Musings from the Marble Mecca: Italy
When you think of Italian Renaissance sculptures or architectural marvels like the Pantheon, the Duomo of Siena, and Michelangelo’s David, what comes to mind first? The master artisans who shaped them, or the mediums they used to craft their legacies?
A few summers ago, my family spent two weeks in Italy, exploring Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast. One of the most unforgettable stops was Carrara—although it’s a small town spanning just 30 square miles, it has a legacy of 650 quarries, of which approximately 150 remain active.
Driving through the Apuan Alps, glacier-like white peaks sparkle in the distance. These open-air quarries reveal themselves as a source of the world’s most exquisite marble. Among the rarest is Calacatta Gold—prized for its luminous white surface and striking veins that range from soft beige to regal gold. This extraordinary stone has an almost alchemical ability to transform a space, making it brighter, expansive, and inviting.
Regardless of variety, natural stone tells the story of creation and the force of nature. No two pieces are alike—just as no two families or homes are alike. This philosophy guides our work, where we seek materials that harmonize with an environment and its inhabitants, ensuring a home feels personal and intentional.
The materials we choose for homes are more than just aesthetic decisions; they tell stories of our values and how we spend our time. Paint, textiles, and furnishings offer the flexibility to be reimagined as the seasons of life change. But stone is different in its inherent permanence. There is a dance of delicacy and force in the cycle of mining, fabricating, and installation. It becomes the foundation of our day-to-day— the surface for preparing meals, setting tables, hosting guests, and self-care rituals.
When designing a space, my team and I jump at the chance to find a unique, natural slab that adds both energy and purpose to a home. When the moment allows, marble is our immediate choice for its crystaline transparent pockets, abstract veining, and porous composition, which comes with the promise of patina.
The ruins of past civilizations remind us that stone endures and is meant to be moulded. But stone is uncompromising; demanding to be worked with on its own terms. Its natural resistance to manipulation keeps designers sharp, challenging us to be precise yet flexible, balancing technical skill with a sculptor’s intuition.
This legacy is why we continually seek ways to refine our use and placement of stone in a home, recently exploring custom elements like mitered-edge sinks, seamless shower benches, sculptural range ledges, and backlit countertops that glow from within.
Home and legacy are intertwined. My ultimate goal is to create timeless, functional environments where each feature is a natural extension of those who inhabit it—telling a story of my clients, my artisanal partners who hone their craft, and of nature’s ability to stand the test of time.
