Tumbled marble is an excellent choice if you want to re-create an Italian villa in your home. Marble is best used in a foyer or dining room where there's not much foot traffic. Since it scratches easily and shows water spots, it's not suitable for the kitchen or bathroom. Granite is an excellent choice for countertops because of its durability and scratch-resistant quality. Quartzite has many of the same characteristics as granite, but with a more rough texture.
Limestone is another decorative stone that often features fossils imbedded in it.
Slate is a weather-resistant, durable stone that is used for patios and sidewalks. However, it's too soft to be used for kitchen countertops. Ceramic tile is now being made to resemble natural stone and is available in many different colors and textures. This affordable and durable material is commonly used in kitchens and bathrooms. Other ceramic tile options include colorful mosaics, three-dimensional tiles and decorative borders.