Trend Alert: Black Metal

By Marica

For every action there is a reaction. I especially believe this is true in interior design and home décor trends. We often find that certain trends or fads are answers on, or extensions of, a previous trend or style movement.

Once the trend reaches the retailers’ shelves, a process that can take ages particularly in the slow-moving South Africa retail market, you know it’s hot.

Black Metal Is the Hottest New Interior Trend:

If you have been watching your Pinterest and Instagram feeds I’m sure you would have noticed a strong influx of black. It started as a trickling steam and now it is a raging torrent. We found the introduction of “black metal” especially interesting.

Bloesem Design Blog even included black metal into their 2016 décor trends round-up article: “5 Interior Trends to Get into This 2016”.

My inspirational boards are saturated with Industrial-styled black metal pipe tables, black hardware – like handles and hinges, black metal pendant lights, and of course, my absolute favourite – gorgeous black factory windows. I might even give factory windows a “Trend Alert” of its own…

Black Metal Is a Continuation of the Industrial Style:

This Black Metal décor trend can easily be an extension of the Industrial Style interior trend and an answer to the stark white of Scandi Minimalism.

Two years ago we sourced a stunning Industrial-styled black metal display cabinet for one of our client. At that stage, we haven’t seen anything like it before and we were absolutely in love with its uniqueness. It made for a powerful statement piece in our client’s dining room, the interior of which was featured in the April issue of Home Magazine. Little did we know then that black metal would become a thing.

The Use of Black Metal Accessories in Kitchens & Bathrooms:

From the examples we have seen, Black Metal seems to be most popular in kitchens and bathrooms. Black has even been described as “the hot new colour” for kitchens this season. Black fixtures, like faucets, are used all the more to create an attention-grabbing feature. That is if you are brave enough.

The black accents, often in a matte or satin finish, are dramatic and undeniably masculine. Black has always been chic and sophisticated. I find it incredibly sleek and sexy (yes, I just referred to an interior element as “sexy” – and no, it is not weird).

Colours to Pair with Black Metal:

We most frequently see interiors where black metal has been paired with white to create the ultimate dark vs. light contrast. However, I quite enjoy spaces that feature black metal elements with the addition of bright pops of colour like yellow, red or turquoise. The introduction of a warm textured wood or paired with a hot metal like copper or brass also creates beautiful contrast.

Turns out black is the new black…

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Concrete Is Still Hot: 10 Beautiful Designs to Prove It!

The concrete trend has been with us for more than five years. Part of me is quite surprised that it has not yet faded away to join all the other micro-trends on the “trends that was” pile. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy the use of concrete or cement in decorative items, homeware and furniture. I just thought that people would have grown tired of it by now. Not that I have, I still love it as much as the first time I saw beautiful and clever concrete-y décor (not to mention those clever cement DIYs).

I suppose the use of concrete in interior design and decorative objects developed as the Industrial home style flourished. Further contributing to concrete’s popularity, is its versatility and availability. We now see both concrete and cement being used in unexpected, clever and out-of-the-box ways.

I also feel there has been a “refinement” in the way concrete is used by product designers. The general look is far more chic and sophisticated. This is evident in the various concrete products that are currently on our local homeware store shelves. We have selected ten amazing examples of local concrete décor products to show you below.

Well this definitely proofs that concrete is way more that just some passing fad…