White Marble
The universal appeal of white marble means it can be found throughout the world, bringing an unmistakable sense of stylish luxury to both commercial and domestic settings. This light stone can help illuminate spaces, complement contemporary design, and accentuate colour.
White marble tiles are a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy this premium material as flooring, wall cladding, splashbacks, and more. In tile format, white marble can be quickly installed with tiles easily cut to accommodate irregular spaces.
The Most Popular White Marbles on the Market
While there are a large variety of different white marbles available, there are some that speak louder than others and find themselves the preferred types. These white marbles have unique aesthetic qualities that set them apart.Calacatta
This classic, smooth marble comes from the Apuan mountain range in Italy. A premium white marble, Calacatta is revered for its dramatic dark grey veining structure, often exhibiting hints of gold and creamy beige. Calacatta has been used for almost all purposes over the centuries but finds itself predominantly used wherever it can be showcased such as lobby or hallway flooring, a fire surround, or as a kitchen island worktop.
Statuario
In Statuario marble, you will find some of the most desired qualities of both the Calacatta and Carrara varieties. Traditionally used as a carving material, artists and sculptors admired the stone’s bright, luminous white shade with diverse, interesting veining that is less pronounced than Calacatta. Statuario is quarried in the highlands above Carrara and is a popular choice for bookended feature walling, vanity worktops, as well as a tile, each showcasing different vein patterning.Carrara
Derived from the same quarries and Apuan region of Italy as Calacatta, Carrara marble features soft white or grey-white body stone with feathered, light-grey, linear veining. This subtler contrast brings a sense of calmness and unity, with the matching hues letting the stone seamlessly blend into a wide variety of different projects. Carrara marble’s gentle contrast makes it suitable for kitchens, cladding, tiles, and bathrooms.
Thassos Marble
Named after the Greek island in the Aegen Sea where it is proudly quarried, Thassos is considered the whitest marble on the market. For millennia, Thassos stone has been exported to decorate the most beautiful buildings in the world. Setting Thassos apart from other brilliant-white marbles is its fine grain that gives a finer sheen and smoother texture.
White Marbles With Vein Effects That Make a Statement
Calacatta Gold
One of the most stunning marbles from the Apuan quarries is Calacatta Gold, also known as Calacatta Oro, the Italian word for gold. This marble shares the cotton white stone of traditional Calacatta but with bolder, more diverse veining that blooms at the edges. These veins run in streaks of grey, gold, honey, and amber tones that bring an extra feeling of decadence to a setting.
Calacatta Viola
Perhaps the most dramatically contrasting of all the white marbles, Calacatta Viola is characterised by its purple, red vein patterning punctuated with cells of white calcite marble. This marble goes great in kitchens with gold fittings and darker cabinetry with the contrasting stone serving as accent colours. With each slab of viola truly unique, opting for the marble is a guarantee for a truly one-of-a-kind finish.
Imperial White
Highly prized by the rich and powerful, Imperial White is a cream marble, underscored by long bands of grey, hazelnut veins with defining hints of rouge. A dolomite stone, Imperial White is one of the most durable marbles making it suitable for all purposes, including benchtops, vanities, and wall cladding where its regular diagonal marks will make a striking impression on anyone present.
Calacatta Crema Cream Marble
Giving a sense of warmth and splendour to a setting, Crema sets itself apart from other Calacatta marbles by its softer appearance that works especially well in kitchens.
The marble’s fawn and golden veining are surrounded by fields of ivory stone, giving the features space to breathe. This can be used to introduce a feeling of quiescence into living spaces when used as flooring, worktops, vanity counters, and more.
The Benefits of White Marble Tiles
Beauty and Style
White marble tiles are considered one of the most beautiful natural materials in the world and are frequently used in the most luxurious penthouses, hotel lobbies, and upscale architecture. For thousands of years, white marble’s purity has been used to give a sense of quality as well as opulence.
Durability
As crystallised limestone, marble features a dense structure not prone to cracking or chipping under general use. These white marble tiles are great for flooring and wall cladding, even in high traffic areas once sealed and treated.
Versatility
Cut into tiles, white marble can be used for a variety of design purposes. Most applications see the luxury material used as flooring in a polished or honed finish. This instantly transforms living spaces, kitchens, and hallways into an upmarket setting and introduces light. As well as floors and walls, tiles can also be used for splashbacks, recess decoration, vanity tops, and in bathrooms.
Resale Value
White marble is exceptionally in demand. Instantly recognisable as a premium stone, white marble tiles can add anything up to 10% to the value of your property. Tiles are also one of the most affordable ways to introduce white marble to your property too, allowing more precise purchasing and less waste.
Designing with White Marble Tiles:
Choosing the Right Type of White Marble Tile
There are dozens of white marble varieties on the market each expressing unique qualities and possessing enduring appeal. It’s important to consider where you will be installing the tiles, their exposure to moisture, and the overall decor when deciding.
Colour and Veining
White marble can vary dramatically in tones and patterning. This means special consideration should be given to the feeling you wish a space to elicit. For example, the pristine, uninterrupted white of Thassos will look minimalist, while the smokey mid-greys of Super White Dolomite can add intrigue. Veining varies from the charcoal spider-webs of New York White to the diagonal pinkish sweeps of Imperial White which will all alter how a space feels.
Choosing the Right Finish
Most white marble tiles are finished with a glossy polish or a matte-effect honed surface. A polished finish is considered a more luxurious look and boost the light reflectivity and contrast of tiles. Honed finishes can look more natural and are often used within more relaxed spaces with subtle lighting.
For improved grip, a leather finish is also available. This exposes the natural grain and surface variation of the marble and can be used to add interest to a space.
Integrating White Marble Tiles into Your Home Design
Consider how many tiles you may need and which size will work best. Marble tiles typically come in 600x300mm, 600x600mm, and 600x1200mm. As a tile, white marble is easier to cut and install, but forethought should be given to existing decor and layout.
Caring for Your White Marble Tiles:
While still a durable natural stone, white marble tiles require a little more care and attention than darker marbles as the light surface shows marks more easily.
Cleaning White Marble Tiles
To clean white marble, simply use a diluted solution of dish soap and water or a specialised Neutral PH stone cleaner. Gently wipe down the tiles and dry with a cloth. Avoid acidic solutions and normal bathroom cleaners as these can etch the stone.
Protecting White Marble Tiles
To protect white marble, it’s important to seal the stone periodically. Areas of high footfall and bathrooms and wetrooms should be sealed more frequently to help you maintain the ease of cleaning.Using a microfibre mop or cloth to regularly clean your marble is advisable.
Repairing White Marble Tiles
While marble can be repaired by masons with the correct knowledge and materials. Resins mixed with ground stone can be blended back into the stone to form an effective repair solution. These will restore the appearance of white marble tiles without the need for replacement. If replacement is necessary, however, tiles are easier and cheaper to reinstall than entire slabs.
Preventing Stains on White Marble Tiles
White marble is more likely to show marks than darker varieties due to its light base colour. This means extra care should be taken to avoid spills on white marble flooring. If spills do occur, be sure to clean the marks as soon as possible, gently cleaning and drying the surface before marks can be absorbed into the stone.
If staining has occurred, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can be used to gently lift out stains.