VB Magazine - December 2024 - Expert Tips for Mixing Metals in the Home

Silver nickel continues to be one of the most classic finishes, but people have been gravitating to gold lately. Beware, says Pusser: “If you put too much gold in a room it looks brash. You can do whatever you want with the lighting.” The designer recently did a bathroom with chrome fittings, a gold mirror, and wallpaper with gold accents. It works. Underfoot, Artistic Tile and Akdo both offer porcelain tiles with brass or chrome integrated into the design for just enough glamour.

Designers agree: too much of the same metal in a room feels static and looks contrived. There are many ways to introduce the glint and glimmer of gilt into your home. The most obvious and highest impact is wallpaper. Gracie & Sons was among the pioneers of using metallic paint as background on its scenic wallcoverings. Ceilings are the most popular destination for the solid metallic papers. Says Pusser, “Scalamandre and Stark were the first ones to sell foil wallpaper over 40 years ago. Thibaut came out with foils this year—one in gold, one in silver, one a mix of both.”