If you’re looking to add some class and sophistication to your home, you should consider installing travertine tiles. That’s because this material is known for its beauty and durability, and it has been for hundreds of years. For example, Houzz.com explained that the Trevi Fountain in Rome is made from travertine, and it’s been there looking gorgeous for more than 300 years. With a rich history like that, imagine what travertine tile or travertine pavers could do to make the inside and outside of your home look great for years to come.

This material is so gorgeous that it’s often used in pieces of art. For example, the Stowe Reporter, a Vermont news source, recently spoke to sculptor Richard Erdman about the years he’s spent creating gorgeous sculptures out of travertine tiles.

Using travertine for art
According to the news source, Erdman has created more than 1,000 sculptures and draws upon both history and geology for inspiration while making his pieces. He’s sent sculptures made from marble, travertine and bronze to 50 countries around the world. His art sells for tens of thousands of dollars, often to prestigious corporate sites and museums. While he uses many different types of materials, his relationship with travertine is famous in the art world. In 1985, he was commissioned to create the largest travertine sculpture in the world, which was a 25-foot-long,16-foot-high sculpture made out of a 450-ton piece of travertine stone.

However, creating such a large piece of work doesn’t intimidate Erdman.

“If you’re not pushing yourself, then to me you’re not fully alive,” Erdman told the Stowe Reporter. “To me the whole focus is on the sculpture. It’s not about me; I’m just making the thing.”

Erdman certainly isn’t the only artist who’s worked with travertine or has used the stone to display work. For example, D magazine, a Texas news source, recently reported that German artist Katharina Grosse opened at the Nasher Sculpture Center. Grosse is known for using spray paint to create pieces that often end up spilling over onto the walls of a gallery, yet she didn’t allow the paint to spoil the beautiful travertine walls in the Nasher Center.

Of course, you don’t have to be a world-class artist to make something beautiful out of travertine tiles. You can use this stone to make your kitchen or bathroom floor look like a work of art all on its own.