Vendor in Focus: Celebrating Nature's Art With Marble Systems
Step back in time while staying on trend with classic stone
Why stone?
Stones are like treasures. Every one has a different composition, characteristics, history. No two stones are alike. And every quarry has a different look and feel; the mountains give them varied properties that make them unique. So if you want blue marble, that only comes from Brazil or Bolivia. Pure white Thassos comes from Greece. Dolomite comes from Turkey.How do you decide what to polish and what to tumble?Generally, if the stone has imperfections, it’s better to tumble it — like travertine, which has lots of natural crevices; when you fill it in, it looks artificial. But when you tumble it, it looks like the pavement in Jerusalem or Rome; it gives it a naturally patinated look that ages well. Slate too. Both stones are popular for exteriors and a distressed look.
Stones are like treasures. Every one has a different composition, characteristics, history. No two stones are alike. And every quarry has a different look and feel; the mountains give them varied properties that make them unique. So if you want blue marble, that only comes from Brazil or Bolivia. Pure white Thassos comes from Greece. Dolomite comes from Turkey.How do you decide what to polish and what to tumble?Generally, if the stone has imperfections, it’s better to tumble it — like travertine, which has lots of natural crevices; when you fill it in, it looks artificial. But when you tumble it, it looks like the pavement in Jerusalem or Rome; it gives it a naturally patinated look that ages well. Slate too. Both stones are popular for exteriors and a distressed look.
Any sustainable elements?
When you manufacture marble, a good percentage is wasted in terms of cuts. For example, if the shape of the slab is to be 4 by 6 feet, about 10 to 20 percent used to be thrown away. Now we use those discards to create cobblestones and pavers.
Applications beyond bathrooms and backsplashes?
If done right, wine cellars are very interesting in tumbled travertine. It gives you that old-world look, helps keep the space cool and is a functional piece of construction. I also really like how people are creating backlit onyx panels. They polish both sides, then illuminate them, using them as partitions or to cover cabinets and doors.
When you manufacture marble, a good percentage is wasted in terms of cuts. For example, if the shape of the slab is to be 4 by 6 feet, about 10 to 20 percent used to be thrown away. Now we use those discards to create cobblestones and pavers.
Applications beyond bathrooms and backsplashes?
If done right, wine cellars are very interesting in tumbled travertine. It gives you that old-world look, helps keep the space cool and is a functional piece of construction. I also really like how people are creating backlit onyx panels. They polish both sides, then illuminate them, using them as partitions or to cover cabinets and doors.
What makes your approach unique?
We’re one of the few companies that actually grade stones in terms of veins, strength and characteristics. For example, when you order Carrara marble from a quarry, you can get dark gray pieces along with the white. So we grade those and give them different color names to fit a style and look, so the customer isn’t surprised when they open the box.
We’re one of the few companies that actually grade stones in terms of veins, strength and characteristics. For example, when you order Carrara marble from a quarry, you can get dark gray pieces along with the white. So we grade those and give them different color names to fit a style and look, so the customer isn’t surprised when they open the box.
Any personal favorites?
I like the French limestones for flooring. They’re rich; the color is neutral but not boring. In terms of marble, a nice piece of dolomite. And then of course beautiful Calacatta, with its open 2-to-3-inch grayish-gold veining that moves in all kinds of ways and shapes.
Featured products: 12x24 in. Carrara Arabescato Tile, 12x24 in. Roman Silver Vein Tile, 3x6 in. Ivory Tumbled Rustic TIle
I like the French limestones for flooring. They’re rich; the color is neutral but not boring. In terms of marble, a nice piece of dolomite. And then of course beautiful Calacatta, with its open 2-to-3-inch grayish-gold veining that moves in all kinds of ways and shapes.
Featured products: 12x24 in. Carrara Arabescato Tile, 12x24 in. Roman Silver Vein Tile, 3x6 in. Ivory Tumbled Rustic TIle
With its cool surface, rainbow of hues and understated artistry pulled straight from the earth, natural stone has been a construction material of choice for millennia. To build on that enduring tradition, Munir Turunc founded Marble Systems in 1982 in Fairfax, Virginia, and now provides stone in varied patterns, sizes and trim from quarries in more than 24 countries. We talked with Turunc about types of stone, including his personal favorites, and trends on the horizon.