Who knew that looking I’d be marvelling at two magestic collections of rocks within two days?
On Sunday we took Cookie to the Museum of Natural History – which, believe it or not, is my favorite museum in the city.
Anyway, I thought the mineral exhibit was going to be SO BORING for her so I suggested we skip it…
Ha! She loved looking at the rocks… and so did I!
Pretty inspiring isnt it?
Then yesterday I went to the marble yard to look for a marble for the MIL’s kitchen… Is there ANYTHING more fun than picking out a slab? Answer: NO. (If you want to read my thoughts on the controversial act of putting marble in a kitchen, read HERE.)
Some of my favorite slabs of the day:
I loved this calcutta… so veined it almost seemed antiqued. But we decided it was a little bit too much.
This is a quartzite, something I never really heard of before. It was like a cross between a marble and a granite. While this would have mad AN IMPACT, we ultimately decided that this slab didnt have staying power and that we might get sick of it.
This stone was never up for consideration for the kitchen, but I LOVED it. The purple veining was so gorgeous in person. 
In my living room/dining room, I have two very long built ins underneath the windows. I use these to serve on when guests come over. Originally I didnt want to spend anymore money covering the tops with marble, but after 2 years of use, they kind of need it. I decided on this really special marble for my window sills:
This is the slab we ultimately chose for my MIL’s kitchen. The kitchen is white and brown(I said a few days ago that I thought white kitchens were too ubiquitous, but I also said- that everyone wants one! And my in laws wanted MODERN and WHITE when we designed the kitchen… I wanted them to do a pickled wood… but I gave in- it is their house! I do have some edgy surprises that are going to make the place pop!) and the entire living room (its an open kitchen) consists of white and tan striped walls, chocolate velvet sectional, some antique furniture… etc. (I’m not holding out on you with pictures, the place is still piled high with contractor crap!) Anyway, we wanted a brown veined marble and we chose this beauty: 
If you have never been to a marble yard, I HIGHLY suggest going. You MUST pick out your own slab. A sample is not good enough. Each stone is so unique that your input is really necessary!
You have no idea how cool it is seeing them carry HUGE mattress sized slabs of marble over your head! SCARY but fun!
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I actually have quartzite in my kitchen but it looks completely different than the one you showed here. Mine is greyish, green with some pearl tones in it. I love it, but I am not sure I would choose it again.
This is awesome — and so funny because I’ve been working on a post about the fantastic spoils on display at the gift shop in Houston’s Museum of Natural Science.
I adore that marble slab you snagged for the MIL (and I especially adore the super-veiny Calacatta drama) btw, you’ll notice the second post on Nero today shows our kitchen table top, which once looked similar to the slices you’ve featured above.
Cheers, Alcira
I love Carrara Marble in the kitchen too, and I get so frustrated when people tell me not to use it…I also love wandering through a slab yard, I find the most interesting things! Can’t wait to see the finished shots!
I just put Calcutta Gold (similar to, if not the same as the slab you picked) on two vanities in a client’s spare bathroom. Love me some Calcutta Gold.
Have never been to a slab yard, but sounds like the way to go. I as well love Carrara Marble for kitchens and Bathrooms, but am leaning towards poured concrete and limestone.
Where is this marble yard? Can anyone just go without an appointment?
Its in brooklyn right outside the tunnel. That is kind of the marble district. The one I went to is called European Marble. Its on 19th st between 3rd and 4th aves. Anyone can go without an appointment, but you cant reserve a stone or get a price without naming your marble fabricator. If you want to email me I cant give you a few names.
i would love to go to a marble yard. i would love to pick out a slab! for me, for anybody!!
how fun.
uhmuhgod, that Calcutta is FANTASTIC.
We just put in Carrara. If I could have everything I wanted, I probably wouldn’t have gone with it, BUT with time and budget constraints it was just about perfect.
I did my fireplace in Calacatta as well as my kitchen backsplash. I adore it and wish I could put it EVERYWHERE in my house. I literally want to just roll around on it! I REALLY like the slab you went with…nice choice and beautiful dark veining. Can’t wait to see more!