The Growing Trend in Copper and Brass Fixtures

by Lauren Busser Direct from the Designers™’ Editorial Director

Where silver once dominated, gold tones are edging their way in, but it’s not necessarily gold that is being introduced into interior design: it’s bronze and brass. Many manufacturers are currently reporting a rising trend in yellow metals. The yellow metals, previously considered to be old fashioned are now gaining steam, particularly those golden tones that offer a warmer aesthetic. The result is a beautiful classic look that offers a pleasing patina without being ostentatious.

Brass and copper used to be mostly relegated to the background in home design. Copper was generally hidden behind walls in plumbing fixtures and piping. Now, they have come into the foreground in everything from faucets to sinks to light fixtures. But rather than being limited to the kitchen and bathroom it is making its presence known throughout the home and in both the interior and exterior. For example door knockers, handles and handrails were often traditionally made from brass.

Brass and warm metal fixtures gave way to stainless steel in the 80's, when technology began to heavily influence design trends. It was then that computers and other appliances began to morph from a putty or beige to sleek aluminum or steel finishes. From there design trends followed suit with stainless steel quickly becoming the favorite for appliances and silvery tones influencing fixtures. Today these bright finishes have become so ubiquitous that the futuristic tones and sleek lines have started to seem dated themselves.

Instead of a silver metal designers are now favoring the warmth and hand wrought workmanship evoked by brass and darker metals. Brass and copper can bring to mind Moroccan elegance, Italian mid-century fantasy, and English clubbiness or French elegance.

Today, brass is being used in a new movement called organic modernism. This new take on the modern aesthetic makes prominent use of natural materials such as leather and stone and focuses on texture, unlike the traditional modern aesthetic that favors clean lines.

However, working with brass presents some challenges. Brass doesn’t rust but its finish is harder to maintain than stainless steel or chrome. To make maintaining brass easier manufacturers heavily lacquered the metal. This made it easy to clean but very shiny. The current trend is to use raw brass and copper which gain a lovely patina with age.

The primary reason that copper has become popular is because the metal is used to accentuate style rather than simply create a bold statement on its own. Brass and copper has a way of making everything feel richer. It can be used in furniture, light fixtures, and other spaces. The reflective textures makes a room feel bigger and warmer than stainless steel.