DECORATOR INDEX: EXPERT ADVICE LAURA GONZALEZ’S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH MARBLE

How to pick your marble

Mix and match different colours of stone and various polishes. Each slice is different and the veins in it can change the overall effect, so it’s important to choose the exact piece you like from a dealer – I use Carrara Marble (carraramarble.co.uk). Choose a specific slab and the dealer will do the measuring and drawings, cut the marble to size and install it.

Each type of marble has different qualities – for example, it’s a bad idea to use black Nero Marquina marble in a shower because white limescale looks obvious against the dark stone.

The trick to try at home

On a recent project in an apartment in Paris, I used black Nero Marquina marble to create a trim for a doorway (right), as an elegant transition from one room to another. It required a minimal amount of marble, meaning a slightly lower cost, and creates a striking effect. However, installing a marble architrave is complicated, specialist work that requires a technical plan (drawn up by an architect or structural engineer) to ensure safety – the stone is incredibly heavy! Plus, the marble needs to be cut to an accurate angle of 45 degrees for a seamless finish.

How to care for marble

The only downside to marble is that you have to be careful about maintaining it. I love marble in a kitchen, but I always advise my clients that it needs special care. It’s fragile, so even spilling lemon juice on a worktop can leave a mark. Be sure to clean it with a non-acidic product.