Trends in home design come and go, and sometimes come again! Brass seems to be one of those things. I remember when we first moved into our house and there were several brass light fixtures and they looked sooo “80’s”, and so, of course, they had to go! Door handles in the last decade looked better if they were chrome or oil-rubbed bronze, not dated brass. Oh, how things have changed!
The brass hardware trend is back, and bigger than ever! That’s the thing about trends. I know some people complain about them, and I agree, sometimes it can feel like we are always playing catch up. But I have to say that often when they re-appear, they do feel fresh. Time has passed and when looked at through fresh eyes, it feels new again.
For the last couple of years, I have been seeing a ton of brass and/or gold in hardware and lighting and I’m loving it. It’s a trend that’s been around for awhile now, but it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. If anything, I would say it’s finally hitting it’s stride! It often adds much needed warmth to a room, especially if the rest of the room is all neutrals or cool tones. So for this neutral-loving girl, the brass hardware trend is the perfect way to warm up a space!
Brass Hardware in Kitchens
Amazing kitchen via Romancing the Home. I love that they’ve mixed gold open shelving with a nickel faucet. Mixing your hardware finishes really breaks up the space and makes it less matchy-matchy.
Brass fixtures, lights and hardware look classic in this black and white kitchen via Lonny magazine.
In this kitchen, there is lots of chrome and stainless- both in the range and hood and in the faucets. But mixing in the dramatic brass lighting fixtures really breaks up all the coolness of the space. I love what a difference they make! Design by Caitlin Wilson via Becki Owens.
I love what a big statement these light fixtures are! Via Studio McGee.
Gorgeous kitchen designed by Amber Lewis. Via All Sorts Of.
I love this classic white kitchen, warmed up with the vintage rug, brass fixtures, and those stunning brass lanterns! Design by Julie Blanner.
Another kitchen that mixes metals. They could have done brass hardware to coordinate with the La Cornue range, but instead, they went with the unexpected chrome handles. Design via Parkes and Lamb Interiors.
Design by Brooke Giannetti via Velvet and Linen.
Brass Hardware in Bathrooms
Archer and Buchanan Architecture via Houzz.
Personally, I love the way the unpolished brass ages. I did just order a brass faucet for the downstairs powder room and I had to sign a waiver saying I wouldn’t complain about the patina later! Image via Perrin and Rowe.
Design via Parkes and Lamb Interiors.
Love this French farmhouse inspired bathroom. Design by Brooke Giannetti via Velvet and Linen.
Design by Meredith McBrearty via Traditional Home.
And here’s a great example of mixing metals. Brass hardware and lighting, gold mirror, and chrome or nickel fixture – and it looks so good! Design by Leslie Jenkins via Jenkins Interiors.
I don’t know about you, but I’m loving the brass hardware trend! I’m not going to change out all my kitchen handles, the expense is just too much right now, but I do love the idea of adding some brass in other areas. As I said above, I just changed out our powder room faucet and I love it so I may do that in the master, too.
Lighting and accessories are also a great place to start (and since I never got around to changing out my dated door handles to the oil-rubbed bronze, they are back in style again – yay for me!) I love when my procrastination pays off, haha! 😉
xo
Renae Frey says
Your post me so giddy! I love brass hardware and fixtures. I’m switching out all of mine and going brass. Blessings to you.
Sheila says
Aww that’s awesome – I’m so glad to hear that Renae! I LOVE brass too and can’t wait to redo the hardware in my own kitchen!
Thanks again for stopping by!
Sheila
Marlene says
Wow I love the look.can you help me I have a modern French home.what kind of sofa should I get?
Sheila says
I’m glad to hear that! I would go with a simple, classic style in white or flax linen!
Sheila
Holly Johnson says
Wowza! What a gorgeous collection of inspirations, Sheila! I pinned every single image. Brass really warms things up and I am loving incorporating bits and pieces of it. Lovely post!
Sheila says
I’m so glad you think so too Holly!
Thanks for stopping by my friend!
Sheila
xo
Calypso in the Country says
Great inspiration photos and I love Julie Blanner’s lanterns so much! I kept my brass door handles in my home. I remember when my neighbor switched out every single door handle and hinge to ORB and spent a ton of money doing it. (Needless to say, my husband was horrified at the idea). Since I never bothered, I’m now happy I didn’t! Enjoy your weekend!
Shelley
Sheila says
haha our procrastinating nature has paid off! 😉
Happy weekend to you too!
Sheila
xo
Barbara at Mantel and Table says
Great post Sheila! I love brass, and it really has been going strong for quite a while now! I’m always so happy when things I like come back into style. A lot of times they’re paired with different looks and it makes them fresher. Thanks for the beautiful inspiration!
Sheila says
I’m definitely crushing on it, and I’m so glad you love it, too!
Sheila
xo
Brandi Bradley says
Love the way that brass really transforms the look of the kitchen. It really draws my eyes no matter what I am looking at. Love this idea and am looking for ways myself to incorporate more copper into my theme. Thank you for sharing and please post more pics when you have the chance. I am going on a hunt this weekend for my copper.
Brandi Bradley @ Rotax Metals
Shellie Bowdoin says
I think the monochromatic styling of the kitchen really makes the brass look fresh and current! Thanks for lending your style to the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop! I also pinned this to the Thursday Favorite Things Pinterest Board.
Shellie
http://www.thefabjourney.com
Katherines Corner says
wonderful inspirations, thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. Watch for your feature tomorrow. xo
Olivia McGowen says
Hi Sheila,
This is a beautiful inspiration post. I'm liking the resurgence of gold in home decor. Nothing says luxury quite like touches of gold does. I must say that this time around is a wonderful improvement from the brass seen in the 80's and early 90's. Mixing metals is another favorite look.
Thank you for sharing with us at Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
Olivia- Co-hostess
Reinvented Collection
thecuratorscollection.com says
WOW! Stunning photos of some amazing kitchens! How inspiring! I didn't think I could love brass again but this is certainly brass done right! I hope you have a great weekend! If you are interested in joining one more party each week I would be so happy to host you over at Making Broken Beautiful. It runs every Thursday thru Sunday and is a home decor and furniture party. Have a great day!
Smiles!
Terry
http://thecuratorscollection.wordpress.com
Marilyn Lesniak says
I love the clean warm look of the brass against the stark white! Gorgeous. I am happy to have found ypur blog! Thanks for linking up at #ThursdayFavoriteThings! I hope to see you also at #OverTheMoon.
Angelina PeoniesandOrangeBlossoms says
I just loved is post! Love those la cornue stoves. I think what is different about today's brass compared to the 1980s brass is that now the brass has a patina to it. I think the 80s brass was super shiny, if I remember right! Thanks for linking up at Thursday favorite things!
Shabbyfufu says
The brass that is already in my home from some remodeling in the 80's is going to make a comeback? Woo hoo…because I truly love ALL metals and mix them!
annie@mostlovelythings says
I love brass! Who would have thought after the 80s that we would be embracing it?!
kim at northerncalstyle. says
Very pretty. I love all these kitchens! I agree the brass is lovely. I wonder how much work it is to keep it looking good..at least the faucets. I just changed out nickel unpolished that got impossible to keep shiny. It would get a black color.. A lot of work! kim
Fabiana says
Three gorgeous examples of white kitchens. Love the chic brass accents that are soooo elegant. Sue and Aerin are have such great style, as do you, my dear!
Sheila says
I agree Karen! You can't change to every trend, all the time (or at least I can't!) but my oil -rubbed bronze in my kitchen is a "living finish" anyway, so it's turning more brass all the time! I'm going to look for some light fixtures and/or accessories to bring that warmth to the room.
Sheila
xo
Karen says
Sheila,
I do feel perplexed sometimes when a trend goes away from something I like, but I confess, while I don't strictly follow trends, sometimes it can make a room feel dated due to a new "trend". I love brass and I tend to mix metals. We added oil rubbed bronze hardware to most of our indoor and outdoor doors several years ago. I still love it but the unpolished brass is so attractive. There are a couple of kitchens here that I would be very happy to call my own.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Karen