Well my house renovation is in full force and underway!!  My bathroom is gutted and I am trying to finalize all of the selections. Marble is the topic today!!

Here is my inspiration picture!  I love the way the marble comes down onto the cabinet!!!  As you can see, we are going a totally different direction than the original floors —from brown to white!! I have been shopping the globe for slabs and finally realized it is best to find your flooring first. It is easier to get a sample of the floors that you can take with you to make sure your slabs match! With the help of architectural consultant, Sarah West, we purchased the Calcutta flooring from Materials Marketing, a 12″ x  24″ tile that we will run as a running bond pattern. The smaller tiles will be used in the shower floor.

I originally wanted a quartzite. It is a more durable material than granite but has the soft veining look of marble, perfect for a bath!! Here are some beauties!  Princess White, Sea Pearl, Taj Mahal to name a few!!

I ended up getting This Calcutta slab from Walker Zanger. Stephanie was a great help and so patient with my back and forth decisions!!  I love the veining in this piece, it’s very irregular with soft tones of warm grays and gray greens.

Then there are all the decisions about finish. Should you hone the marble for a matte look or polish it for a higher sheen? My bathroom previously had polished marble which has been slated as a no no but I never had issues with it scratching. After researching the web and getting so many varied opinions this is what I found: A polished marble is beautiful and gives you that sleek look but can be slippery on floors(this is true) It is recommended to hone  your floors, which gives you a bit more traction when getting out of the bath!! 

As for counter tops there are pros and cons to the different sheens. Polished is more durable as far as withstanding stains, however it scratches more easily and the scratches are visible. The good thing is that most of the time natural stone responds very well to restoration and repair. It is, after all, a natural material and not a surface with a laminate top.  A honed surface is more susceptible to staining, but it doesn’t show scratches as much.  All natural stone should be sealed to protect the look and installation and sealing honed stone can help to protect from staining. It should be resealed periodically. I went with honed counter tops this go round, mainly because I thought that it would look better with the fixtures and mirrors I purchased.  

When cleaning any stone, you should only use products that are specifically manufactured for natural stones, sometimes even products that are nature friendly contain ingredients that can harm your stone (like vinegar and lime juice)! I guess I will need to be careful of that makeup and toothpaste! Walker Zanger recommends Ocean Care sealers and cleaners and Berings recommends “Intercare Cleaner” by Marblelife and the “Marble, travertine, limestone & slate cleaner and resealer” by “Custom Building Products”. 

I am so excited about the mirrors I found at the Marburger Farms Antique Show from Art and Antique Hunter. Such a unique design, I was so excited that they had a pair!!!  They are a bit large for my space but oh well!! I purchased a matching pair–How lucky was that!!!!!

…….AND THEY ARE HAVING A WAREHOUSE SALE IN DALLAS–  Tuesday the 22nd and  WEd. the 23rd 10-5

 My gorgeous new mirrors were not the only great piece at the Art and Antiques Hunter booth! Owner and hunter, Mitra Kilburn started the business when she was ready to leave the corporate world and follow her passion for hunting for beautiful antiques! She is known for her exceptional pieces, especially mirrors, lighting and decorative arts. She travels to Europe several times a year and her collection is mainly Italian but includes pieces from Sweden, France and the Netherlands! If you’re in Dallas, you can visit her brick and mortar location at 1130 Dragon St., Suite 170.  I wish i was in Dallas to go!!!!

…and WE are having a Trunk Show with other vendors at Back Row Antiques!!!!   Come see us to find one of a kind mothers day graduation and wedding gifts!!!

I am so looking forward to sharing the completed look with you and having my bathroom back in order!! The project continues!! Until next week… XO Leslie