White marble is the pinnacle of beauty and grandeur in contemporary home décor. No other material can surpass its style, sophistication, and intrigue. As far as white marble choices are concerned, both Calacatta marble and Carrara marble are lead contenders. Since both of these white marble variants are quarried from the Apuan Mountains in Carrara (Italy), there tends to be some degree of confusion regarding their looks and features. But the fact is that these are quite different from one another. Homeowners designing or renovating their homes should know how to distinguish between Carrara and Calacatta Marble.
Difference 1: White Background
The white backdrop of the Calacatta marble is comparatively brighter than that of the Carrara Marble. This difference becomes all the more prominent because of the completely different veining patterns as discussed below.
Difference 2: Veining
A Carrara marble worktop is characterized by very thin veins or streaks. Their colours vary from light grey to dark grey to bluish tones. As a result, the soft veining that fades into the subtle white background yields an overall gentle, cloudy, and placid look.
On the other hand, Calacatta marble is recognized by its thick veins that vary from dark grey and brown to beige and gold. These robust streaks look all the more pronounced against the luminescent white background. This presents a bold, sophisticated look and invokes a classy style statement.
Difference 3: Pricing and Availability
In terms of availability, Calacatta marble is the rarer version and, therefore, is priced higher. The whiter the background of the Calacatta slab, the higher will be its costing. Homeowners on a modest budget should opt for a Carrara marble worktop, whereas those who can afford to splurge should purchase the prized Calacatta marble. Of course, the final choice should not just be based on the budget but the overall home designing requirements.
Difference 4: Applications
Since the Middle Ages, both Calacatta and Carrara marble have been widely used to construct castles, cathedrals, museums, libraries, and important public buildings. However, because the Carrara marble is known for its understated aesthetics and subtle beauty, its applications differ from the suave and vivacious Calacatta marble. The latter is used in the most expensive suites, palatial homes, and grand palaces. Usually, UK-based homeowners with mid-sized budgets prefer the Carrara marble for covering large expanses of their flooring, cladding, splashbacks, staircases, and, most importantly, kitchen worktops. Calacatta is quite expensive, bold, and used selectively to make a style statement with artful pieces like a feature wall, a kitchen island, in the vicinity of a fireplace, or a stylish vanity top.
Difference 5: Matching Slabs
Mother Nature ensures that no marble slabs are alike, owing to the unique play of metamorphic forces. Owing to the bold veining of Calacatta marble, it is extremely important to match the patterns and colours in each slab before installation. Not doing so might end up in a mismatched or asymmetrical view. Carrara marble has very faint veins and doesn’t require precision-based matching. As long as the white shade of each slab is identical, one is good to go.
Conclusion
The eventual choice between Calacatta and Carrara marble is about individual tastes and décor elements within the room. Choosing Calacatta implies that it will be the centre of attention wherever it is installed in the room. Other fixtures, fittings, and visual elements will take a backseat. On the other hand, Carrara marble blends seamlessly into the room instead of becoming the focal point. Using Carrara marble is the best option to accentuate other important areas of the room or create an aura of spaciousness. Carrara worktops are best for bustling kitchens. Similarly, for low-traffic designer kitchen worktops, Calacatta is the apt choice.
