By Holly O'Dell

 

Metallic finishes bring sparkle, shine and glamour to a host of residential and commercial interior applications.

For a luxury showcase house in Houston, interior designer Donna Vining wanted to add a touch of elegance to the bedroom she was tasked with designing. She used Sherwin-Williams Starry Night (SW 6540) as the base coat on the walls, on top of which faux finisher J.M. Coulson Enterprises used a damask stencil to apply a silver metallic finish from Sherwin-Williams Faux Impressions^® Metallic Impressions line.

The faux finisher "applied the silver heavier in some parts than others and then hand rubbed in some places to give it an aged effect," Vining says. "It looked like the walls had been there for many, many years."

The metallic wall finish was so impressive that a client asked Vining to replicate the design in her master bedroom. The reflective quality of the metallic created different effects in the space. "In the daylight, it looks one way if the sun is shining on it, and it looks different in the part of the room where the sun is not shining," Vining says. "And at night, it reflects all the ambient lighting in the room."

Whether they're used as a statement piece or for a subtle sparkle, metallic finishes bring variety and versatility to commercial and residential interiors alike. "Metallics can create a sense of luxury or add a note of history and patina," says San FranciscoGÀ¡Ãƒ´based designer Nicole Hollis. "They always bring life to a space, especially to a monochromatic environment. I love to push the boundaries of materials, and metallics offer a great way to do that."

Hollis' firm is creating a die-cut brass paillette wall in the reception area for a new Miami hotel. For another hotel Hollis is designing in Seattle, gold ceiling paint will convey the look of antique brass, while polished brass will stand out in plumbing, drawer pulls and exposed hardware.

Metallics transcend styles as well, and can be integrated with a myriad of materials and media. "In a more contemporary space, it's nice to have a metallic element with a specific shape, something a little more structural or sculptural," says Lori Gilder, an interior designer based in Los Angeles. Case in point: Gilder recently rebuilt a client's carved Louis chairs, metallicizing the frames and upholstering them with a fabric that had a metallic sheen to it.

Time for reflection

Carmen Christensen, a designer based in Sarasota, Florida, reports growing interest in polished metallic surfaces. The movement reflects trends in fashion, she says, with more people selecting silver jewelry and platinum or white gold wedding rings for a modern, less-is-more appearance.

"We're doing lamps in polished chrome, for example, and getting away from the brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze," Christensen says. "The polished chrome in particular is prevalent because it's more suited to a contemporary feel."

At the Hall Wines Tasting Room & Winery in St. Helena, California, Hollis designed a highly polished steel tasting bar inspired by artist Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate sculpture. "It acts as the anchor for the main tasting room and reflects the amazing Napa Valley landscape beyond, bringing the outdoors inside," says Hollis.

To create another layer of reflectivity and give the impression of larger spaces, Christensen likes to incorporate mirrors, most notably in kitchens. "Mirrored backsplashes instantly make your countertops feel double deep," Christensen says.

Where to use metallics

Some designers opt for a more subtle approach to metallics, especially because the trend seems to come and go, according to Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. "I find metallic finishes are popular for a time, but wane quickly. When they make a comeback, they'll be an entirely different technique or applied to a entirely different style of furniture or accessory," Jordan says.

She's noticed that in residential applications, metallics make their primary statement on furniture and are used with a softer touch on walls. "It's a more glamorous type of finish," Jordan says. "For everyday living, it usually doesn't appeal to the majority of clients. In today's world, where we have so much open-plan living and more casual lifestyles, metallic finishes aren't always appropriate."

Still, spaces that have more of a glam factor, such as a bedroom, dining room or formal living room, may be perfect for a metallic finish. "We've seen a lot of great applications with metallics on ceilings," Jordan says. "It's not so in-your-face as soon as you walk into the room and adds a nice bit of shine up there. If you're having a dinner party with candlelight and a chandelier reflecting on the ceiling, it creates a beautiful elegance."

What's more, metallics can find a home in small spaces like a powder room "because you can do something that's a little bolder, a little more out of the ordinary in there," Jordan says.

Mastering metallics

To keep metallic finishes from overwhelming a space, Hollis advises using them strategically. "A little goes a long way," she says. "I often balance them with soft neutral upholsteries and layer and contrast them with matte and plush surfaces."

For designers using Sherwin-Williams Faux Impressions Metallic Impressions line, Jordan recommends keeping expectations realistic. "It's not going to look like a glossy automotive finish," she cautions. "You also have to make sure the person applying it uses a spray application, because a brush or roll application will result in mottling."

In addition, the substrate to which the coating is applied will affect the overall look. Says Jordan: "If you've got a textured wall, which a lot of wall finishes are now, it's going to look different than if you have a completely smooth level-5-finish wall that doesn't have any imperfections."

Above all, don't be afraid to take a chance on metallics — even if it's just getting your toes wet. "You don't have to do the obvious, like chrome or brass fixtures and hardware," Gilder says. "Your metallic touch could be as simple as a silver tray adorned with a collection of metallic accessories."

What about you? How do you use metallic finishes and elements in your design schemes? Continue the conversation with us (@SWDesignPros) on Twitter using #SWStir.