On the Subject of Precious Metals.

PPG’s “Gilded Gold” and “Rejoice” Paired with a Flat Blood Red….

Although gold/ brass and silver are most commonly used on their own, try using both silver and gold together to create your own Versailles or Moroccan souk. Or try multiple tones/ finishes of gold, brass or silver together for a multi-dimensional look. If you have a limited appetite for mixed metals, it is best to use one warm metal as a dominant color and use another cool metal as an accent. Use gold with accents of silver with a blood-red painted wall and pair with a cabinet or mirror in dark wood inlaid with silver or shell for an exotic middle eastern look. This mixing of warm and cold metals can work in several ways…. consider using gold tones in a north-facing room to make it warmer and more inviting. Use the silver tones to cool a room down, paired with a black or deepest grey accent wall or furniture, especially in a south or west-facing area….

Consider mixing silver or nickel with blues and cool grays paired white-washed ash or ebonized floors for a sleek, modern look. A warmer look can be achieved by pairing brass or hammered copper with warm dark-stained oak or saltillo floors and the wall paint colors terracotta or verdigris green. Accents provided by gunmetal and brass “finds” from the flea market or your travels add real dimension in, for example, a kitchen. Don’t be afraid to mix different finishes: you can achieve an eclectic, ethnic look with hammered copper and tooled silver or a sleek and modern effect with polished nickel, stainless steel and gold.

If this amount of metal is a tad overblown for your taste try the classic combination of gray and camel to capture the effect in eggshell paint. Accents of silver/ stainless steel or copper/ brass with those classic colors will capture a more subdued effect.

Metallics paired with dramatically-patterned granite and marble in white, silver grays, camel, gold and black.

There are tons of marble and stone slabs available that blend warm “golds” and cool grays/ “silver’ with black that are nothing short of magical. Try a black marble counter-top with rich golden camel swirls and, if you are looking to up the ante with your tired kitchen cabinets, consider a honeyed gold kitchen cabinet in a sleek finish. Try spray-painting them with Gilded Gold, Golden Saffron or Bronzed Caramel metallic from PPG for a multi-dimensional look. Use oiled bronze or black “forged” knobs or handles and switch plates to tie together the black and “gold” counter-top with your metallic cabinets. (Alert: This is not the application recommended by PPG but I have spray-painted both Bronzed Caramel and Aqua Essence and that flat gleam is simply amazing. You might want to consider for a household without children or pets so you can maintain the polished effect!)

Gunmetal with Black

Embossed Metal Table

PPG’s “Oxidized” and “Rejoice” with Flat Black

This effect is achieved on a tabletop with a relief pattern.  The top came to life when burnished with cool metallics. First, the flat black paint was applied to coat the whole table top, ensuring that it penetrated every crevice in the pattern. When dry it was then burnished with gunmetal paint applied with a cloth to accentuate the raised pattern. The final stage was a light application of brighter silver with a cloth to create the highlights this pattern needed to glow. A glass tabletop was used to protect the finish and for ease of cleaning!

Slate and Copper, a Perfect Combination

Warm-toned Slate Paired with Copper Tile

Some simple effects are the most impactful: textured grey slate with undertones of earthy terracotta and ochre is brought to life with the addition of copper ceramic tiles. A perfect look for a bathroom paired with a copper sink and fixtures.

Slate and Copper Tile with Dark Charcoal, Flannel Grey and Ochre in Sueded Finish Paint

This color and materials story makes the most of a play of textures: the rough slate with burnished copper. These are paired with sueded charcoal, flannel grays and toffee paint.

This approach to mixing metals with natural materials can be achieved in the mixing of cool-toned stainless steel with warm woods. Accents provided by copper cookware and brass “finds” from the flea market add real dimension in, for example, a kitchen.

Use a collection of copper pots and pans to add an eclectic feel to your kitchen. These would be wonderful paired with hammered copper in a high gloss black kitchen.