Over the last week, I have been conversing with a lively forum of redesigners and stagers about how many current trends in design are “coming back.” It all started with a comment on brass being the hot “new” finish for lighting and plumbing fixtures. Most of the group was appalled, and were confused as to what to do with that information. Maybe you are, too! Maybe you’ve been doing your best to REPLACE all those shiny yellow brass doorknobs and hinges and fixtures – as well you should.
The Dreaded Brass Doorknob
Calm down. The brass we all have learned to hate is NOT coming back. Brass is back, but with a different kind of finish. No more yellow and shiny – think mellow and brushed. It’s a warm finish that is much better, in my opinion, than the cold brushed nickel that dominated the last decade.
So all this talk led me to think about other trends that seem, at first glance, to be “coming back” in the design world. Much like the bedrooms the children of the 70’s (including me) grew up in, wallpaper is everywhere in interior design. But it isn’t the same – not the same small floral patterns that harken back to those days of Laura Ashley. The wallpaper of today is about geometric patterns like hexagons, quatrefoil, and chevrons, or overscaled graphic florals. Or if it is a familiar pattern (like toile), it’s likely in a fresh and unexpected colorway.
And then there’s avocado. Young, hip people LOVE the color avocado but the over-40 set cringes at the memory of the avocado green appliances paired with harvest gold countertops in the kitchens of our youth. Today’s avocado isn’t paired with harvest gold – it’s paired with blues. And it’s FABULOUS. 
Avocado and Blues via House Beautiful
So when someone says something is “coming back” in vogue in the world of design, you may need to take a closer look. Chances are it is a re-mixed, modified version of the original. So for those of you who were thinking for a moment that your brass doorknobs are “coming back” so you don’t have to change them afterall, sorry. And go ahead and chuck those shoulder pads you’ve been hanging onto, too.
what about leg warmers?…. Also, LOVE the avocado and blue image.
haha, linda! i’ll wear the leg warmers if you wear them first 🙂
I have seen leg warmers twice in the past week – once in NYC, once in NJ. Of course, they were black. I’m thinking there may be a comeback. 2019
Fun post. I hope shiny brass is gone for a while longer! Not ready for that one! I keep telling my clients that wallpaper is back, but they resist more than accept. We’ll see.
Warmly, Michelle
harvest gold and avocado = the kitchen in the first house we ever bought. As you can guess there was also green shag carpet everywhere. The former owners must have been channeling Brady Bunch reruns. I like the avocado/blue much, much better!
Brassy gold door handles and chandeliers…yikes…but other than certain building materials I never notice what’s in and out. I always have my own strong feelings about certain design elements and colors in certain periods of my life. I fear I’m completely missing the trends!
i find that hard to believe – you are queen of the foo dog trend!
Fun post! It amazes me how trends return new and improved. By the time I replace all the polished brass door hardware in my home, the trend will be back!
maybe there’s a product that could be applied to polished brass to dull it out and make it look like the “new” version?
I just read on Martha Stewart’s site that you can change the color of shiny brass by putting the item (hinge, screw, etc) in a sealed plastic bag with a dish of ammonia for 15-20 minutes. It should come out to look like an oiled bronze finish. (I have seen this on a few other sites as well) If you have clear lacquer on your item, you may want to scuff it up a bit with a fine steel wool. I’m planning on trying this on all of my kitchen cabinet hinges. Good luck!
Awesome, Michelle – thanks for sharing that info!!!
Why did anyone ever think shiny brass was a good idea in the first place!? I’ve been replacing as much of the shiny brass as I can in our house, but still have all the knobs & door hinges. Ugh. I do really like the “new” brushed brass, though. It’s warm and rich, and doesn’t have the brashness of “old” brass.
I am going to be referring clients to this post. You explained the difference of old/new brass perfectly! Great job!
thank you, dear!!!
Kristie,
You definitely know how to get to the nitty-gritty of a post. You talk about content that people really are thinking. I like your design and color style. You write super conversationally and it’s hip like YOU.
Paula,
You are such an uplifting encourager – thank you for your kind words!
I’m 61 the nickel craze never caught on with me however i found brushed stainless euro 9 inch cabinet pulls for $60 bucks for almost 40 ot them… i’m going to slap on 1960s solid wood cabinets painted black on bottom, white on top to suffice as a quick update until other more important projects are done.
Solid brass develops a deep rich patina
One of my favorite pairings is black cabinetry with beautiful solid brass hardware.
Hi,
I am one of those people that have “shiny” brass hardware on the doors, fixtures, switch plates, and cabinet hardware from the 90’s. What I have is expensive Baldwin brass not the builder’s grade brass. I have fine dark cherry furniture and cabinets thru out my home and a Colonial Williamsburg influence that is timeless. I do love looking at the trends and colors in decorating. Please acknowledge that there are those of us who will not change from the “ugly” shiny brass to the new updated look and that there is a place for shiny brass always. Thanks Kristie. Love your articles and advice! Pam
Of course. It’s all dependent on the style of the home and the taste of the homeowner! The homeowner I was speaking of really hated the brass hardware and thought about ripping it all out – the suggestion I offered (integrating wintergold) saved them from doing that and “updated” the look at the same time.