If you're looking for a way to add an element of drama to your home consider natural stone flooring. This is a beautiful durable solution that comes directly from the earth and is not only dramatic and eye-catching but can last a lifetime.

Stone flooring brings the color and texture of nature into your home and adds a warmth that is unique from every other floor covering. It is naturally cool in the summer and works well with radiant heating in the winter. If you are looking for the perfect transitional material to create an indoor/outdoor flow in your home, natural stone flooring is the answer.

Let's look at three of the most popular choices in natural stone flooring; slate, travertine, and marble.

Slate Flooring

Slate is among the most affordable of all the natural stone options and as a result, is one of the most popular choices for homeowners. It is uniquely versatile and available in a wide variety of colors. A metamorphic stone, slate's color varies depending on the mineral content of the soil in which it forms. Because of how it is formed, slate splits into thin sheets easily making it easy to turn it into tile.

Colors can range from gray to green, purple to black, gray to brown and can feature hints of gold, green, blue and red. While there is a wide variety of color choices, overall slate tends to be rather dark which makes it look dramatic and rustic while remaining incredibly resilient and durable. Because slate is cleft or split, it's surface looks rough and uneven. This is great in more rustic settings but may not be the best choice if you're are looking for a minimalist or more modern décor.

Travertine Flooring

Another common selection of homeowners, travertine, is often sold as marble or limestone although, in fact, it is neither. Travertine is a sedimentary stone composed primarily of calcite and as a result is a bit softer than limestone or marble. Travertine sometimes gets a bad rap for being a fragile material, but the 300-year-old Trevi Fountain in Rome is made of travertine, 'nuf said. It is much lighter in color than slate and comes in predominantly tan, beige and light brown color palettes.

If you're looking to recreate the warmth and look of a Tuscan villa in your home, travertine is a great choice. Travertine does not hold a shine, but once it settles into its natural matte terracotta patina it provides a warmth that no other stone can match!

Marble Flooring

From ancient times marble has been the choice of caesars and kings and is found in castles and mansions throughout the world. Today, homeowners can have this beautiful stone in theirs. Unlike travertine or slate, marble can be polished for an ultra glamorous look. Marble is resilient, hard and beautiful and can last several lifetimes!

While it is a hard stone, like travertine, marble can stain or scratch. As a result, marble does need some ongoing maintenance to keep it's luster. The best solution is to have your floors professional sealed and unless you are looking for a high glass shine, leave it with a honed (raw, unpolished) finish.

Quality marble flooring comes with a big price tag. That being said, marble flooring is an elegant, luxurious and glamorous look that is at home in almost any décor.

Natural stone flooring is durable, stylish, resilient, and stunningly beautiful. No matter what style your home, a natural stone floor will add warmth and luxury. From the rustic beauty of slate to the elegance of marble if you're looking for an improvement that will last a lifetime and add value to your home, consider installing a natural stone floor. 

About Toulmin Kitchen & Bath Design - We're West Alabama's award-winning, premier kitchen and bath showroom. We're experts who are known for a design-build process that makes the construction process stress-free. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a design consultation.