Go for the Gold
Gold got a bad deal in the 1980s and early 1990s. Brass was overly polished to a yellow and sheen and was mass produced in unremarkable door knobs, coffee tables and lamps with pleated shades. These days when I mention brass and gold finishes I sometimes meet a client’s crinkled nose. A mixture of metals have been making a comeback for a few seasons at furnishings market, and that especially includes brass and gold.
These days we not only polish it, we hammer it, we patina it, we mix it with bronze, we gold leaf it… oh the endless possibilities are liberating. Yes, I love gold. I think it might grow on you too.
I know. You are probably still hesitant, right? Here are some of my favorites in pieces all over the home from light fixtures, to furniture, to plumbing fixtures and fittings.
Our new interior design studio in Portland opening in early Summer uses it liberally. In our case we are mixing gold with navy blue, marble, hide, antique mirrors and gray with a (hint of purple) painted woods.
Notice how well Gold works in this living room. It is sleek, modern and contemporary, yet grounded in elegance.
This chair is just, well, sexy. Shown here in a chocolate latte leather, it would be lovely many, many colors. This can also be upholstered in unlimited fabrics.
Same Chair, neutral moonlight white leather. Notice how the gold plays off the purple – complementary colors at their best!
Gold accents in this bathroom from Summer Thornton Design, Inc beautifully uses gold plumbing fittings and fixtures that juxtapose with the wood tones and black and white.
Here is a kitchen I could hang out in all day from design-milk. It feels both updated and rooted in classical, period elements. I love the flush inlay doors, the color of the cabinets in a warm sharkskin gray, as always I am charmed by a farmhouse sink and subway tiles.
A simple pendant in a brushed gold finish with an Edison bulb. Ahhh. Simple, beautiful. Inexpensive and personalized to you.
Another kitchen shot I couldn’t resist from Eclectic Kitchen, this time the kitchen focal point beautifully illustrates using gold in classic, timeless design. That range slays me! You didn’t say I needed a budget when I blogged!
What do you think? Are you likely to use a little Gold in your new project?
Angela Todd
Owner & Principal Designer
Angela is the principal designer at her boutique interior design firm in Portland, Oregon. She is known for creating memorable backdrops that tell the story of fascinating and intricate lives.
