Incorporating natural stone into your bathroom or kitchen

Most natural stone is porous so wherever you’re using it, it will need to be sealed however, there are a few stones that, even when sealed, work best in certain situations. Although marble doesn’t like the wet (it can become discoloured over time) behind the bathroom sink is a great place to use a whiter toned marble as it won’t be constantly wet.

Serac is a great option for any bathroom, it has a greyer base making it extremely versatile, it will work just as well in a contemporary style as it does a heritage one. This is also thanks to its matt finish which slightly blurs its veining and in turn dials down the feeling of opulence and simply revels in its natural beauty.

For a heritage feel we love the mid-toned grey paired with a dark floor tile, a walnut wood effect adds a classic touch. If you’re swinging towards a more modern feel, a lighter wood effect will provide more of a Scandi feeling of serenity. You could even work in a pop of colour by using a coloured sanitary ware. We love the Alaska Blue pedestal sink from Burlington.

If a bold bathroom is high on your checklist then marble has certainly got you covered. The deep forest tones of Emerale, when mixed with other moody tones, acts as a serene cocoon of indulgence. The shimmering surface helps reflect the natural light, so it won’t ever feel too dark, making it an ideal pairing with matt black sanitary ware.

Pattern clashing is a great way to add depth and texture to your space when using darker colours and choosing a patterned sink in amongst the chaotic veining helps draw your eye into the room. We’re partial to the stunningly eclectic bowls by London Basin Company. Try to stick to a similar colour palette so the pattern can do all the talking.

We often get asked what the best natural stone is for shower walls and the answer is simple, how much maintenance are you looking to do. If it’s zero, then step away from natural materials altogether and opt for something like porcelain or ceramic. If it’s an average amount of interest then something like travertine or limestone could work and if you are strict with your cleaning and sealing routine then you can venture into marble but you need to be committed to the cause!

Our favourite travertine is the contemporary Sandelwood. It’s honed and filled so of premium quality and the way it’s cut creates fine linear veining giving it a sleek appearance. The blend of colours makes it a versatile choice, working perfectly with light to dark woods, black accents and even some colours like green and mustard. We love this tile with lots of natural textures such as linen, rattan, dark sleek wood, and brown glass.

For those committed to a maintenance routine then white marble is a possibility, we particularly like the more modern matte finish of Carrara Honed. The larger size also makes it good for smaller spaces as you have fewer grout lines on show making the room feel more seamless and therefore spacious.

Mix it with metallics and wood for a contemporary vibe, filling the gaps with lots of greenery to stop the space feeling too cold and clinical. Lighting is also key here, choose a covered pendant if you can, this will give the room a diffused light and in turn, atmosphere.

When thinking about tiling behind the kitchen hob, smaller format tiles usually work best aesthetically, combine this with the beauty of natural stone and you’re on to a winner. Here are a couple of natural stone tile backsplash ideas from light to dark but really it all depends on your chosen work surface and preference of stone. Our advice would be to opt for something smooth rather than textured, even if you’ve over sealed your stone, an overly rustic and textured finish will be a nightmare to clean.

The smooth matt finish of Serac, cut into small linear strips, really shows off the varied nature of the natural stone and looks perfectly contemporary as the traditional veining is at a minimum with this streamlined mosaic.

We’ve kept this kitchen light and airy with off-white units, reeded clear glass, touches of light oak and ivory metal lighting. It feels clean without being clinical but you can further warm up the look with a wood effect on the floor, we think Thurlow Smoke works well here.

Turning our attention to the dark side of the kitchen spectrum, we love a dramatic glossy black tile and Marquina limestone is absolutely stunning. Pair it with walnut wood, touches of brass or gold and a classic beige paint tone for classic Parisian-inspired chic.

Commonly used for flooring, natural stone is a great option as it is so durable. Different types of stone will automatically provide certain aesthetic choices like a rustic slate lends itself best to a country style property however, with the right styling you can make stone work in different ways. Here’s six examples of where we’ve mixed things up a bit.

The dark Victorian like green and hints of marble make this scheme seem like a nod to the classic bathroom however, the detail in the textured floor, thanks to the Hexmix mosaic, brings a contemporary and tactile element to an otherwise glossy space.

On the flip side of traditional, the rustic black slate has been given a contemporary edge thanks to a simple and clean-cut tile from the Simply Whites range. The contrast of the glossy wall tile and free standing bath contrast nicely to the honed Piscola slate floor.

When thinking of natural stone flooring you typically think darker on the floor however, we love to flip that notion round and have a little drama on the wall instead. Flooring is your foundation and often stays longer than wall tiles so it’s wise to choose a more versatile flooring option. Mona grey is the perfect tone of grey to suit all styles.

And if you want to choose a classic country combination of a flagstone floor like Amazone, a white shaker kitchen and wooden work top then throw in some unexpected metal accents like the use of black handles on the cupboards, it brings a modern touch to an otherwise classic country kitchen.

When you think of Quarry tiles, you think of die-hard country style so it’s good to add in an unexpected pop of colour to brighten your day. In this case, it’s in the form of Matrix’s Primrose Yellow. The glossy pastel contrasts nicely with the matt red floor.

And finally, an extra glossy black floor tile, avoid pairing it with a stark white, a muted grey will soften the darkest of blacks and pairing it with a soft grained dark wood will make it look not only more expensive but also contemporary. Fiamatto Galaxy granite balances the right amount of sparkle to reflect the natural light without being too attention seeking.