Color: Taking Home the Gold
You know how Prince, the musician, went through a period when he called himself The Artist Formerly Known as Prince? Well, I'm the decorator equivalent, referring to myself as The Guy That Formerly Hated Gold. For years, I'd hunt flea markets on a mission to rid the country of my biggest solid gold pet peeve: traditional brass chandeliers. There was something super dated about their finish to me, but I totally loved their overall lines. To make them tolerably chic, I'd pop out the HVLP paint sprayer, prime the suckers, then give 'em brand-spanking new coats of white, black or red paint.
Two years, 20 projects and tons of knowledge later, do I wish I could remove the paint from each and every one of these luminary lovelies? Hell no. Do I regret straying from The Golden Rule by throwing verbal nasties in Gold's direction? Hell yes. In fact, I now have a newfound love for modern takes on gold, especially brass. From wall panels to light fixtures to Brutalist sculpture, here are a few examples of gold and brass fit for the modernist homeowner:
Two years, 20 projects and tons of knowledge later, do I wish I could remove the paint from each and every one of these luminary lovelies? Hell no. Do I regret straying from The Golden Rule by throwing verbal nasties in Gold's direction? Hell yes. In fact, I now have a newfound love for modern takes on gold, especially brass. From wall panels to light fixtures to Brutalist sculpture, here are a few examples of gold and brass fit for the modernist homeowner:
Okay, so I know it's not like, NEW, or anything but black and gold spaces sport major sex appeal. This streamlined, modern workspace successfully breaks up its black walls with rich pops of gold. If I had three kidneys, I would totally give one of them for those SICK dome pendants.
Sure, the gold frames of these oversized mirrors make a grand statement, but I can't help but think I'd feel super rich everytime I looked at myself in them.
Go ahead, be Brutal. While Brutalism isn't by any means the new kid on the block, it's definitely making a huge resurgence with interiors and with fashion. The oxidized look of Brutalist brass sculpture is the exact opposite of the cheap, contractor-grade entry chandelier that gave the golden finish a bad rap for years.
Hi, me again. Remember when I mentioned my paint-spraying phase involving traditional chandeliers? Consider this Exhibit A.
The scarlet lighting above my rooftop dining table can best be described as Exhibit B. I still stand by this idea. If the brass of an otherwise well-made chandelier ain't too purdy, paint it. You can always take home the gold by sporting it somewhere else.
While this wall treatment has the golden touch, it also offers fantastic shape and texture to an otherwise tame, architectural landing. Viva la Brass!
I have no idea what the hell this light fixture is made of—brass or bronze or fool's gold—but I want it. NOW.
Now THIS is what I call a Gold Rush....mmkay? A quick upward glance in this modern Malibu home may often result in an 18-karat headrush. The fixture is made of seagrass embedded in eco-friendly resin illuminated from behind by a hidden, custom lightbox. This fierce focal point ain't small either; Big Momma is 35 feet long...the width of my ENTIRE Atlanta home. *sigh*