THE COUNTRY DECORATOR
THIS NOBLE STONE IS MAKING A STYLE REVIVAL IN MODERN COUNTRY HOMES THANKS TO ITS NATURAL BEAUTY AND VERSATILITY. WE SHOW YOU HOW...
Celebrate the revival of marble and show it off beautifully
1 mix AND match accessories
‘Marble is a beautiful material to use in your home as it’s completely natural, which means that each piece is uniquely different. It’s also easy to clean and extremely durable, which is great for items like chopping boards,’ says Adam Daghorn, Head of Homeware at French Connection. As marble also pairs beautifully with both polished and rustic woods, similar stone accessories don’t look out of place in a family farmhouse kitchen, or a country dining room.
2 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Hard-wearing yet beautiful, marble has been used for flooring for centuries and makes a striking first impression. ‘This antique tumbled marble offers softened, rounded edges to create a floor with a truly authentic feel,’ says Louisa Morgan, Marketing Director at Mandarin Stone. ‘Laid in a traditional diamond design, it creates the perfect backdrop for the hallway of any country home.’
3 FLOORED by beauty
‘Marble mosaics offer a high-quality surface that allows you to create a personalised decorative scheme, and the timeless beauty of Italian marble is ideal for a country house,’ says Paola Tanini, founder of Devon & Devon. Although a more expensive choice for flooring, keep costs down by choosing basic metro tiles on the wall and simply updating taps and fittings instead of replacing whole suites.
4 classic WORKTOP
Marble has been used to clad the inside of the chimney breast as well as for the worktop in this kitchen, creating a striking, cohesive look. As Melissa Klink, Head of Design at Harvey Jones explains, ‘Beyond the cabinetry, your counter material takes up the majority of your kitchen space so makes a big impact. Marble is still one of the most popular options as it is beautiful and wears well.’
5 PRACTICAL splashback
‘Bring a unique look and feel to the kitchen with marble.
Not only does it work well on worktops, but it also makes a beautiful splashback for the sink,’ says Fred Horlock, Store Design Manager for Neptune. ‘Using a full sheet of marble instead of tiles is visually cleaner, while adding a contemporary edge to a country kitchen.’ On-trend brass taps and kitchenware help keep this look fresh, and the hit of dark blue paint on the open shelving contrasts beautifully with the natural hue of the marble.
6 GEOMETRIC walls
Using marble in a bathroom may seem an obvious choice, but to ring the changes try wall tiles in unusual shapes. Here, geometric marble tiles add a contemporary touch and provide plenty of visual interest even for the most pared-back scheme. Laura James, Brand Ambassador at Fired Earth says, ‘White marble has a timeless appeal and luxurious purity so it’s perfect for country bathrooms.’
7 HOTEL LUXE
A marble bathroom oozes hotel glamour, and the owners of this smart en suite have spared no expense. Cleverly surrounding a deep bath with the same marble as the floor and walls creates a seamless flow of luxury and also gives the illusion of a larger space, as the eye is not distracted by varying patterns. It’s a wonderful way to create your own spa-style bathroom at home.
8 STATEMENT MANTEL
A marble fireplace makes a dramatic impact in any room. As marble is a material that carves so well, intricate patterns and edgings can be created to bespoke designs, as Paul Chesney, Managing Director at Chesneys, explains: ‘The pure white of the statuary marble is a popular choice. The Chillington combines the Greek Key Azul Valverde inlay with a beautifully carved corniced mantel.’