Oct. 29--Marble's presence in modern-day interiors extends from walls to countertops, tables to doorknobs, clocks to sinks and beyond. The ancient metamorphic rock turns up in both large and small doses in variously styled spaces, and despite a centuries-old association with luxury and refinement, lends subtle polish (versus all-out opulence) when mixed with unexpected materials. A contemporary designer might introduce marble into a rustic kitchen, for example, to add some sleekness to wood-grain everything.
A sure sign of marble's metamorphosis? The rise of marble prints. Rather than shell out a lot of money for the real deal, more budget-conscious decorators may opt to install marble wallpaper from Ferm Living.
The Denmark-based design brand sells a realistic marble pattern, in both a classic gray and pretty rose hue, of "WallSmart" wallpaper. Made of nonwoven fleece, it's supposedly easier and faster to hang than woven varieties. The effect is that appealing high/low mix of marble elegance and informality -- sophisticated in pattern but also tongue-in-cheek. At $103.50 a roll (cheaper than grand slabs of marble but still not cheap), Ferm Living's trompe l'oeil wallpaper is best used as an accent rather than, say, a multiroom wall covering. Pair it with Ferm Living's marble-patterned bedding to make an even stronger statement.
Available from Clever Spaces, Ferm Living's official retail partner for the U.S. and Canada. www.cleverspaces.com
Laura Pearson is a freelance writer.
