Atlanta GA March 2010 (published)  For thousands of years marble, apart from reflecting a sophisticated taste has been used to increase the value of spaces residentially and commercially. Of all the marble products in the world the most sought after is Carrara a white marble with grey veining. Carrara Venato spectacularly changes a bland space into a luxurious one and brings millions of years of beauty to stay.

Due to the splendor and versatility of Carrara, Traditions and Stone have created a plethora of mosaic choices from honed Hexagon and Herringbone to creating a modern twist with black dot insert Basketweave and 2” Octagon. Along with mosaics, tiles and trims Carrara marble has been used and crafted in many fine sculptures, fine furniture and fireplaces for centuries.

Since marble is ancient, there is no grading standard to it, instead it was categorized by its originating place as it is even today such as an Italian Carrara, Danby from Vermont, Macael from Spain, Makrana from India, Paros from Greece, Penteli from Greece, Proconnesus from Turkey and Yule from Colorado.

Of these the most expensive is the Carrara from Italy. Used extensively in building hallways in Victorian architecture, this white marble was also a favorite for fireplaces and sculpture. The Marble Arch in London and the Duomo di Siena are some famous examples made from this stone.

If you go further down in history, you can find the Pantheon and Trajan's Column in Rome built of Carrara. Many sculptures of the Renaissance were carved from Carrara marble.

Most notable of these times was Michelangelo who also owned a marble quarry. Michelangelo's David, was carved from Carrara marble and still serves as a great draw for tourists and locals alike at the V&A Museum in London. The statue was gifted to Queen Victoria by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1857, and was given by the queen to the South Kensington Museum now the V&A. Today.

Certain formats of Carrara marble tiles are in larger formats 18x18” these are quite expensive and can take a lot of handling care for installation, subway tile in 3x6” or 6x12” is the most popular choice for wall tiles. Polishing the stone brings out the beauty with the inborn designs and colors shine. The more you polish it the more glass like in appearance it gets. Carrara Venato 3x6” polished is a perfect example of this glass like appearance bringing out all the natural variations in almost high definition finish.

While polished Carrara has dominated the popularity of Carrara mosaic tiles in the 1980s it is ‘honed’ Carrara marble mosaics and accessories that has emerged as the dominate finish at the turn of this century. Bathrooms of the 21^st century use honed Carrara marble with a 3x6” Subway tile for walls, 12x12” or 18x18” in a floor format and a Basketweave insert on both the floor and in the shower as a motif to breakup the design. The finished look is exquisite and the honed surface keeps it subtle.