Travertine is a limestone.
Travertine is a limestone which is usually whitish but is also found in off-white varieties. It is less expensive than marble and often used as a building material. The color of travertine, which is predominantly white and neutral, is such that it is successfully combined with almost any other color. You can mix and match at will, and let your tastes guide you.
Light Color Schemes
Match travertine with a light or white color scheme for a bright, brilliant effect. Travertine counters reflect a good deal of light, and, if you add in a white marble floor and light or off-white walls, the impact is crystalline. You can also bring in pastels for a taste of color. Cantaloupe, sand or taupe add warmth. Mint or light blue on the cabinets or trim adds distinctive coolness that matches the cool stone.
Dark Color Schemes
As travertine is a light stone, you can use more dark colors in your scheme than you might use elsewhere. Even a black enamel works well and lends a high design flair. Medium blues, such as those found in a Mediterranean kitchen, can provide a continental look--rich and dark but not overbearing. Chinese red or crimson are both reds that lean towards the dark side, which will counter the travertine with warmth.
Neutral Color Schemes
Neutral colors are often underused because they do not look as arresting on the paint swatch as other colors, but they are very useful and add color without overwhelming a room. They work especially well with travertine, especially in its cream-colored form. Coffee, tobacco or similar warm browns, and natural woods like cherry or oak, go wonderfully with travertine. Furthermore, a slight addition of a yellow or green to a neutral wall color brings a bit of zing to the room while maintaining a restrained feel.
