Pronounced: /ˈtrævərtiːn/. Also called: travertino, Roman stone, Tivoli stone. Travertine is a form of limestone formed by mineral-rich hot springs depositing calcium carbonate over thousands of years. The result is a soft, banded stone full of small voids and natural pits, usually in warm cream, ivory, walnut, or grey. It reads less like a slab of rock and more like a fossilized cross-section of the earth. ## Origin & history Most of the travertine that has shaped Western architecture comes from Tivoli, a town outside Rome that the Romans knew as Tibur. The Latin name was lapis tiburtinus, the Tibur stone, which softened over centuries into travertine. The Colosseum, the colonnade of St. Peter's Square designed by Bernini, and the Trevi Fountain are all built from Tivoli travertine, and many of those quarries are still operating today. The Encyclopaedia Britannica entry on travertine is a good starting point for the geology. The stone fell in and out of fashion through the twentieth century. Mid-century Italian designers like Carlo Scarpa loved it. The 1970s gave it a heavy run in American floors and bathrooms, which led to the 1990s rejection of travertine as a dated material. Its current revival owes a great deal to Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen and the wave of European interiors that paired it with plaster walls, oak floors, and bouclé upholstery. ## How it's used today In an organic modern room, travertine usually shows up as a single sculptural piece rather than wall-to-wall material. A travertine coffee table, a chunky travertine plinth, a vessel sink carved from a single block. The pleasure of the stone is its texture and its banding, so we treat it less like flooring and more like a sculpture you happen to put a drink on. Bathrooms are the second home for travertine. A travertine vanity counter beside a limewash wall and an unlacquered brass tap is a complete organic modern composition. Used as floor tile, travertine reads warm where marble would read formal. A travertine pedestal under a small bronze, or a travertine plinth holding a single ceramic, is the kind of restrained move that gives a room its quiet authority. One practical note for Canadian and northern climates. Travertine is porous and softer than granite, so it stains more easily than people expect. Sealing it on installation and resealing every couple of years keeps red wine and coffee rings from setting in. ## How to style it - Let the stone be the loudest thing on the surface. A travertine coffee table wants a single low bowl, not a full styling vignette. - Pair it with warm wood. Oak, walnut, and ash all share travertine's warm undertone. - Avoid cold whites nearby. Travertine reads yellow against a true white wall; choose warm whites, plasters, or limewash. - Use it in odd shapes. Round, oval, and freeform travertine pieces show off the banding better than rectangles. - Mix it with linen and bouclé. The softness of the textiles makes the weight of the stone read intentional rather than heavy. - Repeat it once in the room. A travertine coffee table plus a travertine lamp base or candle holder ties the room together. - Keep the metals warm. Unlacquered brass, aged bronze, and brushed nickel all sit better with travertine than chrome. ## Common variations ## FAQ Is travertine the same as marble? Does travertine stain easily? What does honed vs polished travertine mean? Can I use travertine outdoors in Canada? What's a good budget alternative to travertine?