Mesmerized by metal
Add just a touch for decor that dazzles and doesn’t look dated
Looking for an easy way to add polish to your home? Metallic accents — copper, brass, silver and platinum — are having a moment in today’s interiors. They create a feel of “relaxed luxury,” says Wisteria head designer Marlene Kennedy, adding they bestow sophistication without pretension.
When used sparingly, today’s metals can also help make gilded heirlooms look expertly eclectic in modern rooms.
“So many people inherit amazing pieces from their parents or grandparents ... People want to keep those treasured items, but they want to freshen them up with new pieces,” Kennedy says.
To achieve this, she suggests mixing metals: Pair your grandmother’s gold antique sunburst mirror with something that’s burnished brass, silver or pure iron, and the mirror goes from dated and traditional to fresh and hip.
The trick is not to go crazy with too many pieces or too many types of metals. As Kristin Peake, an in- terior designer in Rockville, Md., says: “Whether it’s metallic or colour, you want it to be subtle. You want it to be the surprise of the space.”
Here are some of our favourites.
GLEAM AND GLOW
Metallics can add that dash of swank that helps make a room feel more composed. Hammered metal, especially, elevates neutral furnishings, Kennedy says. Try shiny pendants — such as Original BTC’s Stanley Pendant in brass, copper or nickel — over a white table or tablecloth in the dining room ($598-$898, Anthropologie.com).
SHEENY SHADES
Another bright idea from Peake: Use a modern metal shade, such as the hand-finished Metal Drum Lampshade from Shades of Light in pewter, gold or black, to refresh a lamp ($89, Shadesoflight.com). “It’s cool to use a different type of lampshade than fabric or linen,” she says.
HAMMERED AND HIP
Peake loves how nailhead trim gives textiles and furniture a layer of understated metallic detail. Check out the Lissa Nailhead Chest, made of hardwood and canvas and accented with solid brass nailheads ($3,399, Horchow.com).
RICH REFLECTION
Warm materials such as copper, gold leaf and burnished brass are now the “refreshing” metals of choice over the shiny ’80s brass and cooler silver, Peake says. Anthropologie’s round or square Brass Mirrored Tray ($98-$128, Anthropologie.com) has a softer, antiqued finish.
When used sparingly, today’s metals can also help make heirlooms look expertly eclectic in modern rooms.