UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CARRARA, CALACUTTA AND STATUARIO MARBLE:
Make no mistake, as similar as these two natural stones are, there are some key distinctions – find out what they are before buying.
Many designers and homeowners alike are faced with the confusion that comes along with differentiating between Carrara and Calacutta marble, and they aren’t truly to blame for their confusion because the differences between Carrara and Calacutta marble are pretty subtle and incredibly nuanced – it often takes an expert eye. Much of the lack of understanding is due to the fact that they are both high-quality Italian marbles that are awfully close in appearance. Both Carrara and Calacutta marble are white with elegant grey veining.
Worse yet, a great deal of the world’s Calacutta marble comes from Carrara, Italy – where does it end? Because of this, they are often used interchangeably, but if you really want the correct stone for your home, you’d be wise to know the key distinctions. Generally speaking, Carrara is a deeper grey with much softer veining, while Calacutta skews whiter with thick, substantial veining.
Still, Carrara vs. Calacutta marble: where are the differences? Well, you’re not alone, and like many if you haven’t been able to tell the subtle differences between these two beautiful stones, this article should be a great guide and reference point to help you understand those differences and hopefully make the choice for your home or office all the more easy. At last, you’ll know how to tell the difference between Carrara and Calcutta marble.
CARRARA MARBLE:
Carrara marble is the most common marble found in Italy, and it’s named after the region it comes from – Carrara, Italy. Carrara marble is often classified as much softer looking than Calcutta because of its subtle light grey veining that can sometimes hue toward blue. It’s often characterized by soft feather grains that homeowners go crazy over.
It makes for an incredibly unique looking material, as each slab of Carrara marble is created from one block, and when installed by a professional hand, the grains and veins run together and create a stunning design pattern, which ensures no two Carrara marble surfaces have exactly the same design.
CALCUTTA MARBLE:
Calacutta marble is often much whiter, a characteristic many homeowners and service professionals associate with luxury. It’s generally bright white with thick, elegant veins that can come in a variety of colors from beige all the way to gold.
It also comes from the same place in Italy, but Calcutta is usually much smoother than your typical Carrara marble. Because of its classic, timeless look, Calcutta marble has been a mainstay in bathrooms and as kitchen counter-tops for years. If you enjoy more dramatic veins in your natural stone, then Calcutta may be the right option for you.
CARRARA MARBLE FOR BATHROOM:
Carrara marble is one of the classiest choices you can make as far as bathroom decor goes. This elegant bathroom has a Carrara marble counter, as well as marble tiling throughout the entire space. While it looks incredible, keep in mind that if you also have a marble basin (sink), you’re going to spend a lot of time cleaning and wiping it down – you don’t want to let all the moisture sit there and take hold.
If you keep up with the maintenance, then it should look great for a long time, rather than dull and fade in a pretty short time. For this reason, this type of material is best kept to the counter-top, but even that will be water prone in a bathroom, so keep on top of it and your bathroom will look lustrous for years to come.
CALACUTTA MARBLE FOR BATHROOM:
While Calacutta marble is expensive and some homeowners might hesitate to use it in the bathroom, when done well this natural stone can be a major highlight, taking a boring bathroom to the next level. Calacatta marble will lighten up any bathroom with a great back splash and make all who use it feel like royalty, as long as they do the proper maintenance to safeguard against its porous nature by cleaning regularly and sealing frequently.
This type of marble seems to suck up most anything that falls on its surface, so you’re going to want to protect your investment by implementing a strict, no excuses cleaning schedule. Never use any acidic or other harsh cleaning agents on your Calcutta marble, as only products designed specifically for stone care should ever touch it.
CARRARA MARBLE FOR KITCHEN:
Carrara marble adds a flair of style to any room, and this is especially true in the kitchen where it’s one of the most popular choices for kitchen counter-tops and islands. It’s light yet elegant color helps the kitchen area look more spacious, putting all who eat and cook there at ease. Take care of your marble by giving it the occasional polish as well as a strong seal, and it should remain pristine for years to come.
This Carrara marble counter-top has thick yet soft grey veins running through it, and it really showcases the quality of the stone. Usually, Carrara marble works better in the kitchen than Calacutta because it tends to be darker and more heavily veined, hiding all those coffee, wine, and food stains that are bound to occur.
CALACUTTA MARBLE FOR KITCHEN:
Obviously, Calacutta marble looks great on any surface or room, but when used in the kitchen it comes with greater maintenance responsibilities. While there really isn’t much of a difference between Carrara and Calacutta marble when it comes to being stain-proof, there is a difference between how visible these stains will be – remember, Calacatta tends to be whiter. They are both pretty porous, and nobody would classify either of them as low-maintenance.
However, if you’re insistent on using Calacatta marble in the kitchen, there are ways it can work. Just be vigilant about stains and always seal (and reseal!) your marble to prevent etching and premature aging. Things are often dropped in the kitchen, so there’s certainly a possibility that a heavy pan or kitchen tool could chip your precious marble.
STATUARIO MARBLE- A BRIEF:
Appearance: Statuario marble is a more exclusive stone with distinct grey and gold veining throughout and a striking, bold pattern. This marble is considered to be one of the major white marbles. Statuario marble contains heavy, bold grey veining mixed with thinner patterns.
Origin: Statuario marble is also quarried in Italy. The mountain quarries of Statuario marble are located above Carrara. Statuario has limited availability and high demand. The low availability of this marble makes it more of a rare find.
Application: Statuario marble is an ideal stone for indoor applications such as kitchen counter-tops and backsplashes, bathroom vanities, and floor tiles. Statuario marble should not be used for exterior applications.
Availability: 12”x12”, 18”x18”, 24”x24”, 36”x36” and 3/4″ Slab. Book-matched slabs also available.
Note that regardless of the type of marble you decide to use in your space, all marbles should be sealed before use to reduce the appearance of stains and sustain the integrity of the stone. Light scratching will also occur with all marbles mentioned. Since marble is a natural stone it will age and change with time.