Marble is one of the most beautiful and sophisticated natural stones that exist. This stone has the impressive ability to add vast amounts of class to any space. It also has the unique feature of offering a wide range of colors and patterns. Marble is an inspiring natural material found as a strong element within the built environment dating back to Greek times to the present day. Marble has made a deep impression on the architecture, furniture design, and art community, to name a few. Although solid marble is a hard material, it can be softened by the complementary elements that surround it, especially metal. Metal is used to support the marble both structurally and aesthetically.
Architectural Marble and Metal
Marble is used in architecture not only to adorn a building on the interior and exterior, but also to increase the attractiveness of the building by adding value. Marble is often reinforced with metal to increase its strength and allow the stone to support additional weight. Metal is also used to aesthetically accentuate or highlight stone in architectural details, as the two elements complement each other. In classical architecture, metal is often found as a dark finish, either black or bronze, which creates a high contrast against light-colored marble. Metal is used on the exterior of a building in modern architecture as a frame to support the marble cladding. In addition to metal-framed doors and windows, it is also used as ornamentation, facade panels, canopies, and sculptures. The metal support is not always visible from the outside of the building. Metal is often used as reinforcing bars inside the marble or supports behind the marble to structurally support it without making it visible. These are great examples of how complementary metal is to stone, whether you see it or not. Metal is a common element in marble architecture to both support and accentuate the natural beauty of the stone.
marble and metal stairs
Marble is a popular choice for stair treads, both for interior and exterior spaces, with its different colors and natural characteristics. Normal wear and tear, including scratches and etching, is part of the characteristics of natural marble and adds to its beauty. Although marble stairs often have marble or wooden balustrades, the most elegant and aesthetically balanced option is metal railings. The most traditional option would be a wrought iron railing with a black finish. They are usually cast iron spiral designs or twisted rod designs. A modern take on metal railings is stainless steel with horizontal bars or cables. Both traditional and modern metal railings complement the marble stair treads well.
marble and metal vanities
In the bathroom, marble is commonly used on the bathroom vanity and is often supported by a metal frame or cabinet. A stainless steel base with a marble top makes a great combination in a bathroom looking for a modern look or wanting a sleek, uncluttered, easy-to-clean look. Metal bases lend themselves well to small bathrooms where a wooden cabinet may take up too much space or fail to achieve the desired look. Combining the metal base with a marble top, floor or walls allows the beautiful marble to be the feature of the space and softens the look of the stone. Other metallic elements in the bathroom that complement the stone are faucets, fittings and light fixtures. Metal has the unique ability to make marble look smoother, whether through a support frame or ornamentation of an installed fixture.
