Home Interiors – The Copper Kitchen

This year’s interior trends are all pointing to one thing: copper. It’s the metal of the moment, and combining understated lux, infinite cool and incredible functionality, its place is in the kitchen.

So why not give your own scullery a rustic European twist with these classy copper touches.

Individual items

Why not experiment with a range of copper pots of varying sizes, seen throughout rural Italy as a touch of rural continental class?

Consider also a kettle, toaster or even cocktail shaker; and mix between those that have an antique chic, and new items fresh from the shop.

Bolder statements

Going a step further, consider a copper splashback for a hob, or perhaps a copper worksurface countertop that, on a kitchen island, will provide a real standout look. styled cabinets in subtle shades of black, white, grey and even green. With its natural anti-microbial qualities meaning that bacteria will only be able to survive a couple of hours after coming into contact, copper makes for a perfect material to fashion a sink from; and by trading out mundane marble or commonplace ceramic for copper tiles you can subvert traditional designs with a bold burnished twist.

Upcycling

You can even combine fashion with efficiency by upcycling – unlike iron or steel, copper is a soft metal that can be repurposed after years of use. Reclaimed traditional materials like old copper pipes can be used to make kitchen taps, or larger sheets can be fashioned into bar stools that can complement everything around them.

Gauge your audience

When reusing materials you should bear in mind the copper sheet’s ‘gauge’. As the gauge value decreases, the thickness of the metal increases. If you’re looking to turn that old copper pipe into a snazzy new centrepiece, steer clear of anything higher than a 16 gauge as this will be too thin for longterm use. Find something with a 12-14 gauge, however, and you’ll be able to re-use and repurpose to your heart’s content.

Maintain and marvel

The fear with copper items is that they will tarnish or oxidise, though sensible maintenance should mean any ageing over time only adds to the splendid rustic, red effect.

In the first instance, you shouldn’t heat a dry copper pan. Instead, use warm water first – this will prepare the pan for cooking which, given it heats up 20 times as quickly as its stainless steel counterpart, is a wise move!

Before polishing, use a soap and water solution; while lemon juice and salt (at a 3:1 ratio) provides a really good solution for ridding any oxidation marks, spots and smears.