When we talk about warm metals, we\u2019re referring to gold, brass, copper and bronze \u2014 autumnal finishes that connote fire and earthiness, as opposed to their chillier counterparts, chrome and nickel. (The latter two also look good with black, but aren\u2019t having a \u201cmoment\u201d right at this, er, moment.) Paired with black, the contrast is subtle but effective, the two finishes playing off each other like musicians in a jazz trio.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Romance in the Kitchen<\/strong><\/p>\n While all-white kitchens remain extremely popular, you rarely hear them described as sexy or seductive. Which might explain why we\u2019re seeing more matte black in the kitchen. \u201cI feel like a lot of people are tired of white kitchens,\u201d says kitchen and bath designer Terri Sears of Hermitage Kitchen Gallery<\/a> in Nashville. \u201cI don\u2019t think white kitchens are necessarily going away, but I think people are willing to take a little bit more risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Appliance manufacturers are joining them, with companies such as Frigidaire, Samsung, Whirlpool and LG producing refrigerators and ranges in black stainless steel, which Frigidaire is calling \u201ca new and updated alternative\u201d to the classic silver finish. It\u2019s more than just a novelty, however. When rendered in black, stainless steel takes on a luster and depth that\u2019s inviting and \u2014 unlike conventional black appliances \u2014 doesn\u2019t suck all the light out of a room.<\/p>\n Warm metals are a natural accompaniment to black in a kitchen. \u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic combination when it\u2019s married together,\u201d says Sears, who used a brass range hood, light fixtures and hardware in a Nashville kitchen outfitted with black cabinets and a Delft-like blue-and-white floor. \u201cBlack is kind of a neutral,\u201d she notes. \u201cYou can bring so much color in with black and it\u2019s not going to clash.\u201d<\/p>\n Hardware manufacturer Richelieu<\/a> makes a wide array of knobs and pulls in warm metallic finishes like gold, copper, brass and bronze that pair beautifully with black cabinets. Some of the company\u2019s offerings even combine warm metals with matte black in a single piece, pairing ebony wood or leather handles with brass supports in a pull, for instance, or brass or copper stems with a black crossbar in a tailored, T-shaped knob. These would look great with black cabinets, or as a way to add a bit of urban sophistication to wood cabinetry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Faucet companies such as Kohler and Brizo<\/a> have joined the black bandwagon, as well. The latter\u2019s Litze kitchen faucet is runway-chic, with a matte black body accented by a burnished gold handle and spout that add just the right amount of bling. Range hoods are another great way to add matte black and warm metals. Several manufacturers, such as Hoodsly<\/a> and CopperSmith, sell ebony range hoods accented with metal rivets or straps, or \u2014 as in the case of Hoodsly\u2019s sinuous curved hood \u2014 a broad brass band around the bottom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Luxury in the Loo<\/strong><\/p>\n Rachel Hutchens transformed a modest Salt Lake City bathroom into a vision of Hollywood glamor by painting the walls black, installing matching tile wainscoting, and accenting the space with brass hardware, towel racks, lighting and picture frames. \u201cI was so nervous about doing that,\u201d the designer admits. But as soon as she saw the results, she was sold on the look \u2014 as was her client.<\/p>\n In a Nashville bathroom designed by Terri Sears, big brass knobs punctuate a black vanity like buttons on a Chanel suit. \u201cThose are very fun,\u201d acknowledges the designer, who crowned the vanity with brass faucets, sconces and mirrors. \u201cWe wanted the bathroom to be bold, but neutral,\u201d adds Sears. \u201cThat\u2019s where the black comes into play.\u201d<\/p>\n Although neither designer included a black toilet, there are plenty of options for those, as well, including a matte, one-piece model from Swiss Madison that looks like something out of an art gallery. It would be a great way to introduce pizzazz in a powder room \u2014 or inspire conversation.<\/p>\n You can even get on-trend with a heated towel rack. Amba<\/a> offers models in matte black that almost look like sculptures. The company produces versions with gold, bronze and brass finishes, too, which would look very stylish against a matte black backdrop. All of Amba\u2019s towel racks are designed to coordinate with the finishes in Brizo plumbing fixtures, but would look just as fine with fixtures from other companies, as well. Besides keeping your towels toasty, these racks help prevent mold and mildew from growing and\u00a0 can help heat the bathroom, too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lighting that Shines<\/strong><\/p>\n Metal lighting fixtures have been around since the dawn of electricity, but pair them with a black backdrop and suddenly you have a look that feels up-to-the-minute. In Hutchens\u2019 Salt Lake City project, contemporary brass sconces from RH flank a brass-framed mirror mounted on a black wall. The contrast makes the lustrous metal pop like a strand of pearls on a little black dress \u2014 and is equally timeless.<\/p>\n Lighting that combines matte black and metal in a single fixture instantly evokes urban sophistication with a touch of midcentury modern style. (Use them in a country cottage at your own peril.) Perfect over a kitchen island, Visual Comfort\u2019s Hicks<\/a> pendant features a black shade and milk-glass globe bound together by a band of antique brass. Matte black also appears in the company\u2019s conical Cleo pendant, whose burnished-brass interior rim adds a golden glow to tabletops and the people sitting at them.<\/p>\n Lighting that not only looks great, but makes people look good. Now that\u2019s what we call a win-win.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.yourhome1source.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Kleber-Black-Matte-Pic-2-1-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.yourhome1source.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Kleber-Black-Matte-Pic-3-Amba-Heated-Towel-Rack-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n