Meet Marbling, Design’s Prettiest Trend

A centuries-old technique is making a comeback. Marbling, whose swirling, veined patterns recall the quarries of Carrara and family-run workshops of Florence, was once exclusively found in antique books but is now so omnipresent that Rachel Comey incorporated a kaleidoscopic print in her collection for Target. Meanwhile, ELLE DECOR A-List designers like Beata Heuman are making and acquiring pretty marbled objects and fabric for clients’ homes. If you’re looking to bring the look to your cocktail table or bedside, entertaining mavens John Derian, Rebecca Gardner, Skye McAlpine, and more are all offering their own takes on the dreamy, rippling motif. Needless to say, we’re losing our marbles over this trend.