2020-05-01_Australian_Home_Beautiful

Revered for its enduring appeal,

serene colour tones and intricate

veining, marble lends itself to myriad

styles. From large one-of-a-kind

natural slabs and decorative Carrara

mosaics to honed Calacatta tiles

and beyond, marble offers a timeless

and striking backdrop that has

Minspired a slew of alternatives.

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“A custom-fabricated

surface offers unlimited

design options, from flowing

vanities to sleek inset

shelving and seamless

shower walls”

~ Linda Hannah,

Caesarstone Australia

SHOPPING: real & engineered

ENGINEERED

ALTERNATIVES

An abundance of solid-surface products evoke

marble’s appeal. Many manufacturers use

quartz as a key ingredient to create a highly

durable, virtually non-porous finish. “Some

people like the colour and pattern consistency

of engineered materials like SmartStone or

Caesarstone, and the design possibilities of

products like Dekton’s ultra-slim slabs, which

can be used on walls, bathroom furniture and

cabinet doors,” explains designer Jenefer Gordon

of Eat Bathe Live. Boasting scratch, stain, chip

and heat resistance, engineered finishes are ideal

in busy bathrooms susceptible to make-up

and lotion spills. A recent Silestone addition

are sinks made from a single piece of quartz,

which marketing manager Kate Deakin-Bell of

Cosentino says creates a sleek look when paired

with a benchtop in the same material (see the

Silestone Silver Lake and Iconic Black bathroom,

above). Another option is porcelain and ceramic

tiles, in polished, matt and textured finishes that

cleverly resemble their genuine counterparts

and don’t require sealing. “For supply only,

marble-look tiles range between $60-$250 per

sqm, while engineered surfaces start from

around $350 per sqm,” says Jenefer Gordon.

Bianco Carrara marble,

$418/sqm, CDK Stone.

New Savior

limestone,

$407/sqm,

CDK Stone.

Stockists,

page 212

‘Empira White’,

$1100/sqm installed,

Caesarstone.

‘Statuario Maximus’,

from $1100/sqm

installed,

Caesarstone.

‘Smokedrift Prima’,

$1025/sqm, Corian.

Perth Tumbled

Carrara-look

matt tile

300mm x

600mm,

$89/sqm,

Tile Cloud.

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134 HOMEBEAUTIFUL.COM.AU I MAY 2020