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Indoor exposure to mold spores can lead to various short term and long term symptoms, including nasal and sinus congestion, blurred vision, eye irritation, and chronic cough, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. While mold is a naturally occurring fungus with a key role in the natural environment, allowing any traces of it to grow in your home could have serious health implications for you and your family, which is why you must always take measures to get rid of it the moment you even suspect that it exists in your home. However, getting rid of mold permanently can be a daunting task, and can be particularly problematic if you have marble surfaces in wet areas like the kitchen or bathroom. Natural stones has a high potential for developing mold, but it can be managed easily if you take steps to ensure that you get rid of all the mold on your marble walls, floors and countertops, and prevent it from ever growing back.
Start with a thorough inspection
In many cases, it’s almost impossible to detect a mold infestation, especially when it is in a hidden area like between the grout lines of your marble tiles. When the conditions are ideal, mold takes just a few days to grow and spread on marble tiles, which means that you need to be constantly on the lookout for any signs of an infestation. As such, you need to perform a visual inspection of your marble surfaces at least once a month. To be on the safe side, you can also hire a professional mold inspector once every six months or right after the wet seasons. Using specialized equipment, they can take surface and air samples of your home to a laboratory to get a better understanding of the extent of your mold problem.
Conduct a proper mold remediation exercise
Once you know the extent of your mold problem after the inspection, you’ll know the best way to deal with it. If the problem is not too severe, you clean the mold off your marble surfaces yourself by spraying the area with a mixture of bleach and water, leaving it to sit for about an hour, wiping the area with clean water, and finally, allowing the area to dry completely. Do not use vinegar on marble, as it can weaken, dissolve or discolor the natural stone. In more severe cases, it’s best to hire a professional mold remediation expert to come in with special tools and techniques that ensure that your mold problem is a thing of the past.
Prevent the return of mold
All your mold detection and remediation efforts will be futile if you don’t take the necessary measures to prevent it from growing back. First of all, keep your marble surfaces clean and dry at all times to avoid creating damp areas where mold can thrive. Any water-related problems, such as plumbing leaks, roof leaks, and wet basements also need to be dealt with the minute they arise. If possible, try to keep the humidity level in your home below 50 percent; you can use a dehumidifier for that, or proper ventilation systems throughout your home. If the mold had damaged the grouting between your marble tiles, make sure that you re-grout the tiles and seal the grout to prevent moisture from building up in there.
A mold infestation on your beautiful marble surfaces is not only a threat to your health, but also a threat to the structural integrity of your home. To be on the safe side, inspect your home for mold regularly, and if you find any signs of an infestation, take the necessary action to deal with it once and for all.
Member Guest post by: Jane Sandwood
Looking to upgrade your iPhone? To make the right choice for you, it's important to know the differences between the newest models: the iPhone X and the iPhone 11.
Here are the 3 major factors that set these two devices apart:
Bonus tip: Apple claims that the 11 is more durable than the X, but you should always make sure to protect your phone with a sturdy and reliable case, either way, to keep your phone in great condition for as long as possible.
It's a newer model, but the iPhone 11 was actually cheaper at release than the iPhone X. While the X was $999, the 11 starts at $699 -- or even lower at $399 with the trade-in of an iPhone 8 Plus.
Price is a huge consideration when thinking about upgrading your phone, so knowing that this model is coming out of the gate at a more affordable price can be a deciding factor. Even with all the new features, the price point for the 11 has been pushed back to make it a more feasible option for more consumers.
Overall, it really comes down to what features you are looking for in your new phone. If you love the ability to zoom in on the camera app with no loss of quality, trading that in for an ultra-wide-angle lens may not be your best option. If you're always ready to upgrade to a phone with a larger screen, then the 11 is probably the right phone for you.
Either way, now you will be able to make an informed choice knowing exactly what you're getting, no matter which iPhone you go with.
Guest Post by Matt McCaughey
What does choosing the "color" white say about you?
There is a certain psychological interpretation of colors and how it affects our human brain. Some personality traits can be categorized by the preference of color.
Here we are going to focus solely on the "color" white.
The color white represents the most complete and pure of colors. In psychology, white is often a representation of purity, innocence, wholeness, and completion. The color psychology of white signifies new beginnings such as having a clean slate.
In ancient times or biblical stories, angels were always portrayed with glowing white light and gown shining down.
People who tend to choose white, enjoy simplicity, cleanliness, minimalism.
If we look at professions, doctors in white coats, brides traditionally wear white gowns, and a white picket fence usually gives you the feeling of safety and happy home.
Psychological Influence of the Color White
Meaning Around the World
Most places in the world choose white for their weddings, especially in the western world.
In China and parts of Africa, White is chosen for mourning.
The ancient Greeks wore white to bed to ensure pleasant dreams.
Apple, one of the greatest companies of the 21st century and it's late founder Steve Jobs has strongly preferred white for the company's designs and products. The launch of the first iPod was a beautiful zen-like white.
White signifies the ability to stay calm and balanced, even in the midst of conflict. These type of people bring great gifts of clarity and tolerance and are generally kind, adaptable, and good listeners.
As we all know, white gets dirty easily. Ones who prefer white not only seek cleanliness in appearance but are often associated with higher standards, since it is more difficult to maintain this kind of purity. Even the tiniest spot will be more obvious on white and many people tend to avoid white just for this reason. Your consistent choice of white over other colors shows your confidence in yourself, your openness, fearlessness and your striving for perfection.
However, some may be going through a transitional phase in life and choose white as a symbol of a blank slate or new page; a new chapter in your life.
White is also associated with courage. White cannot hide imperfections, like black can, so if you are wearing white you are usually perceived as a very open, sincere and brave person.
Other qualities of personality color of white are:
Is white your color?
The reason for this article is because the Carrara white marble is a very popular choice amongst the people that use our products. It is also extremely popular in the interior design world because of its characteristics as well as an angelic white background.
Don't you think it's more fun to know the reason behind your choice in color and how it reflects your own personality?
Can you feel white as your color?
If white isn't your color, don't worry! We will explore other colors in the next few articles. Here you can take a look at the psychology of red.
Image source:https://unsplash.com/photos/uE2T1tCFsn8
As each holiday season draws nearer, a lot of stress is caused by the eternal “what can I get for so and so that they don’t have already?”. Let’s admit it – some people are just notoriously difficult to shop for, and any ideas are welcome ideas.
For me, these people are my travel addicted friends. There’s nothing I can get them they don’t either have or can buy on their next trip, which makes local shopping that much more difficult.
So this year, to save myself the trouble, I’ve compiled a list of gift ideas I hope travel lovers will love to find under their trees. Take a look at what I’ve come up with, and let me know if you have anything else to add.
I feel you can never have enough of these – wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, a wireless charger can certainly come in handy. We’ve all gone through the hassle of trying to find a plug socket on the train, in a restaurant, even in museums. So why not skip the trouble and just carry an incredibly stylish one with you, that will not only be there to charge all your batteries, but will also be a great accessory.
Image source:
https://www.mikolmarmi.com/products/roam-marble-luggage-tag?_pos=1&_sid=9783320a4&_ss=r
These also come in handy, but trying to find something that is both unique and durable can be a bit of a challenge. This luggage tag, on the other hand, will definitely help your luggage stand out anywhere, and it also won’t get ruined by the tossing and turning of your bags in transport. Easy to personalize and easy to recognize, a great addition to any travel lover’s arsenal.
What I personally find particularly challenging when traveling is keeping my cards somewhere safe – but also not sitting on them or accidentally snapping them in half. This minimalist wallet is a great way to keep credit and other cards (like travel cards, or even your ID) safe in the smallest of pockets, without them getting scattered everywhere. A very chic accessory to accompany anyone on their travels!
Image source:https://unsplash.com/photos/8s1wfA6aB-4
I often find that people use only photos to remember a trip by, but end up taking so many they can’t tie one image to a particular feeling or smell or sound. With a travel journal, or a travel diary, you can easily jot down you memories, thoughts, feelings and everything you want to remember about a trip, and instantly immortalize it forever.
Add the images to that, and you have a unique way to remember every adventure for the rest of your life. You can either go for a blank journal where you can write down your own thoughts, or buy a ready-made travel journal that can help you both plan and remember a trip.
As someone who can’t sleep a wink on airplane/hotel/any-pillow-other-than-mine, I would find this an excellent gift. Having a comfy place to rest your head, which can also be deflated or packed down super small, is a great item to have on you. You’ll be happy to have it when backpacking or traveling a lot by local busses or trains, especially in Asia or South America. Get your friend one of these, toss in a sleeping mask and some earplugs, and they should be all set to rest comfortably while they get from one place to another.
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/BX4Q0gojWAs
For the backpackers and adventure junkies out there, this can be an incredible gift. It will increase their overall safety and readiness manifold, and they will be thankful they had one on them in an emergency. You can pick a knife with all kinds of different handy tools, so depending on the traveler, personalize it as much as you need to.
Sticking to our adventurer friends, a stand-up paddleboard can be a great gift, one they can take with them even to a local body of water, or one that can accompany them on their globetrotting journeys. It’s a great way to stay fit at home or out on the road, and having it will mean there are fewer excuses to not have a go on the water.
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/J3K8FYkpVJI
Those who fly a lot know how difficult it can be to track down a travel size of everything you want to have with you during a flight, so if you can put together the ultimate in-flight kit, your friends will certainly appreciate it. Think about all the things you yourself use during a flight, and consider their preferences as well. Think in terms of skincare, something to help pass the time, and something to remember you by as well.
In line with the travel diary, a scrapbook can be a great way to store your travel memorabilia, images and other items, like tickets, stubs, menus, etc. Find a scrapbook that your friend would appreciate, and add to it all the scrapbooking essentials, pens, scissors, tape, and so on. Try to stick to a theme, as opposed to getting everything in every possible color.
Image source:https://unsplash.com/photos/co-5m2PaPuE
A great gift if you’re trying to be green and practical at the same time, these straws can be used with anything from coffees to bottles of water, and they’re a great way to cut down on our carbon footprint. They often come with cleaners and their own pouches, so they can be taken anywhere and come in handy when you need them most.
Another travel essential for those who would like to fit as many items into as little space as possible, travel cubes can be a lifesaver. While they may not seem like much, in reality, they’re an amazing way to save space in a backpack or suitcase. They also keep your things separated from each other, so shampoo disasters are less likely to happen.
I hope this list will make your shopping just a tad easier – and that your friends will be excited to see some of these gifts under their trees this season.
Regular Guest Contributor:
7 Unique Birthday Gift Ideas For Your Man
The mainstream trend has far gone, for the present era is thinking out of the box. Especially when you ponder upon the gifts the love of your life deserves, it has to be extraordinary. Thinking out of the box doesn’t mean you try to get your man give a tough competition to Ranveer Singh, we prefer leaving him with his signature style, all alone. A week into the relationship, a year or even a lifetime, we have your back in this article. We got all the perfect 7 ideas rounded up around this article so you know what is best for your man.
We know of the cold beer categorized guys, the whiskey one, but over the course of time, we figured out that there are equally proportion of guys who’s pick up a cocktail over any other poison. For instance, guys who develop a taste of the cocktail, often follow up with their own set of experiments. We bet you guy would too if he is into cocktails, so now is your chance to quench his cocktail fantasy, by upgrading his bar cart.
A classic backpack never goes out of fashion and can be the reciprocation of all the fancy handbags and clutches he gifted you. A yet make his style a lot more subtle with a sleek bag, which he can carry to work outings. Another option you can go for is a small field duffle bag if your man is a fitness junkie or chooses an escape route of small trips every now and then. Hitting a gym in style or traveling with swag in loved by everyone and the idea to make him feel it, is just enough to make him drool all over you again.
It is time to spice up your relationship, and we do not care how long your relationship has lasted. Move out of the old school way and ask your man out on a date by gifting him a beautiful date night set which would lend him a hand while getting ready. A set of pomade, body wash cologne and other such items would definitely draw his attention to you. After all, a perfectly groomed gent is pretty attractive, even for himself as it boosts his level of confidence, while he figures out your spectacular idea.
Styling hair is definitely loved by each and every gent out there. You can, therefore, encourage him to try new hairstyles by getting him a hair clipper which would work just fine. We have a recommendation for you though, the andis speedmaster medium budget clipper.
It is a great alternative to style your man as well if you are into hair styling. You will find some great features embedded with the product and the least you can do is, buy one for your man as a gift. Grooming always starts with a stylish hairstyle.
White kicks are in trend now and guys are moving a lot more into them. You can ask any man about his love for sneakers and he would want to have a wardrobe of the most expensive sneaker exclusively for himself. Well, the best choice you have is a white branded kicks, with slight color patterns, or the way you think he would like. Put all of your efforts to add on yet another stylish sneaker into his collection. We dare you to go for it and see how much he would fall in love with it and you of course.
Not all guys may be a good dancer, but every one of them is into music, it is just some like to groove over the beats while others like enjoying the best of what bass has to offer. Redefine his music experience by getting him the earplugs of superior quality than that one he owns now. Do you part of the research and help your man dwell into his fantasy land of music with every beat so precise, that he would simply be lost in his dream, definitely containing you.
A complete look for a man would end up with sunglasses. Shades are always a better idea when you have cross-checked all the other ideas. Wayfarers have been a trend for a long age, so we highly recommend you to choose a stylish wayfarer. We think a rather great choice would be the one which has a vintage look finely crafted to contain some great contemporary vibes. You can also choose based on your personal interests as well, but make sure it would suit your man giving him the celebrity kinda makeover. We sure hope you would get the perfect one and your other half blushes over your choice and idea.
Guest post by:
The holiday season is approaching rapidly, and it is about time to start shopping for gifts. Buying a gift can sometimes be really hard. You need to consider a lot of things. You need to know the likes and dislikes of the person you are buying for. You need to figure out if the gift will be useful for your friend or not, and you also need to consider your budget.
So, if you have to do a secret Santa at work and the price range is set below a hundred dollars or you have to buy a lot of gifts for many people, and you are trying to follow a budget, here is a list of some amazing, useful and budget-friendly gifts that you can get for less than a hundred bucks. Check this list out for inspiration if you are having difficulty getting a gift for a loved one or a friend.
Bluetooth headphones are a very useful and fun gift. The great thing about them is that they are available in a lot of different price ranges and styles, so it is easy to find one that is according to your preferences. You can get some decent wireless headphones under fifty dollars, but you can also get some really good ones for close to a hundred dollars such as the Ncredible headphones in the above photo for $69.99. This is a great gift fit for the friend who is into music. They are also great for working out because they don't have any dangling wires that could get in your way. These days Bluetooth headphones have a lot of amazing options and you can by a unique and amazing set of headphones as a gift for almost anyone in your life.
Getting some practical and useful appliances as a gift for your friends or family members is a very old tradition. This is an easy gift to buy, and you have a lot of options as well. For a person who likes to cook, you can get a pizza stone. You can also get a robot vacuum for your friends. A robot vacuum won't cost more than a hundred dollars, and it can be very useful for your friends. For a friend who has a great car and likes to take care of it, you can buy a variable speed polisher. Check out porter cable 7424xp polishers if you want to get one. These speed polishers aren't only for cars either, they can also be used to do various cleaning jobs around the house, a speed polisher can make a wooden floor look new, and it can really help in bringing the shine to old furniture. Or even as simple as a wireless charging pad to place through the rooms as function and decor.
If you want to buy a fun and exciting gift for a loved one, then you can get those tickets to a concert or a sports game. If your friend is a fan of sports, then they will love to get a chance to watch their favorite teams live. Now we know you can't get the tickets for some of the big games for under a hundred dollars, but for most games, the back seats are usually less than a hundred bucks. This is a great and super fun gift that your friends or loved ones will love. If the person you are getting a gift for inter into sports that much, you can also buy tickets to a local concert. You can also get your friend tickets to a viewing of your favorite new film at the cinema.
If you want a gift that is a bit more personal and has more meaning, you can have a personalized item made for them. You can get a lot of amazing custom items made for a lot less than a hundred dollars. You can give your loved ones a personalized mug as a gift. If the person you are buying a gift for is a fan of cooking, then you can get a personalized cooking board or a personalized apron for them. You can also buy other custom items like notebooks and keychains for your friend.
If you want to add a personal touch to your gift, then you can go for a sentimental photo album. This gift won't cost you a lot but it will have tremendous value for your friends or loved ones, what you have to do is get an elegant photo album, and put some of the most memorable photos you have with your friends or loved ones in it. This whole gift will hardly cost you a hundred dollars and it will definitely put a smile on your friend's face.
If your friend is a fan of personal fitness, then a fitness tracker is the best gift for them. These amazing devices can really help in optimizing your workouts. They can tell you your heart rate, stress levels, and how many calories you have burnt. A fitness tracker can give you a lot of information that will allow you to plan your diet and workout perfectly. You can also connect these fitness trackers to your phone and get notifications from your phone when you are working out. A fitness tracker is a perfect gift for a person who likes to work out and stay fit, and you can get some amazing fitness trackers for less than a hundred dollars.
Another amazing gift that you can get for less than a hundred dollars is some merchandise. You should know what the person you are buying the gift for likes, and you can buy some merchandise accordingly. You can buy your friend a t-shirt from their favorite movie or TV show, or you can also get some other sports merchandise from your friend's favorite sports team. You can get a baseball cap or a signed poster that you think that your friend might appreciate.
Author Bio:
Anthony Henson has been covering consumer technology for a decade now. He currently covers consumer electronics in the PC Labs as the in-house home entertainment expert, reviewing TVs, media hubs, speakers, headphones, and gaming accessories. He regularly writes blogs at https://www.helpful.reviews/en.
Fathers work equally hard and parents being a mom or a dad, they both are the backbone of the family. Father’s day and our dad’s birthdays are 2 best days to pamper them and make them feel extra loved and cared. Buying a gift for a dad can be a bit difficult as he is not going to easily fess up as to what he would like you to buy for him. Hence try spending some time with him and you will get to know what he likes or needs the most. Also, do keep in mind the budget before choosing a gift. I have listed below 5 perfect gifts for your dad which will put a smile on his face.
Mikol Marble Business Cards
Laser engraved business cards are now becoming very popular in the market. Paper business cards end up getting worn out and lost. Hence marble cards stand out and last a long time. They also attract more business clients because of its attractive design and authenticity. Mikol's laser engraved cards are made of the finest quality marble and these cards will be the perfect gift for our father especially if he owns his own business.
Once you have selected your design all you need to provide are the details you need on the card, and Mikol's graphic design crew will take care of the rest. If you browse on their site, Mikol has made it user-friendly. It has many design templates to choose from. Else you can provide them with your template, font design or artwork and they will assist you 100%. The production team will take over once they have received a confirmation from you and once they have gone through the design that you have selected. For Mikol, quality and customer satisfaction are the topmost priority and as world leaders in marble engraved business cards, they do an excellent job. Your father will love this genuine and personalized present so do go ahead. Check it here.
Coffee Thermos
If your dad is a coffee lover, this will be the perfect gift you can purchase for him. Everybody loves their coffee hot. There are many thermoses available in the market. All of them differ from their size, quality, and even their functionality. If your dad travels a lot you can purchase a spill-proof thermos. If he likes to drink a lot of coffee, you can get a tumbler size or a big coffee mug size thermos with even a lid and a temperature control setting feature along with it. Thermoses with handles can be a bit bulky to keep inside a bag. Also, do check the insulation time frame and material of the thermos. I would say a stainless steel thermos flask is the best option.
One of the best thermos flask in the market today is from Ember. This is the perfect gift you can get for your father. This thermos is a temperature control flask which can be controlled via an Ember app on your father's smartphone. He can set the temperature and once the desired temperature is reached he will get an alert on his smartphone. It comes with a two-hour charging facility and also a charging coaster for an entire day. Its ceramic coating prevents any scratches on it and you can even handwash this without any problem. You can check more excellent coffee thermoses here.
Foldable BBQ table
If your father loves to cook whenever you all have a family BBQ this present will be the best a dad can get. One of the best foldable grill tables available in the market, Camco surely has done justice with its innovative design and quality.
Made from stainless steel, this foldable grill can be opened and closed easily without any hassle. Once open it has a tabletop, two side shelves to keep all your vessels and grilling pieces of equipment and also hooks if in case you want to hang some spoons or towels. The best part about this table is that it is durable and can withstand pressure and weight. As it is portable and comes with a case, your father can even carry it when going on trips. This is an ideal gift for your father who loves cooking and is the heart of the party.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
If anytime your father wants to relax after coming from work or after helping out with household chores, Bose QuietComfort Wireless Bluetooth Headphones is one of the best gifs you can purchase for him. These headphones are also Alexa enabled. Hence your dad can listen to not only music but can keep himself entertained listening to the news.
This Bluetooth enabled headset has a battery life of 20 hours. These amazing noise-canceling headphones are so helpful that even in crowded places you will be able to hear your music or make calls without any outside disturbance. Also, these headphones do not cause any distortion and if taken care of well they can last a lifetime. Once your father downloads the Boss Connect App, he will have the world in his hands from adjusting the noise level to sharing music and can switch off from the world and take a good nap.
Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager
If your father has regular leg discomfort or has to stand for long hours at work or has to walk a lot, this device will be a boon for him. Do check out the charcoal grey foot massager by Miko Shiatsu.
This amazing foot massager massages tired feet using air pressure and heat. You can accordingly set the levels for the massager as per your convenience. This way it increases the blood flow to your tired feet and acts on the pressure points, thus easing the tired nerves in your feet. This device comes with 2 wireless remotes so you can adjust the pressure levels of the massager which are up to 5 levels. By heat getting applied to tired feet and pressure points, it relaxes the feet so well, your father can sit back and sip on a glass of wine or read the newspaper with complete relaxation.
Guest Post by Olivia Moore
Minimalism has changed the style for the Millennial generation. If you’re keeping up with the trends, your home is likely thoughtful and tidy. You’ve spent hours planning each meticulous detail. From the decor on the walls to the functional objects like furniture and entertainment devices, your space has been perfectly knit together by you and for you. However, the work is not done once you’ve put your home together. You still need to keep it clean. We’ve come up with four cleaning hacks to help you keep your purposeful place exactly how you want it.
Make Organization Stylish
You have plenty of objects that are used each and every day. These objects, such as glasses and keys, are used so often that they may not have a permanent home in your space. You don’t want to leave them sitting on a surface while you’re home, however, as this adds unnecessary clutter. Consider creating a beautiful space for your floating objects while they are not in use. There are many ways to solve this problem with style. One great home for these small things is a glass dish, or better yet, a marble wall magnet. These magnets beautify your walls and hold small metal objects, such as glasses or keys, as well. Or simple minimalistic wood & marble trays are easy to keep your space organized.
Hide Your Cords
Our society is becoming more digital every day. Your home is likely filled with cords because they are necessary for charging your devices, but they can be a significant source of clutter as well. Cords crossing the floor or laying in a tangle in a corner are not much of a relaxing sight. Consider finding a sneaky or stylish way to hide or disguise cords in your living place.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Aside from styling your home, you will need to focus on cleaning your space as well. To protect your belongings and the air that you breathe in, you may want to use natural cleaning products. For example, you can make your own vinegar solution to clean glass and other hard surfaces. To make this mixture, fill a spray bottle half full of water and half full of vinegar. Then, squeeze the juice from half of one lemon into the bottle as well. This is better for you as it doesn't affect air quality, and it's better to spray on your belongings than harsh chemicals.
Protect Your Surfaces
In your space, your surfaces are likely pieces that you put thought into. They are also likely to attract messes as you set food and beverages on them. You will want to protect your surfaces from water rings and stains by using coasters and trays. You may want to consider added stylish, marble surface protectors to your collection of functional belongings.
If you are wanting to keep your stylish home a place filled with relaxation and an overall tidy feel, remember to put these cleaning hacks to use. Use stylish organization, hide your cords, protect your surfaces, and clean with natural products. By following these four tips, your stylish living place will stay just as nice as you’ve created it to be.
Guest Post by Jane Sandwood
Marble has long been one of the most desirable natural stones used in art, building, and home decor for centuries. The gleaming metamorphic stone boasts beautiful tones and unique marbling throughout. It’s a sign of elegance, class, and wealth and everyone wants to get their hands on it. It’s an expensive option if you’re planning on decking out your home in marble, but there are also marble accessories that you can find to create glamour in your home without having to take on a full home renovation. Read on to discover the top 5 marble accessory trends of 2019.
Marble sinks have always been around but in 2019 they have made a comeback. A marble sink is a beautiful option as opposed to traditional steel or white colored sink. It’s also a cheaper option if you just use it as an accent on your countertop. In contrast, having an entire countertop made of marble, although beautiful can be costly. Installing a marble sink will add the perfect touch to your kitchen or bathroom. The marble in a sink works beautifully as the backdrop for water flow. Because of its smooth surface, the marble sink is desirable and due to its design, it’s harder to spot stains as compared to a traditional sink. You can install one in your bathroom or kitchen, but keep in mind that you probably use your kitchen sink much more than your bathroom sink.
A marble sink is also easier and quicker to maintain in comparison to an entire marble countertop. It’s a smaller area to seal and upkeep. Marble should always be sealed and special precautions must be taken. Never apply too much heat or the marble can crack. Also, avoid acidic substances from staying out too long in a marble sink or you could end up with scratches, etchings, and stains.
It’s not uncommon to see homes with expensive marble countertops, but imagine having not only marble countertops but also marble tabletops. Marble tabletops are the perfect way for accenting any room in the home with a touch of luxury. You can choose a variety of marble tabletops. Whether it’s the kitchen table, coffee table, side table, or just a nightstand, a marble tabletop adds a modern twist.
Most marble tabletops come in the white shade of marble that has gray marbling throughout. This also helps to lighten and brighten a space. Another marble table trend is to contrast the marble tabletop with gold edging and wooden or metal table legs. This gives the table a contemporary look.
As with all marble, it’s crucial that proper care is diligently followed. Marble is a porous stone and can be easily permeated and discolored. It is also prone to cracking and staining.
In 2019 marble is not just being used as a statement piece accessory such as a sink or large table, it’s also being used as an accessory in the kitchen and other rooms. Particularly popular are marble cheese boards, or charcuterie boards, and marble trays. Marble cheese boards are an eye-catching way to decorate your table when it’s time for guests. Pile on the cheese, meats, and bread, and you’ll be sure to capture not only everyone’s taste buds but their attention too. Marble cheese boards are the perfectly elegant way to pass out a snack and keep them coming for more. It’s also a perfect union between the neutral colors of the board and creamy colors of cheese and the perfect contrast between the pink colored cold cuts.
Marble trays are also “in” this year. These trays can be used for just about anything, carrying snacks, breakfast in bed, and organizing random knick-knacks. You can place these marble trays anywhere in your home from your kitchen to your bathroom and bedroom. The trays are strong and durable, as marble is known to be, and they can hold a lot of weight. To clean your marble tray, make sure you dust it every few days.
Home decor and countertops aren’t the only big thing anymore when it comes to marble. Marble is being incorporated into almost every facet of the home this year. You can find an endless variety of kitchen utensils with marble accents. Choose from forks, knives, and spoons that have marble handles. Usually, these are coupled with stainless steel, copper, or gold tips and edges. You can also find marble rolling pins cutting boards, cake holders, fruit bowls, and much more. Adding these to an already existing marble countertop isn’t overkill if you choose the accessories that have a hint of wood or metal incorporated into the marble. It’s also a beautiful contrast to a countertop that isn’t made of marble.
Marble kitchen tools and utensils can seem like over-extravagance but they have their benefits. Many of these tools and utensils last longer because of marble’s high durability. It’s a fun and classy way to add style to within the small details.
Last but not least, marble accent decor is a must-follow trend for 2019. Adding a touch of marble decor to your living room, bedroom, or bathroom adds prestige, purity, and class. Because of marble’s smooth and lighter toned look, it can help to brighten up space. Consider purchasing marble picture frames and even marble covered clocks for pops of lightness around the room. It’s also the perfect way to draw attention to a certain area in the room.
Another cute way to make a room seem inviting and bright is to plant your favorite green plants or flowers into marble pots. These pots come in all shapes and sizes, from mini planters to large vases. The combination and contrast of green with the lightness of the marble creates a beautiful and calming look.
Marble Galore
Don’t shy away from 2019’s marble accessory trends. You don’t have to stick with only marble countertops anymore. Take any room in your home from zero to hero by adding marble accents around the house. Following the top 5 Marble Accessory Trends of 2019 will instantly beautify your home and give it that luxurious look that you and your house deserve.
Guest Post by:
Emmy Noel
A Simple Guide for Selecting Marble Designs
Marble has and always had an unrivaled presence in the interior designing world. It's carried that luxury elegant appeal for centuries. The beauty of marble is not just in it's distinct characteristic and artistic flow. But there is a piece, a style that fits everyone. Some find the busy veins through a clear white background stylish and appealing, others may prefer a clean simple look.
Before you plan for which piece and style to go for with natural marble, learn what should be added and what should be avoided while making a choice of the stone. Here, we have brought to you a simple guide to help you select the perfect natural marble piece:
The Timeless Elegance
As per the trends, the classic white marble remains the top choice when it comes to selecting any sort of decoration piece. This snowy look has been luring marble fans for years, and the craze is nowhere fading. While making the selection you will come across varying cuts in style as you explore deep into the quarry. Each of it has its unique elegance and can be selected according to the budget and requirement. As long you know what to expect out of these white marble designs, they can be an elegant choice for home interior or product selection that can last a lifetime. Here are some factors to look for while selecting these veiny stones:
Varieties
Natural marble comes in hundreds if not thousands of varieties and each of it has its boundless elegance. Green, gold, taupe, black, and red, purple, blue, and the list goes on. This is why so many people go to a designer or stone specialist to select. The easiest way is to slowly narrow down what you like and don't like, starting with color. Narrow down to a few colors that you prefer, and from there decide if you want a veiny marble or less veiny. As you slowly deduce the selection in marble categories, you can eventually come to a piece that belongs to you.
Veining
When it comes to veining, there are certain types of patterns of stone and is usually differentiate by cross cut and vein cut. These patterns are utilized to give a certain look to your design, whether home interior, furniture and luxury fashion products. While the cross cut will impart an open flowered pattern, the vein cut allows you to achieve the linear and striped appearance.
Finish
Technology has brought a wave in the marble industry, enabling the use of several tools to attain certain types of finishes. The honed and polished technique are one of the more popular options leveraged by the artisans. Most people love that glossy clean feel to bring out the rich colors of the natural stone. However, artists, designers sometimes do enjoy trying different finishes to stand apart from the general population, using leathered finish, sandblast, textured, and so on. The honed finish is also a famous choice imparting a matte appearance to the whole interior. The honed finish is recommended because it hides the natural etching of the natural material.
Color
Since we are dealing with a natural material, the base color may vary from piece to piece. Many times we come across questions and frustrations that one piece is more yellow than the other when it comes to white marble. It's not that it's yellow, but when you put a really white marble piece next to a slightly less white marble, the less white appears to be yellow in comparison. So if separated, you don't "discover" this issue. It's not the issue of the stone, just there are so many shades in the marble quarry. And since it is a natural material, there is no way to control the outcome.
The best part about working with natural marble is whether it is an accessory or kitchen slab, it can always be re-polished. So, if you feel the interior needs a new touch, go for it without any hesitation.
Is it your first time picking out natural marble slabs for your new project? Not to worry, the best part about choosing a marble piece is that there isn't an exact answer. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This saying holds very true when it comes to choosing marble slabs. People like different colors, different patterns, veining, texture, etc. Italian marble and craftsmanship are the most well known, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's the best. Just like German cars are known for great automobiles. But they aren't necessarily the best depending on your needs and what you're looking for.
So how do we tackle this overwhelming mission! What is the best marble slab for your countertops, walls, flooring, bathroom, home decor piece?
You want to first picture what color stone fits your master design. This way when you walk into your neighborhood slab yard, you won't feel stressed out with a plethora of options. You can easily zone into the colors that match your design and see which marble slab characters match your personality.
Finding the right marble slab can bring a sense of nature into your living space as no other material can. It demonstrates your artistic flavor with class and lux.
As mentioned above, you should already have an idea of the color and style of marble you want for your next project.
Picking out marble slabs is like walking into an art gallery, where you have the beauty of all sorts of colors, styles, patterns, etc. It is best to keep an open mind and have a general idea of the color marble you desire.
Do you want a lot of veining in your marble piece or very little? There's no right or wrong answer, but more of a personal preference.
Marble stone is unique because every piece is always different. So be sure to check a few different marble slab facilities in advance to see if they have the type of stone you want. Check and see if they are willing to send some photos for you to preview.
Also finding the right dimensions and quantity you require could also save you money in your project. Then let the slab gallery know you will be coming for a visit to see the physical marble slab piece. Photos could come out quite different than the actual piece. Lighting could be slightly off, some inherent flaws in the stone may not be present in the photos. This will allow you to ensure the right piece for your project.
You also want to inspect the quality of the polish as well as cracks in the slab. Having a cracked slab is quite frustrating. Think about every time you come across your marble countertop and you see that crack that you missed when shopping for a slab. It is such an eyesore!
However, fissures and cracks are entirely different. Natural marble often carries fissures which appear to crack, but are actually just part of the natural characteristic of the stone. You shouldn't be able to feel the fissure. A common test in the industry is to run your nail across it. If it catches your nail, then it's more likely a crack. Fissures are part of the stone's character and don't change the integrity of the stone.
One of the most fascinating aspects of natural marble aside from its luxurious beauty is the history behind it. Most stone quarries have a long history that was passed from generation to generation. It's a great cocktail story when you have friends over to explain why you chose that piece along with the story behind it.
