are.

The pros of marble

Marble is a natural material that comes from the alteration of limestone rock, therefore each piece is one-of-a-kind, the veins are different each time and this makes it the perfect surface material to customise any type of room. What is more, after polishing, its surface is able to reflect natural light around it like no other natural material: this characteristic, for example, makes it suitable also for small bathrooms with little natural light.

The cons of marble

The most evident disadvantage for everyone is that, exactly because of its unique quality, marble is very costly. In fact, on top of the initial estimate, you need to add the high cost of installation which must be carried out by skilled craftsmen, to prevent future damage such as the rising damp of marble salt crystals on the surface. This rock is soft and porous, which are negative characteristics especially when used for bathroom surfaces: it is easily subject to chipping and absorbing liquids and foams. To avoid these disadvantages, you need to take into account constant maintenance work.

 

Our practical advice is to use it for small surfaces, for instance as the main material of furnishing accessories (such as coffee tables). On the other hand, when one needs to tile an entire bathroom, the most up-to-date solution that allows you to make the most of its pleasant design is to opt for innovative materials, such as marble agglomerate.

SM Marble is SantaMargherita’s line of marble agglomerates, made from the finest crushed marble and marble chips, mixed with select and certified resins (for healthy environment and contact with foodstuffs). With these surfaces, available in slab (cm 305 x 124, in various thicknesses) and tile (cm 30×30, 40×40, 60×60) format, you can create classic settings characterised by the timeless charm of marble, such as contemporary interiors, where marble is used with brand new, skilfully mixed particle sizes. From a design point of view we have observed that on bathroom surfaces, marble agglomerate is suitable not only for every style of decor, but also for rooms of any size. If the worry is that in a small bathroom, surfaces having such a strong impact risk making the space feel visually smaller, here are some helpful tips:

  • you need to make the most of the wall without door or window, even at the top, with shelves or containers to store items
  • if the height of the ceiling allows for it, it is a good idea to create a false ceiling to soften the proportions of the room and, depending on the case, that might even become extra storage space
  • general lighting is important: for example, it is best to avoid a single light fitting in the centre of the ceiling and arrange the light sources in several corners of the room. The washbasin area is the most important, at the sides of the mirror, but one should not forget the shower area as well
  • if you are doing renovations, you should consider installing the washbasin in the corner, which usually makes the best use of the space in the room.

 

Valentina Pepe