Calacatta marble has been a favorite of artists and designers around the globe for centuries. Even today, the classic Italian white marble enjoys vast popularity for its elegant, understated design in all forms.
The Borghini Quarry
Specifically, Calacatta Borghini Marble embodies the look and feel of traditional luxury. Sourced from one of the oldest and most famed quarries in the Carrara region of Italy – the Borghini Quarry – it is thought to be one of the most classic white marbles in existence. The pattern of prominent grey and honey-accented veining on a white background is extremely popular for creating a classically refined style in kitchens and baths. Because production and quarrying of this statement-making marble has become very limited in recent years, Calacatta Borghini has garnered a reputation as an especially rare and luxurious choice for personal residences.
A Classic with Color
The magnificent veining that Calacatta Borghini Marble exhibits aptly lends itself to past and present looks of luxury. The eye-catching range of movement in Borghini slabs assures a kind of sophistication, richness and charm to almost any room in the house.
While some slabs showcase a bold, dramatic look with a striking spotlight on rust coloration, other varieties offer more wispy movement that accentuates the grey veining with a highlighting warmth. Varieties of Calacatta quarried from the Borghini Quarry can differ, but no matter which block or bundle they come from, these slabs undoubtedly afford an elegance and grace to high-end spaces.
Traditional Marble Speaks to Modern Spaces
With an established history of quarrying dating back to the Romans and its long-standing admiration for usage in homes, Calacatta Borghini is considered as classic as can be. But this in no way makes it a conventional choice for today’s homes.
Desire for white marble bathrooms and kitchen countertops made of Calacatta has endured centuries. And this marble is revered for having a crisp, elegant look that fits with a variety of interior styles and applications.
More contemporary kitchens, for example, will benefit from bold-on-bright movement that handsomely plays off elements like black or brass fixtures.
Calacatta Borghini’s tinges of honey or taupe coloration add a beautiful warmth that balances white modern features and complements earth-tones.
Create your own Italian Masterpiece
Like most products from Italy, Borghini Marble is a true Italian work of art. The colorations in this spectacular stone set the stage for the masterpiece you call home. Click here to view our current inventory of Calacatta Borghini, then call to visit an IRG showroom nearest you and see our vast selection in-person.
Skyfarm Ranch, the latest new build by Prodigy Real Estate, sits on a Santa Rosa hilltop and offers expansive wine country views. Inside, the brand-new property’s views are matched with stunning white marble from IRG, used throughout the home’s sprawling interior landscape.
Italian white marble remains a go-to stone choice for designers and architects looking to create luxurious, upscale spaces. When Nicole Matheny of Prodigy Real Estate started on this project, she visited IRG to choose a variety of fine white marble for the modern retreat.
The massive marble-filled rooms below showcase the exceptional slab selections she made for the property on that visit.
Fantasy Island
Upon entering this home’s Great Room, your eye will travel to an open kitchen wrapped in IRG Calacatta Caldia Marble. The material covers the backsplash and cascades down an enormous waterfall island with ample room for seating and entertaining guests.
A highly-sought-after marble quarried in limited supply, Calacatta Caldia presents subtle grey and even green undertones on a milky white background – the perfect pairing to white oak cabinetry for a luminous kitchen.
Hearth and Home
Home is where the hearth is in this stately property. Across the kitchen, a show-stopping gas fireplace juxtaposes rich walnut with a light hearth enveloped in luscious Calacatta Cremo Marble. The Calacatta’s soft, creamy background and warm veining stand up to the heat of this dramatic dimension!
Sudsy Sophistication
Every room is important enough for marble in this Skyfarm haven…including the laundry room! Statuario Cervaiole Marble extends corner-to-corner, adding importance and presence to a space often met with indifference during design.
The room is filled with natural light during the day, allowing sunrays to emphasize the marble countertop’s unique pattern. With its bright white background and striking movement that complements dark cabinetry below it, Statuario Cervaiole Marble manages to effortlessly bring the space together to create a broad, open look.
A Master Suite Fit For a King or Queen
In the master bathroom suite, Paonazzo Marble descends a large walk-in shower and bathtub wall, onto the counter of a double vanity. The bathroom’s unique Italian marble, clean lines and lengthy vistas allude to an elegant European style with added drama.
Bring the Beauty of Marble into your own Home
You can bring the beauty of white marble into your own home in ways large or small. Whether it’s to create a dramatic statement or peaceful escape, the Associates at IRG can help you navigate our vast selection to incorporate this luxurious, sought-after material into your life.
Contact us to make an appointment at an IRG showroom today!
Porcelain and ceramic are popular tile materials in today’s backsplash and flooring options. For many homeowners, the question of which to choose remains: Is porcelain tile or ceramic tile better?
IRG carries a range of mosaic, subway, field and large format tile from various local vendors. No matter which material you prefer – porcelain or ceramic – we have options for you to view in our showrooms. To help you make the right choice for the right application, we’ve put together these guidelines:
Your Location is going to get a lot of use!
High foot traffic areas like living rooms, kitchens and hallways beg for porcelain flooring. As porcelain is a type of ceramic that has been processed at higher temperatures, it is denser than ceramic tile and offers better resistance to scuffs and scratches. Households with children and pets will especially appreciate the durability of porcelain tile floors.
Your Room has a lot of moisture
Bathrooms also love porcelain because they absorb much less moisture. Because porcelain is already dense, it won’t wick up wetness. In fact, it’s nearly waterproof so it’s a top choice for flooring, mud, and laundry rooms.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that ceramic is a bad choice for bathrooms; ceramic tiles have still been used for decades in showers. These days, it’s an even more popular choice for kitchen backsplash and around sinks.
You Want to add a handmade touch
The art of handmade ceramic tile has made a loving return to kitchen and bathroom design. If you cherish the idea of sustainable design and product crafted by individuals, then handmade ceramic tile is for you!
Mediterranean and Spanish inspired interiors crave traditional artisan-made tile. But companies, like Fireclay Tile, are redefining the handmade clay tile industry with bold, contemporary colors and patterns that designers love using in modern interiors.
You Want to DIY
A lower price point and softer structure make ceramic tiles a great DIY material. Ceramic is easier to cut, install and adhere to a floor or backsplash. Be sure to choose ceramic if you’ll need to make lots of cuts or install around fixtures yourself.
We’re Talking about a Patio
When it comes to patio flooring, nature isn’t tidy…or kind. If your patio area is exposed to extreme cold or freezing, ceramic is risky because it may absorb moisture, expand, and crack. As previously mentioned, porcelain tile is denser and more durable; thus, it can better withstand the outdoor elements.
Porcelain pavers are becoming increasingly popular for patio and outdoor usage. These pavers typically come in natural slate- or limestone-like colors with 2cm (3/4″) thickness, making them a budget-friendly and lower maintenance alternative to natural stone tile.
Ready to Select?
Contact us and head over to an IRG showroom to view your tile options in-person! Our knowledgeable staff is here to guide you on your project decisions, providing samples and answering your questions along the way.
We carry tile vendors with a variety of porcelain and ceramic tile options. Check out their websites below to see the full selection of tile we can order for your project:
Picture deep Brazilian blue waves and the mystery that comes with them. That’s the feeling of staring into the depths of IRG’s Azul Bahia Granite.
Some believe this stunning stone is the most exotic of any granites because of its uniquely vibrant blue coloration. Also known as Blue Bahia, this strikingly beautiful and exclusive material is quarried in the northeastern state of Bahia and transported from Brazil to bring magnificence to you and your space!
A Brilliant Color. A Brilliant Choice.
Granite is one of the most durable surfaces you can find for kitchen countertops and baths. But don’t stop there: this granite is especially good for interior and exterior wall and floor applications, fountains and pools – even stairs and mosaics. With Azul Bahia you can transform even the most mundane areas into spectacular showstoppers.
Consider a waterfall island in your kitchen. Surround yourself in its wave-like depths and frame an oversized tub. Place book-matched slabs in a study. Azul Bahia’s uses are as limitless as its design. What’s consistent is its powerful presence.
“Sea” What We Mean
Nothing takes the places of seeing and touching the surface of Azul Bahia in-person. Browse IRG’s Azul Bahia slabs online, then contact us to visit our showrooms and see this designer (and homeowner) favorite in-person!
For centuries, the cool, calming qualities of marble have added serenity to indoor and outdoor spaces around the globe. Consider the ancient Greeks and Romans who used marbles extensively for buildings, baths, and outdoor theaters. From prehistoric figurines to the Parthenon and beyond, marble has been used time and again in Greek art and architecture to honor the gods, celebrate beauty and impress the public. Now you can bring this peaceful surface material to your own personal wellness space – to create an inspired, serene setting in harmony with the best usage for you to put your mind and body at rest.
Dove White Marble
Zagross White Marble
Drink in the Serenity
Light marble promotes calmness and serenity. Often the wavelike pattern offers a tranquil soothing feel to in personal bath areas, spas, and hair & beauty areas. While more bold stone patterns can add drama and movement to oversized bathrooms, outdoor shower and bathing areas and rooms used for more intense activity.
Breccia Capraia Marble
Panda White Marble
Marble as Muse
Inspire creativity by using marble on a statement wall, as the background material in your in-home office “Zoom Room” or as a surround in a work nook.
Calacatta Viola Marble
Come See the Marble of the Moment
Trends come and go but the marble of today will be the marble of tomorrow. Because marble fits with literally any design décor: traditional to contemporary, modern to minimalist. For example, the look of subtle white Calacatta Oro Marble will last a lifetime. IRG’s Calacatta Viola Marble lends itself to a bold maximalist statement. Simply put: Marble just never goes out of style.
Calacatta Oro Marble
Calacatta Viola Marble
Let IRG help you translate your personal desires into the space of your dreams. Express yourself and your goals through your choice of marble. Walk thorough the collection of unique natural marble slabs that only IRG has…thousands…in-stock today.
Located in the Poet’s Corner neighborhood of Pleasant Hill, California this rustic-yet-organic-look home exemplifies combining elegance with utility by using contrasting countertop and backsplash materials.
In the kitchen, for example, luxurious Calacatta White Marble countertops are combined with non-porous Noir Soapstone on the workhorse island. Designed by Tiana Graff of Reliez Valley Builders, this project is a study in the unexpected.
Build/Construction by Reliez Valley Builders, Design by Tiana Graff, and Fabrication by GM Marble.
Step inside to see an unexpected combination of surface materials…
White marble & soapstone meld into a sensuous kitchen
Traditionally desirable Calacatta Marble adds resale value and luxury to any home. But the addition of a Soapstone island brings the look to a more comfortable and accepting design, turning the kitchen into a casual feeling gathering place that truly makes this room the heart of the home. Soapstone countertops can effortlessly handle cooking preparations, forgiving acids like vinegar, lemon, and the cook’s glass of red wine!
elevated design. increased functionality.
Mixing materials offers high contrast and visual interest while still staying true to the rustic cabin-esque style of the home. Tiana Graff used dark cabinets above and below white marble countertops and then contrasted that look with an island of dark soapstone capping light oak cabinetry. It’s that mix n’ match symmetry that adds contrast yet compliments the overall look & feel of the home.
ceramic tile and soapstone: the durable duo
Tiana Graff boldly used ceramic tile and soapstone along with light wood cabinetry, showcasing how these two materials can beautifully connect to create a contrasted but unified design.
Light and dark colors are continued throughout the home, including in the bathrooms and laundry room, to create a cohesive look while staying true to the home’s elevated rustic style.
How to Make Mixing Materials Work for You
Think of it as creating your own Mood Board: You can forget traditional decorating rules – artisans and professional decorators are!
Using multiple surfaces can work well. Use contrasting colors and complimenting ones, too. Consider utilizing backsplash tiles to tie together two different surfaces, rough and smooth. Juxtapose dark and light, shiny and dull, and more…into a pleasingly cohesive final design.
Don’t limit yourself. But do keep functionality in mind: combine porous surfaces with functional options for practicality as well as to add richness and depth.
The IRG Blog is your resource for stone product information, ideas and inspiration. Use our informational articles, project features, and product spotlights to help create your vision, then come into one of our showrooms to bring your ideas to life!
