All Answers (4)
Answer from a Designer
The answer is illustrated very well in this excerpt from Houzz http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/158673/list/Carrara-vs--Calacatta-Marble-..., nothing like a bunch of pictures to make a point.
Answer from a Designer
Carrera is a light grey marble, part of the family of white marbles, and a very affordable option for a classic kitchen. Calacatta is white marble with grey/caramel veining that is more structural and pronounced; it has a more distinguished character, which is reflected in the higher cost.
True Carrara marble only comes from the quarry in Carrara, Italy. It is a pale grey marble with subtle white and grey veining. Having actually visited the site in Italy last summer, we were amazed by the traditional harvesting techniques used on the mountains, which from the coast of Marina di Massa look like they are covered in snow. Note: If you are purchasing Carrara marble at a price too good to be true, it is probably a knock-off from China or India. The real stuff is expensive.
Answer from a Designer
The location of Italy that it is mined in. Marbles are region oriented just as wines and champagnes, as funny as that may sound! There are some coloration differences as well, Carrara usually has grey veining, whereas Calacatta sometimes has more brown veining. I just used a Calacatta that had burgundy veining, to die for!
Cheers!
m.
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