The difference of Venato and Pietra Carrara

Two very close collections Pietra Carrara and Venato Carrara but there is a difference in the Herringbone you can see the Pietra Carrara has more variation gray pieces. The Venato while still has gray veining, has less variation of the base color.

On the mosaic it is really difficult to spot the difference. But in bigger tiles the variation would be more noticeable.

 On the outside Pietra is Black boxes and Venato is Brown with our Trade Marked  exclusive Logo.

Pietra Carrara, let’s start there. This is probably going to be a collection but we are not 100% sure in it’s direction at the moment as we engage on a voyage of discovery the consumer benefits by the price savings. The Pietra Carrara Mosaics have to be blended more it has more veining, more life more action and variety going on.  What we do is ensure that the darker and lighter pieces of the mosaic are spread out creating a balanced look. You can see from the image.  It is an incredible mosaic.

The 2″ Hexagon in Pietra Carrara $9.75 a Sq.Ft. As long as we blend our end the look is incredible. As a mosaic this to me personally looks better than Venato I am attracted to the Variation and Price.

Quick Mosaic Summary (for those that have to get on with the order).  Mosaics look incredible. Had you removed the Venato from this image. The blending is excellent. Looks great and the price is unbelievable.

Pietra Carrara base color has more variation (to Venato) within the Mosaics. Has more life and more activity for me I like it. I like the way it looks I like the price 🙂 but that is short term and a promotional price. It maybe that it is a collection that can only be made in mosaics. It is still in development and that takes years to build up to a million square feet, pick products, build molds and design.  It is a good product for a bathroom floor.  But if you need a full bathroom project, I would opt for Venato tiles and maybe save a little with Pietra Mosaics.

Pietra Carrara 6×12″

The Venato collection has a white base but it is difficult to see over larger areas.  Both offer a consistent base but in the field tiles the Venato is whiter slightly because the veining is softer.

No one can have perfection but we are chasing it, and we may just catch excellence (always liked that quote).  To get the best looks do as DIY Network and HGTV we have worked with both. For a 100SF job they order 130SF, they order 30% more and pick exactly what they want and throw away the rest.  With marble over ordering is the key so you can dispose of any rouge tiles but Venato has a whiter look.  You can see it in the room scenes a lot better than one piece.

Why have two collections so close? Because we love marble is the short answer.  No company in the world would class these as two collections except for ours. I know many that overlap the two, it is not easy to split something so close as stone has variation, but this is what we are doing.Carrara Venato. Looking for a bathroom this collection offers a consistent base and that is what we and wanted it turned out that the consumer wanted it as well 🙂

This is just historical ramble if you wish to continue…. or click on something else and escape……

It was 2006 that I was the very first person (David Shearn typing now) that launched the first online collection of Carrara marble.  You could buy three types of tile (3×6″, 6×6″ and 12×12″), one of 3 mosaics baseboard and a pencil (it was just 6 inches in size back then for both baseboard and pencil – just 6 inches in size was the max and baseboard was around $27 to $45 a piece). We had 7 choices and it sold incredibly well.  The prices were high as the economies of scale were not in place, machinery not yet perfected. The website looking back which I have screenshots (and do now and again) is embarrassing. There were no templates. You had to build from scratch. (Take a look at Amazon’s first efforts…. we all learn and grow).

Square tiles sold well in 2006 and then it all went “Subway Tile mad” so I decided to write about it with “It is no longer hip to be square the explosion of subway tiles in the USA” or something along those lines.

By late 2008 we pushed further with collections keeping with Venato as our main line. Carrara Venato has now been sold for eight years and with its length of service granted a Trademark. I believe the only trademarked brand of marble.

Jumping forwards we are at this point. The plan is to offer four lines. Carrara Venato. Pietra Carrara. Bianco Carrara “C” Grade and Bianco Carrara “CD” Grade.  Four collections of marble.  All with 80 to 100 SKUs each with each having one million square feet of inventory in the USA to support them.  We have this in place already with Bianco and Venato.  Businesses are difficult, they cannot standstill you either go forwards or backwards. My goal is: a commitment to the success of others. So forwards we must go.

The world changes quickly so it is difficult to plan to far in advance. But sticking with the core principle of “do more with less and put the customer before profits”. Internally “Empower those within your team making their success your priority. Commit to the success of others and not yourself”. Is a solid company foundation.

I wanted a company where people could work for life. Like companies of our Grandparents or Parents (trying not to get too nostalgic) but that is why our new fulfillment center is built where it is. We could have easily moved somewhere else, but this is designed to be surrounded by the best schools and they are all 10 out of 10 on zillow.

I have yet to meet someone who enjoys a long commute, that is a huge negative. Long commutes impact corporate culture more than companies even understand.

The current website is being changed and will launch with a new fresh look in January 2016 which we have hinted at.  Following behind that is our new fulfillment centre on 5 acres supported by a main Distribution Center in Atlanta.  Next year will be interesting.

One of the best collections for multiple formats – Carrara Venato

Carrara Venato Collection just goes together from format to format like a dream. White based, really white based. From format to format.

Owned exclusively by thebuilderdepot.com and trademark protected. This incredible marble can only be purchased from our website. Considering that (and we own it exclusively) we made the prices fair, as fair as possible, trying to allow customers to add value back to their homes.

For example; the Carrara Venato Honed 6×12″ is $8.00 a square foot, the Basketweave is $10.95SF and Free Shipping on the basketweave Honed (thru Feb 2016). The Arabesque can be bought by the square foot honed for $16.95 and also these items are in Polished as well. (we try and offer everything in honed and polished). Or if you are like me, by it in borders already cut and remove the black or gray section, or leave on. Depending on the look you are going for, Arabesque Border Black Marble Edge Honed and Polished for $13.95 each or with Italian Bardiglio edge for same price in Honed and Polished.

An amazing collection endless combinations but a secret as we have actually yet to spend any money advertising it, we have just grown the old fashion way. Word of mouth.  We have appeared in trade press, but that is because they asked and the same applies for our DIY spot on “I hate my Bath“.

For us the reality, marble is a finite resource our quarry will like others run out or become more difficult to get to the places we need to. So advertising a product that you have absolutely no rush in selling in the big trade press makes no sense.  They can cost over $350K. I was shocked. That would change a $10.95SF Basketweave to over $30SF which I suppose is where the others are.  Instead we have gone for a no frills marketing strategy.  We are not chasing numbers, we have no debt. We want to do the best possible job and then pass it on ensuring a hard-work ethic continues, “do more with less”.

In fact our hurry to sell is so little that we do not even have a sales team. Just people to provide clarity and honesty, for example; one employee has a degree in forensic science with a major in law and another in Pastoral Theology.  This is not a sales team and this is who we look for. Honesty. Present the facts let the consumer decide. Never sell. If our job is done right, the product will sell itself.

$8.95SF Carrara Pietra Basketweave 1×2″ Gray Dot Marble

Pietra Carrara 1×2″ Basketweave with Bardiglio Dot $8.95 a Square Foot.

Pietra Carrara Basketweave with Gray dot $8.95 a Square Foot (Thru Jan 2016). Again the price is introductory through January 2016. For me if I was just buying a mosaic for a floor and wanted the Gray Bardiglio Dot I would probably go in this direction.

The additional Gray in the white stone really makes the whole mosaic look really impressive.  Again well underpriced, a new product Genuine Marble for $8.95 a Square Foot on a mesh backed mosaic 5SF to a box. Always order a sample and check before ordering that it fits with your plans.

We will get more pictures as we proceed through 2016.  I cannot believe 2016!

It is 2017! More pictures of new Lots and still looking incredible.

Carrara Pietra Gray Dot Basketweave $8.95 a Square Foot and Free Shipping for 2017.

This lot is over a year later and the product still looks incredible. Very consistent.

Carrara Pietra Carrara 2″ & 3″ Hexagon Honed Mosaic

Carrara Pietra Marble Mosaic Tile $9.45 a Square Foot and Free Shipping

Again an iPhone picture taken straight out of the crate.  You can see more of it on the picture below.  It just has more life and more going on in the tile than Venato. It is lively.  This is an introductory price for a new collection $9.45 a Square Foot for a genuine marble Pietra Carrara 2″ Hexagon Marble tile that is cheaper than ceramics, so there is not a lot in this for us, other than feedback and market knowledge.  Which is valuable. Our learning can be your gain.

I think it looks great in mosaics or a 3×6″ it would be good in larger tiles, but takes a person to be there to organize the installer. As he will not care and you will have one wall white and one wall with veining.  So as we bring it in tiles, and you decide you go in this direction you real need the tiles shuffled up, so to speak 🙂

Pietra Carrara 2″ Hexagon Mosaic Tile Honed $9.45SF

We like to continually add to posts. This picture above was added in October 2016.

Here is the Pietra Carrara 2″ Hexagon Honed installed for these very handy shower niches. Incredible job then used the 12″ pencil ($9.95 each) to frame them. Wow! What an install.

And how did we do as a company? We like to let our customers be the judge:

 

Another Picture: Taken June 24th 2017

June 24th 2017: Looking great. Two years since the first pictures taken and no change. A really consistent mosaic. Currently $9.45 a Square Foot and Free Shipping.

 

Another Picture: Taken August 28th 2020

August 28th 2020: Even in the far reaches of the warehouse and poor light, this looks good. Years have past since the first pictures taken and we have managed to keep the standard and quality the same. A really consistent mosaic. Currently $9.45 a Square Foot and Free Shipping.

 

Carrara Pietra 3″ Hexagon Mosaic Tile

Carrara Pietra 3″ Hexagon Mosaic as it arrives off the container. Incredibly consistent product. Matches from field tile to mosaic to trim with ease giving that perfect and popular White Gray look for $9.95 a Sheet without breaking the budget.

 

Another Picture: Taken August 6th 2020

With over a thousand products it is difficult keeping fresh pictures on the blog all the time. Please note before an order ships you can ask for a picture like this we can lay the product out on our warehouse floor. This is the Carrara Pietra Hexagon 3″ Honed.

Pietra Carrara 1″ Hexagon $8.95 a Square Foot

Carrara Hexagon 1″ Hexagon Honed $8.95 a Square Foot and Free Shipping

Here is a picture in the pallet as usual, this I had to climb on top of other pallets. But I have to say the angle was more effective.  So the difference over Venato is just more variation of Gray veining and pieces.  $8.95 a Square Foot for a short time while we go through a new launch of this product.  Carrara Pietra 1″ Hexagon $8.95 a Square Foot sold here.

*Please note this price is subject to change it is a very low price and free shipping, I doubt this price can be held for a long period of time without some increase in exchange rates or shipping rates. The e-commerce website provides the real cost. This is a blog post and could be 10 years old over a period of time. The pricing was correct at the time the blog was posted.

February 2017 Picture Straight out of the crate.

Amazing over a year later and still looks the same. The consistency is remarkable. The price is still the same as well $8.95 a Square Foot for the 1″ Hexagon and Free Shipping. Only available in Honed. But part of a larger collection of products. Here.

Prices valid thru 2017.

Carrara Venato and how well it goes together between formats

Carrara Venato Collection Basketweave $10.95SF and Free Shipping thru April 2016.

This is the beauty of Venato. It is not as busy as the Carrara Bianco Collection but if you are going for a complex design of mixing sizes in the we have 6×12″ for $8.00 Sq.Ft. running into 8×16″ honed for $8.95 Sq.Ft. then you have an Arabesque Chair rail, pencil and $10.95 Sq.Ft. Free Shipping Basketweave (thru April 2016 -crazy right…  2016, where is my flying car).  Then involve us and call. As this takes selecting lots to make sure it has a base match especially is you are going for Bianco, Venato is a breeze!

The Beauty of this Trademarked exclusive Carrara Venato collection with around 100 different products of one stone collection is not just the price (which we keep low) as we control the supply chain making it 3-4 times more efficient and you will understand more how with the new website (we have some supply chain wizards on our team). But the way it all goes together with ease.  The base color is the same. You can see it on the room scenes better.

That for me has always been one of the key characteristics of the Venato Collection. Its consistency. We select it from a set range and it has to fit in that range to be cut and go into the collection (simple really). We have been on quite a good run through 2013 to 2015 where we have hit a sweet spot in the mountain and it has yielded great results.  With 12 months plus of product in stock we know we are good for sometime yet to go. Let us hope it continues.

Having said (or blogged all that).  It is a finite product so it in time it will end, it will run out or fall out of the range the yield will change and that will result in any number of things to compensate, once upon a time Thassos marble was $10 a Square Foot. But is now running out.

 For now we have just been investing as much as we can in stock (crazy levels according to the bank people) but as we have no debt and own every square foot, their are no terms s they have no control and cannot impose inventory levels.  We just as they say “make hay while the sun shines”.  In this case produce great marble while the mountain provides it 🙂

Carrara Venato 4×12″ Tile – in an Amazing Blog Reveal

This incredible Kitchen reveal you can see online at House Updated Brit used our 4×12″ Carrara Venato Honed so please go ahead and check out her blog post here

Carrara Venato 4×12″ Honed Marble Tile available online from the Builder Depot for $8.00 a Square Foot

Incredible transformation. The backsplash is nice but the entire kitchen is spectacular, wow!

And that oven looks wonderful and the counters, amazing how people create rooms like this scroll down and see the before

And it started out like this. How do you even go from this to what is above. I am speechless (or blog typeless)

We are closed for Thanksgiving and the Friday!

I was not aware there was a war on Thanksgiving. But I have been working 12+ hours a day for years so may have missed a few things 🙂

I thought everyone had some time off. Perhaps employees are getting double pay, triple pay or they get to have two days of of their choice off on another day, I cannot judge without the facts. But it is rather difficult to make people work.

But The Builder Depot will be closed on Thursday 26th and 27th from a warehouse and office perspective.  As we ship with UPS and UPS is closed, so we cannot pack if it will not ship. The website will still work. As it does not seem to like Turkey and the gravy is super bad for it 🙂

Orders can be placed and will be shipped in receiving order on Monday the 30th of November.

As usual one of us will be checking the emails to make sure you know your email has been received and we are/will be working full speed on it Monday the 30th of November. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a great time with friends, family and loved ones.

Carrara Venato is White based and White is Hot!

Carrara Venato 2″ Hexagon Honed Mosaic Tile $10.95 a Square Foot available in polished as well and sizes from 1″ to 5″ in size 🙂

Then sometimes you just want that white base. You have been to the showrooms seen the CD low grade Carrara or even ‘C’ grade and that is not what you had in mind, you want that Calacatta white but the price is prohibitive. We have the answer you need our exclusive line Carrara Venato.

The power of a simple $11.75 a Square Foot Venato Hexagon Floor Honed Tile with its distinctly whiter base than traditional Carrara Bianco is not to be underestimated. Just add this to any floor and you can transform a bathroom.

This is our 3″ Hexagon Honed also available in polished for $11.75 a Sheet.

Then of course is goes without saying the beautiful Arabesque again honed and polished for $16.95SF.

I just did a quick count of the Carrara Venato Collection and there are over eighty (80) matching products from 3×6″ for $7.00SF to 12×24″ for $9.95SF along with trims and mosaics to order have shipped delivered and installed and know that it matches.  The Carrara Venato Collection is an exclusive Trademark owned product by The Builder Depot, LLC.

But do not take my word for it see it, customers send in more bathrooms room scenes of this product than any other.  So Thank you!

Marble hexagon and Ceramic subway Mix

 Use the Calacatta 1×1″ Hexagon honed or polished $17.95 a Square Foot and Free Shipping (thru March 2016) and then a classic 3×6″ Ceramic on the wall which we have for $2.95SF and Free Shipping. I love the simplicity, you can really go with honed or polished on the floor, it is the grout that provides the traction (or friction coefficient if we want to use the real name) not the stone, big misconception.  Go with what you want.