Metallics in all their variations are touted as one of the hottest trends of 2021, and this applies as much to the kitchen as the rest of a home’s interiors. Metals like steel are favored for their durability and sustainability, while copper, bronze, and other warmer hued metals are famed for the rustic majesty they can bring to everything from main kitchen features to small details. Whether your chosen ambience is modern or inspired by country living, metallics can add a welcome warmth and sparkle that can turn your kitchen into a haven of design. The following are just a few ways in which metals are being used to transform kitchen interiors.
A Brassy Welcome
Darker metals like brass, bronze and copper, used on details such as lamps, kitchen island borders and sides, and cabinet handles, are adding a rustic chic vibe that somehow marries well with ultra-modern features such as steel framed glass partitions (which separate the kitchen from the living room). Warm metals also complement ‘cool’ natural materials such as stone, concrete and marble to perfection, offsetting their neutral coolness with their light-catching properties. These hues are also used in splashback tiles, basin details and sinks, presenting a beautiful contrast to cool steel elements such as fridges and dishwashers.
Gleaming Chrome Kitchen Equipment
Kitchens with a professional or semi-pro look often opt for chrome looks for elements such as hoods, overhead lighting, and central kitchen islands (complete with storage spaces that pull outwards or slide right or left). Chrome and cool steel looks are ideal for the most utilitarian elements of a kitchen – including your chosen refrigerator, hob and oven. If your kitchen is small and your fridge is therefore narrower than an average family-sized fridge, steer away from classic white, and opt for black metallic or shiny steel fridges, strategically placed in available corners or your kitchen. Newer fridges even have the ability to transform from metallic to clear glass with just a couple of taps of the hand. They are the ultimate choice for those wishing to see the interior of their fridge without wasting energy through frequent opening and closing.
Retro Inspirations
If you love vintage and 50s/60s kitchen looks, then fill your kitchen with metallic cabinets, fridges, countertops, corner storage furniture, and other items in pink, aqua and yellow metallic hues. This type of look can be achieved by shopping for individual items, which have the advantage of blending with similarly painted pieces to perfection – even if individual brands and styles differ. Pastel metallic hues work beautifully with a black-and-white tiled floor, which harks back to mid-1950s inspirations.
Metallics are one of the big trends in kitchen and home design. From small touches (such as hanging copper lamps or metallic bar stools) right through to all-metallic features such as countertops, kitchen sinks and fridges, metal captures light in a unique way. If you have several pieces in materials like steel, brass and copper, feel free to use them together. Mixed metallic looks are all the rage in both modern and country-inspired kitchens alike, while ‘matchy matchy’ looks are definitely a thing of the past.
