Since ancient times, marble has been actively used in construction and design. This natural stone has always been considered a noble, refined material and not everyone can afford it. Today it is as expensive as it was many years ago. For those who cannot afford to buy it, marble tiles were invented. It is made from granite chips and coated with special mixtures that imitate natural stone. Such tiles serve for a long time, are not afraid of mechanical stress, are easy to install and cost several times less than natural materials.
Features of marble tiles
Marble finishing has been used to decorate residential premises since ancient times. During excavations in Greece, Italy and Mesopotamia, remains of marble structures were found, so the durability of this material is beyond any doubt.
Natural stone can enhance the design of any room. Artificial imitation is of high quality and reasonable price.
Marble tiles are used for the bathroom, living room, hallway, finishing loggias, balconies and stairs.
This design looks especially impressive in spacious rooms. The biggest plus of this design is that it never goes out of style.
Type of tiles for the apartment
For interior decoration of apartments, manufacturers offer coatings with imitation marble of various types. In stores you can find tiles:
- floor;
- wall;
- decorative;
- mosaic
Each type differs in performance characteristics and has its own characteristics. But the plus is that manufacturers produce entire collections, which include tiles of different types and sizes. Thanks to this, there are no difficulties in combining floor and wall tiles. If both are from the same collection, then they fit perfectly.
Floor
It has increased wear resistance and can withstand any load. The floor covering is not afraid of impacts and is practically not scratched if used correctly. It is widely used for decoration of residential and non-residential premises.
The selection of floor tiles is huge. You can equally easily find snow-white porcelain tiles for a classic living room in a private house, and dark ones for a bathroom in a standard apartment. As an alternative, today they use quartz vinyl tiles, which are made from polyvinyl chloride and quartz sand.
Wall-mounted
Manufacturers offer a huge selection of beautiful wall tiles inspired by wood, leather, natural stone, plaster and other surfaces. If earlier this material was used only for finishing bathrooms and kitchens, today the boundaries of its use have expanded.
Thus, tiles that imitate marble can now appear in the interior of a bedroom, living room, or hallway. The main thing is to choose the right finishing material according to its performance characteristics. For the kitchen, buy one that is not afraid of heat and cleaning chemicals. For the bathroom you need moisture-resistant tiles. To make the interior stylish, do not be afraid to combine light and black tiles, plain and with veins. You can choose a seamless masonry option, you can leave contrasting seams and divide the wall with a border with a pattern.
Decorative
This tile consists of two parts: background and decorative elements - panels, borders, interesting inserts. Before buying such a tile, consider how it looks in the photo. If the decorative part is too large, it will not be suitable for a small apartment.
For a spacious room, you can choose decorative marble floor tiles with a round or square panel in the center. This option, with only a smaller area, is also suitable for the bathroom. But decorative tiles are often made from gypsum, which is susceptible to moisture, so not all types are suitable for bathrooms.
Mosaic
It will decorate a room of any size. In large rooms, mosaics are placed on the floor, in small kitchens - on the entire wall or part of it. Tiles can be square, rectangular or hexagonal. Each of them has a special shade and its own pattern.
In Provence style interiors, dark brown and beige tiles are often combined, and in classic ones - white, red, black. If you want the interior to look rich, choose mosaics with gold, copper or silver specks. Blue, blue, yellow and light gray tiles are suitable for a Mediterranean interior. Even a small mosaic panel will become the center of the interior.
Glossy tiles
A glossy surface is obtained by polishing natural marble. Such tiles have a pronounced shine and excellent reflective qualities. These properties allow it to be widely used in design.
Glossy tiles look very impressive. It gives the impression of an expensive material due to its reflective ability.
The only disadvantage of glossy surfaces is that when water gets in they become very slippery. That is why such a coating is very rarely used for floor finishing.
Photo examples of kitchen and dining room design
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In the photo: Kitchen set with a mirrored apron and island
A countertop for a kitchen or kitchen island can be made of different materials: agglomerate and corian (which we discussed above), artificial stone, chipboard and MDF, as well as natural marble. There are countertops made of granite and quartzite, and in the most luxurious projects - from onyx, agate, and labradorite. From floor designs to countertops and backsplashes, white is the most popular color in kitchen design. In the kitchen, the marble pattern can also be found in the design of utensils (on cutting boards, tableware and serving utensils, cups, trays).
Stunning fashionable kitchen with emerald splashback and white cabinetry
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In the photo: Kitchen with a green kitchen apron and a light countertop
A stunning design move from an accent kitchen apron in an emerald shade in the form of a diagonal design with boar tiles (herringbone pattern, like French parquet).
Luxurious classic kitchen with designer finishes in warm colors
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In the photo: Luxurious kitchen with a chocolate apron and countertop
Classic kitchen renovation with large U-shaped cabinetry and pantry cabinets. On the facades there are relief carved wooden parts in gold and gold handles.
Art Deco dining area in a luxury apartment
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In the photo: Beautiful dining room decorated with white and black marble (porcelain tiles) and gold accents
A dining area with a claim to a cinematic level of interior. Art Deco style always looks amazing in an open plan.
Dining room in gray tones with black cupboards and dining area
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In the photo: Art Deco dining room in black and gray colors
A wonderful example of understated Art Deco chic for the interior design of a formal dining room for 8 people. On the left is the kitchen with a bar counter, on the right is the living room.
Dining area in a small kitchen in ash-stone tones
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In the photo: Dining area in the kitchen in a modern style
And in a small kitchen there is a place for unusual decoration and original design solutions! For example, a panel of lamps in the parametric style.
Massive kitchen with varnished wooden fronts
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In the photo: Luxurious kitchen with a large set up to the ceiling
Luxurious kitchen interior with built-in furniture and lacquered facades. The finishing of the floor, countertops and apron imitates natural stone of different types.
Matte products
After polishing the stone, a rough surface is obtained. This method deprives the material of its shine, but allows you to obtain a safe, non-slippery coating suitable for laying on the floor.
Typically, matte tiles have calm shades, so they are very popular among designers. This material is also made from natural stone.
Distinctive features of marble finishing
Not every owner of a house or apartment can decorate a bathroom with marble. Marble is considered an expensive material, so only lovers of luxury can afford to decorate it.
The most valuable material is the one with small veins. The color scheme has a wide range of shades, including coal black, emerald, red-brown, steel gray, light pink tones.
Marbled tiles
The latest developments make it possible to obtain a beautiful imitation with a “natural” marble pattern. Such products look very impressive in the interior - marble tiles are used for flooring
Note!
Mosaic tiles: TOP-120 photos and videos of mosaic tile design ideas for kitchens and bathrooms. Pros and cons of mosaics, types and materials
Tile for backsplash: varieties of tile materials, colors and patterns. Methods for laying tiles on an apron (photo + video)
Tiles for the stove - TOP-150 photos and videos of design ideas for tiles for the stove. Requirements and features of tiles, criteria for choosing a suitable material
The material is undemanding in maintenance and easy to install, and its affordable cost makes it very popular on the market.
Choosing tiles for the interior of an apartment
The marble coating also differs in texture. It happens:
- matte;
- glossy;
- semi-gloss.
The first will absorb light, and the second and third will reflect, like a mirror. Take this nuance into account when choosing a finishing material.
Matte
Such a surface does not reflect light, so stains, dust and dirt are not visible on it. Such tiles need to be washed less often than glossy ones. And small scratches are not visible on it. The matte surface does not slip, so this type of material is suitable for bathrooms and hallways.
But there are also disadvantages. If the surface is too porous, it is difficult to clean and some stains cannot be removed. It also absorbs light, making the room visually smaller. You should not lay such tiles in dark, narrow rooms.
Glossy
This surface requires more careful maintenance, because any stains and splashes are visible on it. It makes any room bright and elegant, and most importantly, visually expands it. If you want to make a small bathroom seem larger, add more glossy surfaces to the interior. These tiles are easy to clean and do not require the use of abrasive cleaning agents. A significant drawback of the glazed surface is that it is very slippery.
Atlas Concorde Marvel Pro
Semi-gloss
This is the golden mean that many choose. This material has a low shine and moderately reflects light. It is equally suitable for decorating walls and floors. The semi-gloss surface looks noble and aesthetically pleasing.
Marblelite
This material appeared on the construction market relatively recently.
It is obtained by applying marble dust to a non-woven surface. The result is quite flexible products with a thickness of 2-3 mm. They are easily cut into the required parts using scissors or a knife and are suitable for finishing any surface without leaving a large amount of dust and waste.
After laying marble tiles, a smooth, seamless surface is obtained.
What is marble flooring combined with?
In short, with any material. Marble floor finishing can include wood and metal elements in the form of rectangular and square tiles. If we talk about furniture, then these are again wooden chests of drawers, tables on thin metal legs, sofas upholstered in leather or velor.
As we have already written, marble is a universal material. It opens up great design possibilities. The main thing is a sense of style. Even fans of minimalism will like it. If you are unfamiliar with this interior style, we suggest you learn more about it in the article “Minimalism in the interior - boring and simple or expensive and modern?”
Dimensions and shape of products
Depending on the manufacturer and the characteristics of the material, the sizes of marble tiles can vary significantly.
Products with a ceramic base can be square or rectangular. The dimensions are usually small: 20x20, 20x30 cm.
As for lithoceramics, it mainly has standard sizes - from 61x61 cm to 30.5x30.5 cm. Manufacturers produce square and rectangular tiles.
Marblestone is cut into pieces of any shape and size depending on needs.
Products made from natural materials can differ in impressive dimensions, but standard sizes are more common (30 x 60 and 30.5 x 30.5 cm), which are more convenient to install.
Kinds
The material is widely in demand in a variety of fields, from construction to furniture production. The most convenient form to use is marble floor tiles. It is easy to install and transport.
Thanks to the use of the latest technologies, marble is mixed with various inclusions. This allowed the material to gain higher strength while maintaining the appearance of natural stone.
Tiles made from natural stone are the most popular in decoration; artificial marble is in second place in demand. In appearance, they are virtually indistinguishable, but the cost of the second is much lower.
Porcelain tiles with the texture of marble have the following advantages:
- long-term operation;
- aesthetic appearance;
- versatility in use.
The development of production gives impetus to the development of more and more new materials. Ceramic tiles have become widespread.
Universal shades
White marble tiles often become the basis for a mono interior. Designers receive a light, airy interior, which is easily diluted with bright details and decor.
White will be an excellent contrasting addition to black wall decoration. Glossy surfaces look especially impressive.
Beige tones are perfect for the kitchen, bathroom or toilet, as well as any room in a classic style.
Floor finishing is often done using brown tiles with golden veins. The design is complemented by elegant, graceful decor.
Marble in the living room interior: design ideas
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In the photo: Coffee table with marble top
In the design of the living room, marble is used everywhere: for the tops of coffee tables and cabinets, in the decoration of floors and walls, for the design of stairs and steps, window sills and in decor!
Classic peach and gold living room with a French feel
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In the photo: Interior of a finished living room renovation in classicism style
This turnkey apartment renovation option is perfect for anyone who loves the French classicism style in interior design.
Luxurious design of a living room with a kitchen in a niche with gold accents
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In the photo: Kitchen-living room renovation in warm chocolate and gold colors
A luxury option with an open-plan kitchen-living room and panoramic views is a renovation from the Fundament group of apartments in the Dolina Setun residential complex. The total area of the apartment is 133 square meters.
Kitchen-living room with a beautiful formal dining room and geometric ceiling
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In the photo: Design of a dining room in a living room with luxury finishing
Another three-room apartment in the Setun Valley residential complex, renovated in the Art Deco style from the Fundament Group of Companies! It looks simply great!
Elite living room renovation in shades of gray with complex combined finishing
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In the photo: Fashionable living room interior with a formal dining area
In the photo above you see a fashionable interior in the Art Deco style with a complex combination of tiles, marble, mirrors, moldings, with built-in lighting and geometric elements.
Modern living room with fireplace portal and ultramarine curtains
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In the photo: Interior of a small living room with designer renovation
A wonderful example of a laconic finish in a modern style for a living room in a new building!
Chic living room in Art Deco style in blue and beige tones
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In the photo: An example of a living room design project in cold colors
Here, marble finishing was used for the fireplace portal in blue, which echoes the shades of the upholstery of the sofa group.
Bright colors
Rich shades of red may be appropriate in large rooms: the living room of a country house, the fireplace room. Spectacular “aged” surfaces are reminiscent of the decoration of a medieval castle.
The combination of green and blue, inherent in Baroque and Rococo, looks original in the interior. A luxurious design with malachite or turquoise walls is a win-win option for decorating a bathroom or living room combined with a dining room.
Interior design of a bathroom in porcelain stoneware: 5 photos
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In the photo: Bathroom design with a shower niche and combined finishes
Below you will see several examples of renovation and design projects of bathrooms from our designers from the Fundament Group of Companies. Let's see!
Dark bathroom with marble and chocolate agate finishes
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In the photo: Dark interior of a combined bathroom
An unusual combination in decoration: several types of marble and imitation semi-precious agate for the accent area in the shower.
Futuristic bathroom design project with chic
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In the photo: Design project for a combined bathroom in 2022
Fashionable and very modern bathroom interior with double wall-hung sink for couples. There is enough space underneath for a comfortable approach to the furniture. The mirror has an enlarged format and integrated neon lighting lines.
Cozy family bathroom in soft colors
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In the photo: Small bathroom in delicate shades
A modest and cozy bathroom in light marble and with a custom-made stone countertop. Note the rounded corners and built-in sink.
Designer bathroom renovation in white and stone shades
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In the photo: Interior with patterned porcelain tiles
A stunning example of using geometric pattern tiles in a small space. Pay attention to the strictly verified color scheme of the interior!
Photo of marble tiles
In what style can it be used?
Initially, marble was considered an element exclusively of palace styles: baroque, art deco, classic.
Today it has found its place in minimalism, advanced high-tech and even oriental wabi-sabi.
But you can find marble details anywhere. Designs in neoclassical, scandi, modern, loft styles often include marble floors, bathroom walls or countertops.
Video description
Video tutorial on cleaning stains from marble:
Bathroom
Natural stone marble is used for cladding wall surfaces and as flooring. Due to the velvety texture and glossy shine of polished marble, a refined, noble atmosphere is created in the room, and the color tints of delicate pastel tones visually expand the boundaries of the room.
Marble and mosaic Source tildacdn.com
Typically, one type of marble stone is used to decorate a bathroom. In this case, to dilute the boring monotony, various methods of laying stone on the walls are used: marble slabs are laid using the French herringbone method in the form of a mosaic covering, or simply change the directions of the pattern and design of the tiles.
The relief surface of the wall dilutes the monotony Source agoda.net
The latest fashion trends in creating stylish interiors allow deviations from generally accepted canons and suggest using marble stones that match the tone in the decoration of bathrooms, for example, the walls are finished with beige marble with brown veins, and the flooring is made of marble in brown tones.
Combination of marble in a bathroom interior Source deezme.ru/
From a practical point of view, the best choice for cladding bathroom walls would be white marble or a light gray shade - traces of moisture droplets are not visible on such a surface, which means there is no need to constantly clean the walls.
To fully reveal the natural beauty of the marble coating, designers recommend finishing the entire bathroom wall, preferably the front wall, with marble.
Marble wall Source www.catalina.ru
Fireplace area
An invariable attribute of living rooms, filling the space with warmth and comfort, the fireplace is one of the main design elements, creating a special fabulous atmosphere. Regardless of whether you are going to slightly refresh the fireplace area, giving it more uniqueness, or decorate it in a completely different style, following fashion trends, marble mosaics will turn this cozy space into a true work of art. Replete with mesmerizing geometries and unique textures, marble mosaics are synonymous with upscale style that will last for centuries. Notice how laconicly the fireplace is decorated with mosaic tiles TCAR-06 Exclusive mosaic marble Skalini Artistic white gold light diamond pattern, literally permeating with enchanting charm.
Design trick: Give preference to mosaic tile patterns such as chevron, classic herringbone, hexagon, etc. Their versatility, versatility and brevity make them especially attractive when creating a timeless design for the fireplace area.
Combination of marble with other finishing materials
The combination of marble and wood is a time-tested solution. This approach ensures harmony and visual appeal of the composition. Wood should be considered the “first fiddle”; stone only emphasizes its advantages. In turn, thanks to wooden surfaces, the marble parts of the composition lose excess weight, become warmer and more comfortable.
The combination of marble and concrete just looks somehow unnatural - in fact, they go together very well. Of course, if you choose everything carefully. One of the materials creates a feeling of luxury, while the other supports visual associations with the metropolis.
The selection of a combination in a particular case must be carried out by specialists and very carefully. Very often smooth surfaces are used in close proximity to concrete.
It is logical that many people try to combine marble with brick. But, as in the previous case, the help of professional designers is needed here. Often the dominant role is given to the appearance of the brick. Marble details therefore take a secondary place. And, of course, you must also take into account your taste, your intentions and your financial capabilities.
Color combinations of marble elements
Decorators try to highlight gray, white and colored marble in the interior. And the main difference is not only in the color itself, but also in the area of use, in the processing methods. White marble is unusually fragile and is not suitable for outdoor use; there it is used in exceptional cases.
In addition to mechanical disturbances, negative effects due to weather conditions can be detected. This manifests itself in yellowness and coloration.
Gray marble is mechanically more stable and relatively easy to work with. This material practically does not suffer from time, so it can confidently decorate both the inside of the room and the facade.
Colored marble is approximately the same in practical qualities as gray marble, but aesthetically it is much more pleasant, and therefore is more valuable. There are many colors in such a mineral, and sometimes they choose not even a specific color, but veins of a characteristic type that run through the stone in different places. Colored marble, like gray, is equally applicable in interior and exterior decoration.
It is worth considering that in any case it is still a “delicate” stone. The resulting products and coatings may not be able to withstand even normal operating conditions. Of course, marble window sills, countertops and even stairs look good. However, they are less durable than their granite counterparts.
Therefore, in most cases, all the same critical areas are faced with granite, and marble is used inside buildings.
According to experienced designers, marble must be combined with warm materials. This material is good in moderate options and designs, especially when it comes to private homes. Too much marble and surfaces can make a room seem too cold and no longer feel like a cozy home.
The type of polished material is sensitive to light: its inept selection, instead of revealing its advantages, emphasizes its shortcomings.
White and gray stone look good in modern interiors, and slabs are ideal for bathrooms.
Main advantages
Advantages of marble bathroom tiles:
- aesthetics;
- long service life;
- high strength;
- resistance to temperature changes;
- moisture resistance.
A wide palette of shades and textures allows the material to be used in interior decoration in different directions, to create artistic panels, geometric patterns, and collages.
We also recommend watching - White tiles in the bathroom: features of use and combinations with other tones
Design options for kitchen aprons
Laying porcelain tiles is a very labor-intensive process that requires a lot of experience, concentration and accuracy. When laying, the specific layout and method of cutting porcelain tiles is very important. For example, from tiles of this type you can lay out a geometric pattern, combining imitations of different types of marble. In our article we will show both simple and more complex options for laying porcelain tiles for backsplashes and floors.
Luxurious kitchen in a yacht variation of the art deco style in caramel tones
A yacht-style kitchen can have porcelain tile floors, splashbacks, walls, countertops, as well as window sills, baseboards, and facades (especially near the island). In such an interior, you can combine both porcelain tiles from different collections and complementary models from the same collection, which have already been matched to each other by the brand designer. Please note that in the photo above, brown marble-like porcelain tiles are repeated in the finishing of the apron, countertop and floor.
Black Italian marble backsplash with white veins
The interior design of the neoclassical kitchen in the design project above is based on a combination of several dark shades. Black marbled porcelain tiles look great here with amazing charcoal fittings and dark brown flooring.
Bright kitchen with a white marbled apron in a pro-French interior
The most popular and current backsplash design is white marbled porcelain tiles with gray veins. It can be found in styles such as neoclassical, classic, modern, Scandinavian, minimalism. It is organically combined with porcelain stoneware imitating marble of other types, and with porcelain stoneware imitating parquet.
Combined backsplash finish with white Italian marble
The apron, countertop, side facades, floor, window sills and other details can be decorated in the same color and pattern.
Luxurious English country style kitchen with white and gray marble splashback
This option clearly demonstrates the elegance of such a material as porcelain stoneware imitating white Italian marble. In the photo above you see a kitchen set in English country style (from the neoclassical line). This two-color set is effectively emphasized by the noble breed of this stone.
