We have been using copper in the home ever since ancient cultures first used the shiny golden-red pure metal for decorative and utilitarian items such a vessels, jewellery, tools, and sculpture. Over the centuries, copper has become an essential metal in many industries because it is easily malleable, hardwearing, and conductive. In addition, its colour and attractive ageing process make it a prevalent material to use in the home. Copper is also rust-resistant and antimicrobial, so not only is it a beautiful metal but ideal to use in handmade kitchen designs.
Copper can be used in all aspects of the kitchen and is often favoured for sinks, oven hoods and backsplashes. However, in our Copper Kitchen project in Somerset, we used copper as a key design feature in the handmade kitchen. Our design team wanted to compliment and be sympathetic to the 18th Century Grade 2 family home from the outset. At the same time, we wanted to work with an exciting selection of materials, including solid timbers and stone, to ensure the highest quality in cabinet making.
Our clients were keen entertainers, but they also wanted a functional, transformation handmade kitchen with the ‘wow factor’. Together, we chose solid walnut, solid oak, copper and Neolith worktops. We applied heat to speed up the copper’s ageing process to visually create more of an impact on the metal, resulting in an iridescent, almost oily appearance. Copper was used on draw-fronts, the kitchen island, and the drink cabinet. In contrast, we left this aspect of the bar untreated to allow the metal to age naturally. With the client’s love of entertaining (and champagne), we also designed a sizeable bespoke copper ice trough/sink, which we set into the central kitchen island. The multi-functioning trough could be used for chilling wine, growing herbs and displaying cut flowers.
With so many ways to use copper in kitchen design, the possibilities are pretty endless. Hints of copper can create stunning features if you don’t want to incorporate them into the cabinetry. To achieve the glowy warmth of copper in a kitchen, we particularly like to use the metal for sinks set against pale marble to emulate the glow of gold. We achieved this in the Clifton Kitchen design in Somerset. The material palette comprised grainy oak, stone mullion windows with black metal frames, Italian Carrara marble, walnut, and polished brass. This resulted in a luxurious handmade kitchen that became a spectacular multipurpose space for the whole family.
