22 Nov 15

Colour crush: Gold

I’ve been wanting to write this blog post for a while, but I like to hold back reporting on trends to check they are going to stick around and it certainly looks like the ‘Gold’ trend is here to stay. And what’s more, I really love it. Gold communicates quality, luxury and has a glowing warmth too it too, which means it slots into an interior environment really well. It can also say kitsch and tacky and because of that I think it comes with a greats sense of humour too.

Range of gold products by Tom Dixon

Where I’m seeing the use of gold working its midas magic is in accessories and furniture. Uber elite British designer  Tom Dixon, is loving it right now- going for a very machined high sheen appeal- coupled with sexy black it’s a winning combination. His iconic mirror ball lights, first in chrome, then copper have now launched in gold.

Image from John Lewis

The other place we’ve seen it a lot is in s sort of retro Palm Sprigs a la 1060’s kind of way. Think brass pineapples and palm frond lights. It’s also become a great foil against all the dark decorating schemes that are so en vogue. A collection of old gold gilt frames on an inky dark wall- well just takes the breath away! The trick is to not overdue it, a few key accessories is all it takes to update the look.

Get Shopping (dated 22/11/15): 1. Brass Brock table lamp, £120, Bhs.  2. Bloom gold light, £281, Heals.  3. Gold pineapple, £40, John Lewis. 4. Cherished Gold matt emulsion, £24.49, Dulux. 5. Tessellate wall light, £275, Habitat.  6. Chevron side table, £135, Graham and Green.

But the most dramatic interpretation of this trend has been in the way brass coloured taps are quickly replacing chrome in the most fashionable bathrooms and kitchens. From modern to vintage its Gold Taps a go go! Now I never thought I’d be saying that but when I start my new house I’m lusting over the brass tap look- especially stunning when teamed with pale greys and marble or on the other end of the scale the dark inky blues.

Bathroom in the London home of stylist Louisa Grey

The gold trend has taken its grip so firmly that it’s being rolled out beyond metals to the colour being used as a wall and furnishing colour too. Dulux declared ‘Cherished Gold’ as its colour for 2016 earlier this year.

Image from by Homes and Gardens at housetohome.co.uk

I’m not sure I would want gold on my walls, as it doesn’t sit in my personal palette, but there’s no doubt it creates a very elegant and cosy scheme. Just as golds younger cousin, yellow looks rocking teamed with black and white I think the same rules apply when decorating with gold. The coolness of white and black balances out the warm tone perfectly.

Foil stripe wallpaper from Wallpapersdirect. Image styled by Sophie Robinson.

Its chic, a bit retro cheeky, and adds a touch of glamour which is never a bad thing in my rule book. And it’s nice to see copper finally kicked of its perch- that was getting rather tiresome!