Marble in the bathroom

30Sep08

Few materials can compare with the beauty and elegance of marble. This ornate stone can be used all over your home to create a sophisticated look. However, many people hesitate to use marble tiling and countertops in their bathrooms.

While marble is very durable, most natural stone products are prone to cracking, so it’s not a good idea to use marbles in bathrooms that have a lot of traffic or ones regularly used by children.

Cleaning marble bathrooms is surprisingly easy but it does require a regular routine to keep the stone looking rich. Some experts recommend using plain water, but most suggest gently wiping surfaces with a mild cleaning solution.

This should be followed with a clear water rinse to avoid streaks or soapy build-up. Never use harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners or vinegar on a marble surface. Vinegar chemically reacts with the calcium carbonate in the stone, strips the shine, and permanently etches the surface.

The finest spas in the world use marble to create a luxurious environment. You can create a similar experience in your own home. Marble bathrooms are a great home addition investment and you get great value for your money.

It’s beauty is timeless, the stone is very resilient, and it is surprisingly easy to maintain. There really is no reason to fear using marble in your bathroom at home. It will create a space that will have you feeling like you’re living in the lap of luxury.

Marble tiling is the perfect choice for a formal master bath floor and wall. Since this is a natural product taken from the earth, there is very little control in veining and color variation. There are countless designs, colors, surface textures, tile patterns, and edge details available.

The stone is available in a variety of color variations such as whites, black, yellows, reds, creamy neutrals, subtle earth tones, greens, tawny browns, and even scarlet reds, and will be either clouded or veined. The colors of marble can be combined with different types of accents, borders and patterns to produce a dramatic effect to your bathroom.


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Hand carved stone fireplaces

30Sep08

In these days of mass produced stone fireplaces, it’s nice to know that real hand carved stone fireplaces are still available. Master Stonemason Barry Humphries and his team at Humphries Stonemasons in Hungerford, Berkshire have earned an enviable reputation for distinctive, high quality, hand carved stonework – they eschew the use of computer controlled cutting machines in favour of a hammer and chisel and believe that this traditional approach gives their stonework the edge, without breaking the budget.

Hand carved stone fireplaces exude a timeless quality that imported machined stone simply cannot match and in the skilled hands of Master Mason Barry Humphries and his team, a piece of stone is painstakingly honed into a unique masterpiece that will enhance any property.

Humphries Stonemasons range of hand carved stone fireplaces and fire surrounds can be designed to suit all tastes and all types of home.

Whatever your choice, be it a grand baronial style, a simple minimalistic design, something suitable for a small flat, or an ultra modern shape in which you are more likely to insert a TV set than a live fire then Humphries Stonemasons can produce it for you.

Should you also require a stove, woodburner or gas fire, they can advise and supply from a large range of Jetmaster, Magiglo or Stüv appliances.

Have a look at humphries-stonemasons.co.uk


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