Softer shades of metal making bold statement throughout the home

After years of stainless steel and chrome influencing interiors that could elevate contemporary aesthetics, softer shades of metal are making a bold statement. Hues such as brass, bronze and burnished gold are among the home interior picks for 2015. Interior designers began warming to the trend last year by applying rose gold to designs, following as interior trends follow in the footsteps of fashion and accessories. Experts predict the glow of mixed metallics will be stronger this year and reflect around the entire home appearing in bathrooms and kitchens, on walls and windows and in soft furnishings and accessories, adding a sophisticated inner glow and sense of comfort. Interior designer Nicole Cromwell, of Cromwell Interior Design, says the metallic trend is picking up as people shift away from a neutral interior and open up to different textures and materials. “Metallic colours and materials provide a different depth and dimension to a room while adding warmth,” Cromwell says. International trade fairs, such as the recent Paris Maison & Objet design fair and the Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair glowed with these new metals. Swiss textile company, Creation Baumann presented its Metal Base collection of window fabrics at the Stockholm fair in November. The reverse side of the fabrics is coated with a thin layer of brass or copper, that as well as providing a metallic shimmer to a window also screens out glare and heat from the sun’s rays. The German Design Council awarded the Interior Innovation Award 2015 to the collection, which is an extension of the company’s aluminium and steel Metal Base series. Technological advances are also leading to new ageing processes and oxidation treatments in wall coverings, which are giving a new dimension and texture to metals such as copper and gold. Interior designer and wall covering specialist, Assia Bennani, founder of Marguerite & Gribouilli, says the development is a natural conclusion to mineral, industrial and vintage trends that lend themselves to metallic hues. “We clearly see it in the interior design and furniture trends and the wall coverings simply follow this movement,” Bennani says. Furnishings and accessories are getting their own metallic makeover with lamps and light fittings, candle holders, cushions and linens all being woven into the mix adding luxury, comfort and richness to everyday items. Philippa Haydon, owner of boutique outlet, Bowerbird, says a more positive outlook and warmth in attitude is driving the metallic trend in home furnishings, which could have a “dynamic” impact on interiors. “Their iridescent reflection creates interest within a space. They can work together to warm up our interiors in an exciting livable way bringing glamour, elegance and an opulent hue,” Haydon says. Haydon expects copper will be a particularly strong colour as interiors move towards a more traditional, formal look. The theme can be introduced in numerous ways. Wallpaper with a metallic glint behind the bed, a metallic pendant light over a dining table, a change to cabinetry pulls or the addition of a metallic leather cushion to a sofa are simple ways to incorporate the theme into a room. “It needn't be a radical change, but a little metallic can go a long way in livening and updating a space,” Haydon says. Hardware specialists are also embracing the trend as luxury bathroom and kitchen brands roll out new shades of metal. Unlike a similar trend in the 1980s when it was more about shine and show, these new shades are toned down to softer, subtle colour spectrums; that will age and develop their own patina over time. German luxury brand Dornbracht launched its Cyprum range of faucets in rose gold, while its peer Grohe, will unveil a matte gold addition to its Allure Brilliant single-lever mixer at the upcoming ISH fair in Frankfurt in March. Grohe says the developments are a response to homeowners appreciating design from classic to modern and minimalism, and a cohesive effort from the home industry sector will see these new shades of metal blend into interiors. While these products provide a new direction for aesthetics in the kitchen and bathroom they also serve a more practical purpose. Manufacturers use a diamond-like carbon coating method to apply colours, in a process similar to the one widely used in high-end watch making. The technology makes the coating more resilient than the chrome or steel more commonly applied to functional areas such as taps, and therefore less susceptible to scratches, Grohe says.

Softer shades of metal making bold statement throughout the home

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Brass, bronze and burnished gold are among the home interior picks for 2015

Brass, bronze and burnished gold are among the home interior picks for 2015