Feel-Good Home: A Passion for Patinas
Embrace the aging process by adding weathered metals to your home design
The desire to adorn our homes with metals that weather and develop a patina might seem counterintuitive, but seeing materials age and react to nature is indeed a comforting experience for many people. Researcher Stephen Kellert, who specializes in biophilic design — a way of designing that focuses on improving human health, well-being and productivity — says that people instinctually want to see “the organic processes of aging, weathering and other dynamic features of natural materials, even inorganic forms like stone.” Metals are especially susceptible to the effects of water and weather.
Experiencing this aging process can make us feel more interconnected to life cycles. And the more we embrace these natural processes, the fewer harsh chemical sealants and varnishes we need to keep everything looking flawless and new, and the cleaner the air will be for it. Here are nine ways to incorporate weathered metals into your home.
Experiencing this aging process can make us feel more interconnected to life cycles. And the more we embrace these natural processes, the fewer harsh chemical sealants and varnishes we need to keep everything looking flawless and new, and the cleaner the air will be for it. Here are nine ways to incorporate weathered metals into your home.
1. Copper cladding. This oxidized copper has made a showpiece of the entrance to this teen space in Los Angeles. The signature mint-green patina of aged copper can help a building blend in with the surrounding landscape.
2. (Rust)ic radiance. We all know what happens when iron is left outside. The dual forces of oxygen and water turn it into a pile of rust. Since rust weakens the atomic structure of metal, causing it to eventually crumble, it’s often something desired only by the most hardcore fans of the industrial look. Fortunately, there are steel alloys on the market today, such as Cor-Ten, that develop a patina only on the outermost layer, giving the look of rust without any negative effects on the integrity of the structure.
3. Flower power. You might choose to corral your weathered metals into an outdoor space, as with this wall of metal planters. The patina will develop and evolve over time.
4. High relief. Nobody would fault you for forgoing the wait and simply purchasing an indoor accent piece that already has a patina. These metal wall hangings are a lovely example.
5. Tarnished tubs. An entire article could probably be dedicated to the rustic beauty of oxidized tubs. This tub provides the color inspiration for the whole bathroom. Keeping the other surfaces neutral and opting for the simplest window treatments possible allows the centrally placed tub to be the focal point of the room.
6. Advanced aging. Jane Kim Design scored this round copper mirror at an architectural salvage shop and had the surrounding copper panels made to match.
It can take up to 20 years for copper to oxidize if the process isn’t accelerated with substances such as vinegar or ammonia.
It can take up to 20 years for copper to oxidize if the process isn’t accelerated with substances such as vinegar or ammonia.
7. Mix in weathered woods with your aged metal. Different wood species age differently. This bathroom is an eclectic mix of woods with varying degrees of weathering, combined with two different oxidized copper elements. When weathered materials are mixed, the overall effect is one of environmental authenticity.
8. Stylish soapstone. Metal isn’t the only substance prone to alchemic changes in its chemical structure. Soapstone, loved by some as a countertop material, morphs with age. Being relatively soft, it will scratch and nick, which many find charming. It will also go from black to gray to even a bit green over time.
9. The entire package. This mountain home is a feat of biophilic design. The windows connect occupants to the view outside, the outdoor pass-through was designed to preserve a tree, and the roof features oxidized metal eaves. This is a home that communes with rather than dominates its site.
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