Gold Travertine

Gold travertine — sometimes sold as honey or yellow travertine — carries iron oxide through the bed, which is what produces the amber and rust banding. It is the warmest-looking stone in the travertine family and the one that reads most clearly as "Mediterranean".

Practically, gold hides more than it shows. Sand, pollen, and the general dust of an outdoor space disappear into the variegation in a way they never do on a pale grey stone. For a client who wants natural stone but does not want to think about it weekly, this is the recommendation.

It stays cool underfoot for the same reason ivory does, and it takes a chiseled edge beautifully, which is why it shows up so often as coping and step treads.