Travertine is limestone made by water. Mineral springs leave layers of calcium carbonate behind as they flow, and the stone that forms carries the record of that movement in its banding and in its small, open pores.
A long history
The Romans built with it; much of the Colosseum is travertine. In Los Angeles, the Getty Center is clad in travertine quarried near Tivoli, outside Rome, and its rough, split faces still hold fossils of leaves and shells.
Why it suits a modern house
Travertine is warm where marble is cool. It reads as sand and plaster rather than polish, which is why it appears again and again in the organic contemporary homes we film: floors, fireplace surrounds, bathtubs carved from a single block.
Honed, filled, or open
A honed finish is smooth and matte. Filled travertine has its pores closed with resin or cement for a calmer surface. Left open, the pores give the stone its texture and its character.
Living with it
Travertine is calcium carbonate, so acids etch it. Wipe away lemon, wine, and vinegar quickly, use a gentle pH-neutral cleaner, and reseal surfaces that see daily use. Small pieces only need a soft cloth.
Our first edition of objects is cut from travertine and walnut. See the Shop.