
The luxurious M Resort, Spa and Casino is the latest high-end establishment to join the ever expanding line-up of gaming facilities in the Las Vegas area. The resort features an abundant quantity of Italian marble and Turkish travertine, which was fabricated by FMP srl of Italy and supplied and installed by Superior Tile & Marble of Las Vegas.
Photo by Opulence Studios
Photo by Opulence Studios
Among the latest luxury establishments to hit the Las Vegas region is the M Resort, Spa and Casino - located on a 90-acre piece of property on South Las Vegas Boulevard in Henderson, NV. The resort not only attracts guests who are looking to relax, pamper themselves and enjoy Las Vegas nightlife, but it also recently provided the home kitchen to Season 6 contestants on Bravo’s popular television series "Top Chef." Designed and built by Marnell Corrao Associates of Las Vegas, the M Resort is lavishly dressed in Italian marble and Turkish travertine throughout its interior and exterior spaces - creating a warm yet contemporary environment.

“The overall design objective for the M Resort was to do a modern building in Las Vegas and to employ Italian design techniques that you see happening in Europe, but yet [produce] a modern building that was ‘un-themed’ and about space, light and architecture,” said Tony Marnell, Chairman/CEO of Marnell Corrao Associates.
Photo by Opulence Studios
Photo by Opulence Studios

The tone is set in the lobby with Daino Reale marble on the floor and Noce travertine walls.
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography

“We tried to use those two materials for their look and texture, but also for durability,” said the architect, when explaining the reasons for choosing marble and travertine as the primary materials for the design.
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography
Visiting the Quarries
The stone was quarried and fabricated by FMP srl of Carrara, Italy. “We went to the quarries and took the owner,” said Marnell. “We spent four days doing a variety of mock-ups for the interior walkway surfaces and for the wall surfaces to come up with a saw-cut pattern that is in all the walls. We did a host of different panels and different finishes - staying within the design criteria and curtain wall criteria.”Marnell went on to explain that a lot of time was dedicated to studying the mock-up panels. “We looked at them in the daytime and in the evening,” he said. “We wanted to see the different lighting patterns.”

An elaborate entrance to Marinelli’s, the resort’s Italian restaurant, is achieved with wide steps made of Daino Reale with a bushhammered finish.
Photo by Opulence Studios
Photo by Opulence Studios
“I had been flirting with the idea for a long time of doing a curtain wall instead of a typical anchor installation,” said the architect. “The fastening system had to be engineered for this look. We designed the stone patterns at the same time as we were designing the fastening system in conjunction with the look and feel that we wanted.”

A dramatic look is also created in the restaurant’s private dining room, where a large polished slab of Daino Reale marble with rough-cut edges forms the tabletop.
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography
Creating stone elegance
In addition to the travertine, Daino Reale marble floor tiles are also carried throughout the resort. An elaborate entrance to Marinelli’s, an Italian restaurant, is achieved with wide marble steps that were given a bushhammered finish. A dramatic look is also created in the restaurant’s private dining room, where a large polished slab of Daino Reale marble with rough-cut edges forms the tabletop.
A unique look in Terzetto, the M Resort’s upscale steakhouse, was created with onyx. Massive pieces of the material project down from the ceiling and attach to the ends of a long dining table, which is also made from onyx.
Photo by Opulence Studios
Photo by Opulence Studios

The large onyx table, which seats 10 people, creates a focal point in the space.
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography
“Part of the fun is seeing the same material finished in different ways,” said Marnell. “It gives a different feeling. The colors change depending on how much you polish or split it.”

While the resort’s upscale restaurants are featured attractions, guests are also drawn to Spa Mio, a luxurious day spa that comprises a 23,000-square-foot space. To enhance the glamorous appeal of the facility, Dore Royale marble with a split-face finish was used to create an entry wall.
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography

The use of stone continues into the M Resort’s guestrooms and suites, further contributing to the elegant luxurious feel.
Photo by Opulence Studios
Photo by Opulence Studios

Diano Reale marble was used for the walls and floors in the guestroom bathrooms. To complement the beige-colored marble, M Brown marble was employed for the vanity tops.
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photograph
Photo by Alise O’Brien Photograph
A successful completion
According to Marnell, approximately a year was devoted to working on the drawings and design of the M Resort, and it took another 17 months to build it. “Installation by far was the hardest part of the project,” he said, adding that the project was completed in March 2009. “Usually it’s the material, but getting the installation correct was the biggest challenge.”
Although the majority of the stone is showcased inside the M Resort, Noce travertine was used for the building’s exterior walls. The sandy shades of the stone complement the resort’s desert environment, and it also works well with the glass used for the upper portion of the structure.
Photo by Opulence Studios
Photo by Opulence Studios