Decorating
Trends: Why Brass and Copper are Big Style News
These traditional materials are being reclaimed and restyled for today’s imaginative homes, bringing warmth to even the whitest schemes
Warm, glowing and reflective, copper and brass are traditional materials that are storming back into fashion. It seems we have tired of brushed steel and shiny chrome and are rediscovering traditional metals and alloys, finding exciting new ways to work them into our room schemes. From sheets of copper flanking a kitchen island to traditional brass taps that warm up a marble bathroom, the rich colours of brass and copper are adding style and substance to today’s homes.
Softly punctuate black
Where chrome or steel might look stark against a black backdrop, brass looks warm and appealing. It gently punctuates this black wall, softening it up without diluting its dramatic appearance.
Where chrome or steel might look stark against a black backdrop, brass looks warm and appealing. It gently punctuates this black wall, softening it up without diluting its dramatic appearance.
Choose industrial taps
Copper brings just the right note of industrial chic to a kitchen. This tap was made bespoke from copper piping and simple valves. It’s a nice antidote to the flash, expensive taps that crop up in modernist kitchens, and looks beautiful against the marble splash back.
Discover how to choose the perfect kitchen tap
Copper brings just the right note of industrial chic to a kitchen. This tap was made bespoke from copper piping and simple valves. It’s a nice antidote to the flash, expensive taps that crop up in modernist kitchens, and looks beautiful against the marble splash back.
Discover how to choose the perfect kitchen tap
Create a funky feature wall
Treat your outside space to some marvellous metal. This contemporary courtyard garden has a bespoke copper wall built in for a really dramatic look, but you could simply work copper in on decorative items such as mirrors and garden sculptures.
Treat your outside space to some marvellous metal. This contemporary courtyard garden has a bespoke copper wall built in for a really dramatic look, but you could simply work copper in on decorative items such as mirrors and garden sculptures.
Brass up your brackets
Brass shelf brackets were often used in kitchens in the past, and give a simple shelf a twist of personality. This pale kitchen, with its white tiles and marble worktop, could look a little cold, but the brass brackets create a soft contrast against the bleached-out backdrop and help to warm it up.
Learn how to be bold with brass
Brass shelf brackets were often used in kitchens in the past, and give a simple shelf a twist of personality. This pale kitchen, with its white tiles and marble worktop, could look a little cold, but the brass brackets create a soft contrast against the bleached-out backdrop and help to warm it up.
Learn how to be bold with brass
Source an antique
A stunning antique copper tub takes centre stage in the bathroom of this farmhouse conversion. A copper towel rail picks up the theme, adding more warm, reflective colour to this one-of-a-kind space.
A stunning antique copper tub takes centre stage in the bathroom of this farmhouse conversion. A copper towel rail picks up the theme, adding more warm, reflective colour to this one-of-a-kind space.
Add as art
Even just a little brass can go a long way, adding interest to a scheme. In the past, this alloy was often used for practical purposes, as house letters and numbers, lighting or taps. So scour vintage shops for old brass fittings and pieces and then think about how they can be used as decoration. Here, old printing stencils arranged along one wall make a softly glinting artwork.
Even just a little brass can go a long way, adding interest to a scheme. In the past, this alloy was often used for practical purposes, as house letters and numbers, lighting or taps. So scour vintage shops for old brass fittings and pieces and then think about how they can be used as decoration. Here, old printing stencils arranged along one wall make a softly glinting artwork.
Warm a white scheme
White is a classic colour for the bathroom, but it can read as a bit cold and sterile. One solution is to simply add brass taps and pipework. Here, a brass shower brings a warm pop of colour while performing a practical role.
White is a classic colour for the bathroom, but it can read as a bit cold and sterile. One solution is to simply add brass taps and pipework. Here, a brass shower brings a warm pop of colour while performing a practical role.
Fit a fabulous fire surround
This comfortable living room has a unique focal point in the form of a fireplace finished with copper sheets. The soft, glowing colour of the copper makes an almost matching frame for the flickering flames, and draws the eye without dominating the space.
This comfortable living room has a unique focal point in the form of a fireplace finished with copper sheets. The soft, glowing colour of the copper makes an almost matching frame for the flickering flames, and draws the eye without dominating the space.
Work in some piping
Copper piping runs beneath the floorboards in many of our homes, but how about bringing it out into the open? Here, balustrades have been made from copper piping. In conjunction with the rustic stair treads and chunky beams, the piping looks warm and unique – just right for this old, characterful home.
TELL US...
Do you incorporate brass and copper in your home? Share your tips and thoughts in the Comments.
Copper piping runs beneath the floorboards in many of our homes, but how about bringing it out into the open? Here, balustrades have been made from copper piping. In conjunction with the rustic stair treads and chunky beams, the piping looks warm and unique – just right for this old, characterful home.
TELL US...
Do you incorporate brass and copper in your home? Share your tips and thoughts in the Comments.
The island unit in this sleek kitchen extension has been flanked at either end with sheet copper. Rather than the orange tone of most copper, this highly polished sheet is a golden colour, and brings a shot of glamour to a simple white unit.