A La Bastille range hood in custom cast pewter pairs with the powder blue cabinetry, hand-forged pewter hardware and iridescent backsplash in this kitchen by Krista Washam LaBlue. (Photo: David Dietrich Photography)
Metallic accents have long been ingredients in kitchen design—be it through hardware, lighting or fixtures. But how do you serve up these elements in a big way? Luxe tapped North Carolina designer Krista Washam LaBlue and Mary Jones, creative director at La Bastille, a Savannah-based producer of custom metal surfaces and range hoods, to discuss the growing interest in spotlighting these character-rich materials at home.
Give us your elevator pitch on using metals in a kitchen.
KWL: Metals must speak to the style of your home; they can read modern farmhouse, post-modern, urban-contemporary—the sky is the limit. Marry your metal selection to fit into your desired aesthetic, and balance metallic sheen with light-absorbing design elements.
How does mixing metals keep a kitchen feeling fresh and unexpected?
MJ: Varying metal finishes across hardware, lighting and other fixtures adds depth and character. Copper knobs on a stainless steel range, or brass accents on a zinc range hood transform otherwise mundane appliances into striking design elements.
Let’s think big. How do you incorporate metals beyond hardware?
MJ: Create an eye-catching focal point. A copper countertop in the pantry or a brass range hood in the kitchen adds a wonderfully dramatic effect to your overall design.
La Bastille offers zinc, pewter, brass, bronze and copper options. What’s the draw?
MJ: Residential clients are inspired by unique materials that set their space apart. They embrace the patina of living metals as they age, and they relish the fine detail of a hand-crafted piece that adds a sense of history and story to their home.
Fringe benefit:
KWL: These metals offer a welcomed, softening breakthrough to the long history of stainless steel dominating the “functional” kitchen scene.
