Debbie’s Copper Caper
Once upon a time, only white wine accompanied fish, red wine with meat, and mixing gold and silver in jewelry design was taboo. All that has changed. I broke the rules in my recent kitchen renovation; see what you think.
The hottest metal finish around for home interiors at the moment is copper. Copper is a warm, happy and welcoming metal, but it should be used as an accent – too much is overpowering. There are several copper finishes, including a clean and unblemished finish like the look of rose gold, or more orange coloured with a greyish patina.
I was very excited about pairing copper handles with the soft tones of my painted cabinets, which are Pavillion Grey by Farrow and Ball. They looked stunning. But what about the fridge and the sink? And oh yes, also the stove. Most are in stainless steel. When you start adding up the different appliances and fixtures in a kitchen that are metal, there are several. So, do you try to match them? There are copper sinks on the market that are a feature in themselves. Here I wanted the handles and the inside of the lights to offer a glimpse of glamor, and felt a copper sink or taps would be too overwhelming.
I contacted my friends at Kohler, who produce some of the most practical and attractive sinks on the market. www.kohler.com. I am going to spend an inordinate amount of time at my sink, so I might as well have one that is easy on the eye, practical, and fits with my kitchen décor. Kohler suggested their handcrafted Vault stainless sink, engineered with sound absorption technology. It features tightly angled corners to maximize basin space, and a lowered divider for freedom of movement between basins.
The chic lines of the undermount sink blend beautifully with the Neolith countertop. Neolith is the newest and most exciting material we have seen in a very long time for countertops, flooring, and walls. It is a super durable surface composed of all-natural materials; available in large slabs that are light weight and bendable, which make for versatile applications and installations. Neolith offers several finishes and a wide range of colours that originate from the pigmentation of the raw materials that make up each slab.
The BTC Spun Reflector pendant shades are anthracite grey with a polished copper interior. The stainless sink balances perfectly with the copper cabinet handles and the copper interior of the hanging lights. I also dressed up the kitchen with some copper containers. You’ll find a selection of copper-finish accessories at good kitchen and home stores. (The stove and fridge are stainless.)
Yes, today all the rules are more relaxed – fish with red wine, go for it; white and yellow gold interwoven, or a gold necklace woven with silver, perfect; a judicious mixture of metals in your home, lovely. Life is so much more varied and interesting when you mix it up a little.
Dear Debbie;
Our kitchen is bright with windows and a skylight. We are thinking of changing the paint colour of the white kitchen cabinets. What would you suggest? Thanks, Debra
Dear Debra;
Your all-white kitchen is a very contemporary look, but could be a little cold. Time to be brave. Switching to a colour for the cabinets would ramp up the mood. Experiment first by painting a few large pieces of Bristol board and pinning them up over the cabinets to get the effect. Why not try a warm shade of gray or blue? Or even a pale pink. Bold shots of red and sunny yellow are showing up in modern kitchens today.
Debbie Travis' House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at www.twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie’s new website, swww.debbietravis.com.