Cosentino, global leader in the production and distribution of innovative surfaces for architecture and design, is proud to announce its sponsorship of CASACOR Miami 2018 – the most prestigious international architecture, interior and landscape exhibition in North America. The architectural surfacing brand’s partnership with CASACOR Miami ties back to its longstanding support of CASACOR in Latin America, which for 20 years has been an international purveyor of innovative design and world-class craftsmanship in the home design space.

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The Beauty of Travertine Marble

Travertine Marble

A true stone lover’s natural treasure, travertine marble is many a decorator and architect’s favorite. The limestone forms under pressure and heat from the earth’s crust in hot springs and limestone caves. Because of its origins, it has certain distinctive characteristics like small holes, patterning, and a range in color from the lightest of ivories to darker shades like golden hues and even browns, these tones coming from traces of iron and organic materials. Today we see classic homes integrating travertine mantles, and entry ways and contemporary spaces featuring walls of the dramatic stone as artistic and sculptural focal points.

Architects and designers love this surface covering because of its natural beauty, diverse choices and classic look that suits almost any interior or design project, from kitchens to bathrooms, walls in focal rooms like living areas to architectural features such as staircases, travertine is an optimal luxurious choice.

Modern spaces and traditional rooms are offset flawlessly with the addition of travertine features, whether a smoothly polished floor, fire place, or facade.

A Brief History of Travertine Marble

Travertine is a go to luxury natural stone element for contemporary bespoke interiors, and yet it has a long history that can be traced to ancient Roman architecture including the world renown Colosseum. An enduring classic, it is also used in modern and contemporary architectural design such as Mies van der Rohe classic 1929 design for the Germany Pavilion for the International Exposition in Barcelona. This canonical design and aesthetic has inspired many innovative uses of travertine within modernist spaces.

Luxurious Architectural Uses of Travertine

An example of high design luxury, this travertine interior boasts a fireplace, walls, and floors covered in the beautiful stone. A lush interplay of monochrome and natural color and texture make this space delightfully stylish and design conscious, while subtly welcoming and cozy. 

Stone Staircases

Travertine Marble

Imagine a space transformed from ordinary residence layout to palatial modernism, simply through the use of travertine marble. From facades, countertops, walls of marble, floors and even staircases, the choice of this stone is a luxurious one, and has the elegance to become a central feature to any remodel or architectural design. The stone’s subtle color, patterning and natural beauty means it will endure throughout generations, styles and decorative trends.

A Timeless Element for Design

This lovely polished marble is beloved for its complexity of texture, naturally occurring patterns of color variations and subtle bands. It can be used to transform a simple kitchen into a picture of elegance…like we see in this gorgeous yet minimalist spaced featuring a layered combination of pales including Travertine Sterling, Dekton.

The truly enduring quality of travertine marble means you can pair it with modern furniture, eclectic artwork and various surface materials, including leather, wood and glass, whatever you choose it can bring a timeless beauty to your space and design. This stone transitions easily as well as the homeowner, restauranteur, or business owner changes his or her furnishings, decorations or tastes, acting as a miraculous stone canvas for creativity and new trends in design.

If you liked this article, you should check out our free guide on Stunning Kitchen Designs:

The Subtle Elegance of Crema Marfil Marble

Crema Marfil marble is a textured creamy beige stone with soft veins of color including tones of yellow, cinnamon, white and even goldish beige. Its warm yet pale color means it’s highly desirable, and as well quite adaptable for any sort of project: a monumental accent wall, or as a touch of elegance for a master shower. Recalling elegant palatial and civic architecture, it’s even used for exterior cladding, so it’s a choice for many an architect and designers these days. Like many marbles, Crema Marfil is in fact a limestone, and comes from vast quarries in Spain.

Crema Marfil has a distinctive pale background with touches of patterned color that make this elegant surface more refined and interesting. While the best of the stone tends to be uniform in color and grains, it has considerable variation, after all it is a naturally occurring stone, making it an artwork created from the earth. The marble is quarried from areas around Mount Coto and has wide ranging uses including creative tiles, backsplashes, and as well fine and elegant flooring. The subtle tone of this marble allows it to be a wonderful choice for modernist bathrooms and kitchens as well as the most classic of spaces that require a touch of natural stone.

A Modern Bathroom with Crema Marfil Marble Tile

Crema Marfil tile is a perfect accent for a modernist shower accented with stainless steel and black interior accents. A clean pale surface is often the marker of a lovely example of Crema Marfil, punctuated by subtle veining of color, rice like grains on occasion with white spots or flowered areas. A highly versatile stone this marble is used well in monochromatic spaces as well such as white kitchens that need an extra layer of depth and weight, a sort of monumental air of character. The marble comes in various finishes including highly polished, and is often used for architecture features interior and exterior, it’s particularly magestic for residential hallways, and business entrances as well.

Creative Interpretations of this Stone

Surface materials like Eternal Ivory offer us a new interpretation of the beauty and depth of Crema Marfil marble. This special stone offers a aoft orange veined on cream background, these tones allow a certain sophisticated warmth even to the most minimalist of spaces. Looks perfect with other whites, creams and gray cabinetry. Cleverly offset with grey hues, wood accents and marble flooring. Such a relaxing yet luxurious design offers bespoke beauty for the sophisticated homeowner.

World renown for its subtle pale color that has a special warmth to it, Crema Marfil marble is a wonderful stone that has a rare and special beauty, and looks wonderful in any interior. It combines well with other cream stones, and works beautifully as flooring, backsplashes, tiles and even countertops. Many contemporary architects pair the stone with dark accents including iron, wood and dramatic settings. It is also perfectly married to traditional spaces that require a special accent of sophisticated texture and sculptural beauty.

If you liked this article, you should have a look at our Guide on Stunning Kitchens:

Today the approach to kitchens by designs is diverse and creative. Decorators, architects, and homeowners demand personalized design. Luxury design themes range from eclectic modernism.

And as design projects demand today, we must not forget the newest interpretations of the traditional kitchen tastefully updated with state of the art fixtures and countertops.

Unique visions of space, artful arrangement and unusual combinations of materials come together to create truly beautiful yet diverse kitchens by design.

This curated gallery features traditional rooms with a twist, Scandinavian inspired and even the daring minimalist palatial space, including exciting designs utilizing modern kitchen surfaces and appliances within traditional architectural settings.

Kitchens by Designs 1 – A Gem of Modern Eclecticism by Steffany Hollingsworth

Kitchens by Designs

Hollingsworth’s outstanding kitchen is an expected space, while it is modest in size it is truly creative. This warm yet thoroughly modern space welcomes and surprises with the designer’s sense of style and unusual palette. She uses Serena Silestone countertops with the most eclectic of textures, styles and colors. In designing this space there is a playful layering of elements from mixed traditions such as North Africa, the American Southwest, the rustic, mid century modern and industrial chic. Greys, metallics and neutrals are offset by earthy tones, woven and natural materials. Built-ins and a flat front fireplace adds to the ambience.

Kitchens by Designs 2 – Scandinavian Modernism

Kitchens by Designs

As we can see using contrast is key to creating a unique kitchen. Deep charcoal hues for the walls and cabinets along with an amazing wall of window glass make this a contemporary take on mid century modernist style, allowing air and light to penetrate the space. Bare wood contrasts with the purity of black and adds complexity. A clean working space to prepare and cook as well as communal dining areas means a perfect admixture of style and functionality. A touch of industrial chic is added with the metal wall coverings.

Kitchens by Designs 3 – The Unity of White -Blending Contemporary Kitchen Design with Historic Architecture

Kitchens by Designs

Getting renovations right when updating a kitchen in an older historic home with “good bones” is always a challenge. Modern life requires new surfaces, design, and the best in appliances and amenities. This gorgeous open space from Marblex Design International is a picture of minimalism placed in contrast with traditional nineteenth century townhouse style architecture. The shine and opulence of the White Zeus Extreme silestone countertops adds to the regality of the space. Flat storage in the facing wall creates an uninterrupted bank of elegance allowing the beautiful architecture to be front and center. Open concept living, natural light and plenty of space for preparation, family or event hosting means modern living is not only functional but stylish.

Kitchens by Designs 4 – Denise McGaha’s Lilac Kitchen

Silestone white and black countertops are graced by a riveting choreography of unexpected color, texture and patterning creating an elegant art deco yet modern aesthetic that also seems truly traditional all at once. McGaha’s finesse with palette creates a sense of sophistication, the most deep of greys contrast with Lilac infused hues, offset by light and dark. Varying hues of metallic hardware and mirrored doors add luxury. A highly unusual personalized vision of a kitchen, deeply memorable -for the client who demands something completely different.

Kitchens by Designs 5 – A Charming Traditional White Kitchen with a Contemporary Style

Kitchens by Designs

In many traditional homes kitchens are in the back of the house -rather than in the center as we may see in newer open concept plans. Nevertheless there are ways to retain this position and take advantage of this floorplan including breaking up your back walls with windows, including that traditional view of the garden from your kitchen sink, and of course a dining area that looks out on greenery. Indeed, this bright American kitchen blends beloved classic rustic elements like white painted wood cabinets, exposed wood beams on the ceiling, wide plank wood floors paired with a striking two tone island.  The addition of the white countertop modernizes the space without sacrificing any of the cozy character of this welcoming space. Herringbone backsplash and lantern lighting make this a place stylish and on trends.

There are many ways to rethink modern kitchens and home owners demand the best in design, they envision a perfect kitchen space as a crucial part of a new home or high end renovations. This splendid gallery showcases a selection of truly unusual and creative kitchens with modern approaches to functionality, daring and sensual textural vocabularies and amazing color schemes.

If you liked this article, you can’t miss our free guide about kitchen design!