Renovating
Carrara and Calacatta Marble: Can You Tell Them Apart?
Both these popular Italian marble are largely white but there are subtle differences
Carrara or Calacatta? People often mix up these two marbles, so I decided to create an ideabook to illustrate the differences. These terms are used interchangeably because both of these Italian marbles are very similar in appearance: white with grey veining. To add to the confusion, much of Calacatta comes from Carrara, Italy. In general, Carrara tends to be greyer with softer veining, while Calacatta is whiter with bolder more dramatic veining. There are additional subtle differences and once you know what to look for, you should be able to distinguish between Carrara and Calacatta. Let’s compare some Houzz examples:
Carrara: Carrara veining tends to be linear. Here, it is complemented with a warm wood island base.
Calacatta: A slab with dramatic grey veining makes a stunning addition to solid surface kitchen countertop and this one here is used for pastry making. Calacatta is rarer than Carrara and is considered a luxury stone.
Carrara: On this waterfall island countertop, the grey veining is small and fine.
Calacatta: A vanity counter and large floor tiles make this master bath light and airy.
Carrara: The backsplash has an overall grey tone and provides the colour in this white kitchen.
Backsplash showdown between glass mosaics and natural stone
Backsplash showdown between glass mosaics and natural stone
Calacatta: Here you see the characteristic large patterning in a slab backsplash.
Carrara: Within Carrara and Calacatta marbles, there is a lot of variability. Here is a very white Carrara.
8 Things You Didn’t Know About Italian Marble
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Carrara: These floor tiles reveal a range of tones.
Tip: When considering any stone tile, ask for at least three samples of the current lot to see the shade variation.
Tip: When considering any stone tile, ask for at least three samples of the current lot to see the shade variation.
Calacatta: Some have really dark patterning. The heavy veining contrasts dramatically with the crisp white tub and silver-gold sanitaryware.
Calacatta Gold: This is a variation of Calacatta with gold mixed in. It works well with both cool and warm tones. There are many types of Calacatta.
Pop quiz: Can you tell what kind of marble this is? (See below for the answer.)
Now that you know the difference, which one do you prefer?
TELL US
Which marble do you prefer and where would you use it? Share your thoughts in the the Comments below.
MORE
10 Marvellous Ways With Marble
(Answer: Calacatta)
Now that you know the difference, which one do you prefer?
TELL US
Which marble do you prefer and where would you use it? Share your thoughts in the the Comments below.
MORE
10 Marvellous Ways With Marble
(Answer: Calacatta)