By Megan Murray
There is nothing quite like marble. As each slab is unique, the veining, mix of colours and pattern of every table, worktop or floor is unlike any other. Its durability makes it popular, too; a marble piece will move with you from home to home, while remaining timeless.
We use marble throughout the interior and exterior spaces at our Houses. A favourite of our design team, you'll see marble in the reception at Soho House Paris, adding warmth to the space with rich, orange tones, as well as on the deep burgundy rooftop bar at Soho House Rome, sourced in Italy. Its presence is also reflected in Soho Home's collections, which feature 13 marble varieties sourced from across the world (learn more about choosing the right marble for your home here).
'Marble is the way to make a statement in your home,' says Gareth Lewis, Soho Home's Senior Creative Director. 'It can feel retro but also ultra-modern, and can be used in so many different ways all over the house. It's the material of the moment, but it lasts forever, too.'
Here, we ask our experts from Soho Home, Soho House and our Interior Design Service about where and how to use marble in your home.
Dining room
As Soho Home's Senior Creative Director, Gareth Lewis leads the design of our marble dining tables. He shares why these pieces are intended to make a statement and how they give entertaining spaces a focal point.
'Marble looks amazing when carved into a sculptural shape, which is why we have designed our new dining tables like the Illario with bold, pillared legs.
'When choosing your dining chairs, marble looks great with upholstery because the juxtaposition between hard and soft looks effective. I would choose a design featuring a boucle, velvet or linen seat.
'Another consideration with a large piece like a dining table is lighting. I think marble ups the ante, so you need lighting that can hold its own. A beautiful, large glass chandelier like the Juliana would be my preference.
'Finally, go minimal with the rest of this space. You don't need dressers or cabinets around the room and I would restrict the amount of dining chairs you position around the table in the day - store a few in a different part of the house so that you can appreciate the design details when it's not being used. Then, choose some lovely art and a ceiling light.'
Entrance hall
Soho House's Lead Designer, Severine Lammoglia, explains how using marble in an entrance hall can set the design tone for the rest of the home.
'We used marble for the reception desk in Soho House Paris because, as the first thing you see, it makes a real impact. In this instance we chose a marble featuring tones of orange and red - we generally like our spaces to feel rich and warm. I would advise choosing a colourful marble because the whole point is to make that statement.
'A way to incorporate marble into your entrance hall could be with a stand-alone table, like the Fawsley side table, accessorised with a vase full of flowers. It adds a point of interest and you could place some home fragrance on there too, so that the scent greets your guests.'
Living room
Soho Home's Interior Style Manager, Candy Murray, offers ideas on furniture to pair with marble for the living area.
'Marble is really versatile - both neutral and colourful pieces work with anything from wood finishes to textured upholstery. A general rule for styling your living room is that coloured marble coffee and side tables look great next to neutral-toned seating, especially in boucle.
'As marble is such an investment, you want to really show it off. I would choose a coffee table like the Oxley, which combines a bold shape with striking veining, and place it in the middle of the seating area. Position a sofa in front, with a pair of occasional chairs opposite.
'Another way to use marble in a living room is to embellish architectural features with a marble trim. I've seen beautiful examples of neutral living rooms with marble architraves in deep green - it elevates the whole space and really stands out.'
Bathroom
Lammoglia shares inspiration from the bathrooms in our Houses to try at home.
'We often use marble in our bathrooms in the Houses, but my advice would be to use it as an accent or in conjunction with other stones, instead of fitting the entire bathroom in the same material.
'For example, we like to have a marble floor, but we wouldn't continue this into the shower. To create some interest, the shower floor and walls would either be a different type of stone or tiles in a contrasting colour.
'It's nice to mix stones to create an eclectic look - some of our favourites are travertine, onyx and limestone - but it depends on the style and location of the building. For example, limestone has a rustic feel for the countryside, while onyx has a retro edge that looks great in a city apartment.'