Travertine is never the same twice. Two slabs cut from the same block can differ in colour, in the size of their pores and in the way they take light. That is exactly why we refuse to choose it from a catalogue.
Reading a block
At the quarry, blocks are wetted down so their true colour shows. We look for an even warmth and a calm, horizontal movement, and we reject anything with veins that run across a floor rather than along it. For one kitchen in Milan we looked at forty blocks before choosing two.
Filled or unfilled
Unfilled travertine keeps its natural holes, which give the surface depth and a soft, matte texture underfoot. Filled travertine is smoother and easier to clean. We tend to use unfilled stone in halls and living rooms, and filled stone where water is involved.
Buying for the long term
We reserve a little more stone than each project needs and keep it labelled in our workshop. If a slab is ever damaged, it can be replaced with stone from the same block, so the repair never shows.
