Image courtesy of House and Home
Over the past several years we have seen matte brass make a serious comeback. It started with small accent pieces and it ballooned into light fixtures, knobs and pulls, and even faucets. While I still love the look of matte brass, I have started to notice more dark iron light fixtures. I am pretty excited about this trend; black and brass is one of our favorite color combinations (see post here) and you cannot go wrong with the classic look of black and white (read post here).
The key to using darker metals is to use them sparingly and in fixtures that are open. Lanterns are great in dark colors as are more modern minimalist chandeliers. Here are some of my favorite looks right now.
Image courtesy of ourboathouse.com
Another way to keep darker metal from feeling heavy is by pairing it with other lighter elements. White cabinets or walls do the trick nicely. Also, since lanterns do not always have adequate wattage on their own, I recommend pairing them recessed lighting.
Image courtesy of poshhome.com
If you are going to use dark metal light fixtures, pairing the metal with darker window and door frames helps a space feel more cohesive.
Image courtesy of Architectural Digest
In the image above, the light fixtures paired with the black cabinetry creates a dramatic effect. The white marble countertops, white backsplash, and white walls help keep the scheme from feeling oppressive.
Image courtesy of Park and Oak Design
The images above and below blend classic and modern styles seamlessly. Above, the combination of the farmhouse table, vintage runner and traditional moldings with the ghost barstools and modern chandelier create a perfect transitional space. The similar combination below is also striking.
Image courtesy of CocoAlpineDesign.com
Black and brass is a great look and I think we are going to see more and more designers combining the two in 2018.
