Marble Use In Modern Tuscan Architecture

Tuscan Architecture involves a brilliant conglomeration of the classical element of the Old World Europe along with the modern architecture. The beauty of this craft has been, no doubt, enhanced by the use of the natural stones like the marble, limestone and travertine. Along with them, the wooden beams are used at times.

A typical Tuscan architecture includes marble fireplaces and fountains as well as the gates made of wrought iron. It uses the delicate house decorative of Italy to create the atmosphere of elegance. Though different ingredients have combined together to give the Tuscan architecture its brilliant look, marble is the one single ingredient that plays the most significant role in this school of architecture.

In fact, the nature of marble suits the exotic element of the Tuscan architecture quite beautifully. First of all, marble has a rich heritage. This is a stone that has been used in home decoration and art for thousands of years. In fact, the ancient civilization in Greece saw an extensive use of marble. They normally used the Parian and Pentelic marbles that were quarried in the country. In subsequent times, the use of marble spread to the Roman Empire as well. No wonder therefore, the marble has traditionally been associated with the Hellenistic ideas.

If the history of marble suits the Tuscan architecture, its splendor furthers the glory of Tuscan art. This stone is smooth, beautiful and has a natural grace. Naturally, the incorporation of marble in a household is sure to increase the beauty and appeal of it.
The versatility of marble is yet another factor that adds to the usefulness of this natural stone. In fact, the possibility of using marble is simply endless. Thus, marble can be used for flooring, to create the pillars, countertops, colonnades, stair cases and thousands of other architectural structure. Marbles have been also used to make sculptures as well.

So many qualities have given marble its prestigious place in the world of art. Naturally, the Tuscan architecture has embraced this stone with joy. However, the greatest use of the marble in the Tuscan architecture is found in the floor. This is the part of the entire architecture that has given the Tuscan art such a wide range of color and style

Generally, the floors are made of marble. Sometimes, marble is mixed with other elements to give a unique look to the house. Thus, the terrazzo floors are made by mixing the different stones and stucco along with the chips of marble. Sometimes, the different stones, glass and tiles are used to create a brilliant mosaic s well. Also, there are the ceramic floors and terracotta tiles along with the marble that creates the impression of the true Tuscan architecture.

Typical Tuscan art also pay good attention to the walls where the hand painted decorative are placed. Generally, warm colors are used to give the feel of basking. The ceilings too, receive a lot of textures. In the exterior, the Tuscan architecture ensures that you own a garden worth looking.

Selecting The Right Mantel

Fireplace mantels form an indispensable part of houses. It can give a feeling of comfort in the cold days. A beautiful fireplace mantel can also serve as an excellent background for the house. While considering about the remodeling of the house and giving it a new look, one needs to take proper care of the fireplace mantels. It is crucial part for the interior designing of the house and can change the complete look of the room. Thus make sure that you know the basic facts and make a prudent choice while selecting the right mantel.

A person who is planning to remodel his house or wants to replace his old fireplace with a new one needs to follow certain tips. This would help him select the best fireplace mantels for the house. One needs to check certain measurements related to the fireplace mantels while shopping for fireplace mantels. The measurement of the fireplace hearth is crucial in this case. If a person can find the appropriate measurement of those figures then he would be able to get the suitable mantel easily.

The measurements of the fireplace mantel as well as its surroundings are important when a person installs a new mantel in the house. These measurements are also important when a person replaces the existing fire mantel with a new one. To replace an existing fireplace mantel, a person needs to measure the full width of mantel’s top. The shelf width should be measured from the widest part. Then one needs to measure the shelf depth. This should be measured from front edge to wall. After this, one should measure the total height and depth of the mantle. Projection depth, side distances, opening height and width of the mantle should also be measured.

Measurement for the new mantel as well as it surroundings should be given equal importance. Many people, these days, prefer to have a fireplace mantel without surrounding or shelf. They need to calculate the measurement of the facing height and facing width at first. Then they need to calculate the total height and width of the facing. One should never forget the measurement of facing depth, as it is important to find the proper mantle. The opening width and height of the fireplace mantle should also be given equal importance. Depth, height and width of the hearth as well as the side distances of the mantle play an important role to find the best mantle for the house.

A person who wants to have an attractive fireplace in his house should look for several mantle types before purchasing. Apart from the measurement, one should consider the material that would be best for the fireplace mantel. Marble and granite are some of the popular materials for fireplace mantels. These are natural stones. With their unique characteristics, they can give a unique look to the house. One should also decide the color and patterns of the fireplace mantel properly so that the room gets an elegant look. A beautiful mantel can increase the warmth of the fireplace and give a bright setting to the room.

The Heritage Called Marble: How Has It Evolved over the Ages?

When you bring marble home, you not only take an incredible piece of stone, you also bring with it a heritage that is thousands of years old. There are thousands of pieces of work on marble that has withstood the test time. The ancient Greeks and Romans used the marble to decorate their houses. During that time, the marble was used in floorings, columns and many other parts of the house. The artists used them for their sculpture as well. Many of the constructions that had been made years back are still there- a fact that itself proves the durability of marble.

Marble fireplaces have been an extremely popular way of using marble. There are examples of very old marble fireplaces that have been made centuries back. In fact, when it comes to the marble fireplaces, there have not been many changes from the previous versions. However, to suit the taste of the modern times, they have grown smaller and a bit precise. But they have retained the same appeal and taste.

A significant point to note is that, some marbles that were very popular some two or three hundred years ago are still in the vogue. Thus, there is a steady demand of Botticino and Carrara from Italy, while the Estromoz from Portugal is still popular for the marble fireplace construction. However, with the passage of time various new kinds of marble have been discovered and now many kinds of marbles are available across the globe. Naturally, this has given a new range of color, texture, and shades to choose from as far as the use of marble is concerned. In most of the cases, the marbles are supplied from India, China, Spain, Brazil, Egypt and Norway.

As the supply has reached a new high, the price of the marble has understandably gone down. In the last two decades, different manmade marbles have been introduced in the market as well and they are cheaper than the natural marbles. However, the artificial marbles do not have the variety in shades and textures that the natural pieces have. Rather, they are plain and almost identical.

As can be understood a marble fireplace some 200 years ago was incredibly expensive. So, it could have been found only in the house of rich people. However, to keep the expense within the budget, people at that time used to install marble only at certain portions of the fireplace. The same trend can be traced today as the use of real marble in the hearth and back is a common trend these days. Apart from keeping the budget under control, this is also a good option for the electric and gas fires.

Though the advent of artificial marble has influenced the market, the demand and appreciation for the natural marble has remained the same if not more. So, people also use the fake fireplaces made with marbles to enhance the beauty of the house. The beauty of marble is not only limited to the fireplace. It can add charm from any part of the room –be it the kitchen, living room or bed room the effective use of marble can for sure enhance the look of the place.