mastering metal finishes
This week, we’re polishing up on metal finishes! Metal is a favorite material of interior designers for a reason: its durability and versatility are unmatched! Unlike using wood as a material, with metal, there’s no need to worry about a delicate surface or sensitivities to heat, light, or water. Additionally, with so many finish options, metal can be dressed up or toned down as much as you’d like! We’ll begin by exploring all the forms of metal finishes. In the second half of the post, we’ll guide you through our favorite metal finishes, as well as include some suggestions for how to bring them into your home!
functional finishes
First, let’s explore all the ways metal finishes can play a role in your space’s design. There are so many options just under the umbrella of furniture finishes! Think coffee tables, accent tables, side tables, and patio chairs. Metal makes wonderful arms and legs when paired with upholstery, as well as drapery treatments. Never underestimate how a carefully selected curtain rod can bring some serious attitude to a room! Lighting and metal finishes have long been friends as well – consider how often a designer introduces metal finishes to a room via lighting, from ceiling fixtures to lamp bases, sconces to pendants! Metal staircases and banisters can add a modern touch to any stairwell or entrance. Lastly, we can’t wrap furniture finishes without mentioning hardware: drawers, cabinets, doors (from knobs to hinges!), and light switches are small details with a big impact.
Moving on, accessories are another place where metal shines! Whether your pieces are new or antique, metal can make its mark on a room in the form of vases, sculptures, picture frames, fireplace screens, and small tchotchkes. Consider how placing a smaller metal sculpture amid a wall of books reflects light into the area while adding visual interest!
Now that we’ve covered how you can creatively implement metal finishes into your home or office, let’s cover the finishes that are available. While this blog post won’t cover all the options out there, we’ve created a succinct guide for you to cover the usual suspects!
meet the metals!
Brass, chrome, copper – the list goes on! Below are some examples of how these metal finishes can really add interest to a space. You’ll notice plenty of mixing metals – while some clients prefer all metal finishes to coordinate, there’s something to be said for the visual depth that comes from mixing metals!
top brass
Warm and inviting, brass is a classic finish that’s returned to by clients for designs, time after time!
Design by: @emilyjunedesigns
Photo by: @ccasbo for @juliesoefer
Shop some of our favorite brass finds!
cool chrome
Sleek and silvery, this finish brings to mind modernity – and depending on how it’s used, this could mean the modernity of our own future, or in the style of the forward-thinking dreamers from the 1950’s and 1960’s!
Design by: @emilyjunedesigns
Photo by: @kerrykirkphoto
charismatic copper
This sunny, unique finish is becoming a hot trend, bringing new energy to spaces after years of neutral white, black, and stainless steel designs!
Design by @laurenliessandco
Photo by @helennorman
Shop some of our favorite copper finds!
matte black marvel
Anything but plain, matte black finishes deliver a certain kind of polish to every space they inhabit, with their rich hue and unique appearance!
Shop some of our favorite Matte black finds!
nickel
Nickel has a warmer “champagne” finish and a softer look than its cousin, chrome! This is a great finish when you’re looking for an elegant, more subtle sheen.
Design by: @emilyjunedesigns
Photo by: @kerrykirkphoto
Shop some of our favorite nickel finds!
painted metal/gesso plaster
When it comes to colorizing metal, there are lots of techniques available, from powder coating to gesso plaster! Color finishes are an unexpected way to bring color into your home and add a whimsical, retro feel to any space.
Shop some of our favorite painted metal finds!
oil rubbed bronze
This stylized finish may transport you right back to the early aughts, when it lead the way for metal finishes. Today, we prefer using a more subtle version of the finish to inject a modern feel into a space!
Shop some of our favorite oil rubbed bronze finds!