Metallic Trends and Finishes

As 2018 comes to a close, Design Insider would like to explore trends relating to metals and metallic finishes that have inspired designers throughout the year. Many BCFA members gave us responses relating to brassware, copper and metallic finishes – as well as some 2019 predictions!

For some time Brass and Gold have been the go-to metals of the moment, something which Eleanor Cardwell from Newmor agreed with when we asked her about metal trends.

Eleanor explained that the evolution of these finishes has been focused on the increasingly adventurous ways the finishes are being used, giving exciting examples of mesh architectural elements and metal sculptural effects.

Eleanor told us that it is not just brass and gold which has recently caught Newmor’s eye: “We’ve also started seeing hints of nickel, silver and cooler metallic tones pushing through and the mixed metal look, rose gold and copper tones taking more of a backseat.”

We are all more than accustomed to the clean finish of classic chrome in our bathrooms, a finish which GROHE continues to find popular within the commercial sector for its timeless aesthetic.

Similar to Newmor’s experience, GROHE have also seen a rise in the specification of coloured brassware, particularly in hotels and high end restaurants.

Kelly Everest from GROHE told us more about their use of a brass finish: “Coloured brassware is one of the most popular ways that the hospitality sector is achieving these aspirational settings. Brass tones such as GROHE Cool Sunrise offer a contemporary pop of colour and work well within high contrast colour schemes – such as against dark walls.”

During the height of the copper trend, there was an increase in popularity of burnt oranges, blush and coral. As an appreciation to this trend, Newmor released Envy, a delicate organic weave with a highly reflective metallic surface.

Eleanor also found another trend from 2018, implementing this this into Newmor’s work: “This month we launched Seminato, our take on the terrazzo trend, which has a pared-back quartz-like metallic print.”

Alison Kitchingman, Director of Marketing and Design at Milliken, found mixing metals was another trend development in 2018. In relation to Copper, Alison said: “Copper has been a particularly strong interior design trend this year bringing warmth and a sophisticated glow to home and office.”

Metallic finishes have been an icon throughout different industries, such as textiles and homes, for some years now. We are now starting to see such trends becoming filtered  into commercial interiors. Neutral greys, blues and browns that make up background colours have been brought to life with flourishes of lustrous and shimmering metallic accents. 

Alison from Milliken discusses how this trend has been incorporated into their designs: “Fine Detail fuses the luxurious and precious appeal of the metallic yarn component with a commercial and useable combination of pattern and colour to give a highly specifiable collection that can work within any interior.”

Metal trends at the moment include metal elements as a finishing flourish to surfaces. Gemma Stockberger at Versital created the metallic marble to “give the opportunity for the trend to be included in commercial settings such as table tops, bar tops and washroom vanities within the material itself.”

Anything from a stool to a sofa can be updated with a metal frame. Isabel Ayre-Lynch at Inside Out Contracts details the popularity of different metal finishes: “Silver and brass are the most popular choices in terms of finish as they speak to a deep aesthetic sensibility, yet are relatively neutral, sitting well with most coloured upholsteries. It looks like this trend is here to stay.”

Isabel also provided Design Insider with two predictions for 2019: “Dual tone chairs with a metal frame, be it tubular or cage, and upholstery in matching colours are a prediction of ours for the metal finishes in 2019. Tubular metal frames with the dip dye effect have just started cropping up in furniture design following the popularity of ‘painted socks’ on bentwood furniture.”

Kelly from GROHE also predicted Graphite to be an up and coming trend: “We are hoping to broaden the coloured brassware market further by offering both a polished and brushed (matte) finish, to give more differentiation to our customers regarding not just colour but texture too.”

The Design Insider team would like to see in 2019 how metal can be used in an environmentally friendly way. For example, Milliken’s designers use ECONYL® yarn (made from 100% regenerated fibre), and their Fine Detail collection has 90% recycled content – they have interpreted the metallic trend without compromising on their environmental credentials.

Do you agree with these BCFA member’s metal trends? Do you see any more predictions for 2019? You can comment and let us know below.