Choosing to live with a piece of furniture which incorporates a uniquely patinated metal surface is perhaps most easily described as starting a relationship with a new friend, who will reveal their full personality to you ‘one event at a time’. Every time you sit at your dining table to enjoy a beautiful evening with friends and family, the table surface will absorb some of the fun, the laughter and the memories. In other words, the more the piece (worktop, tabletop, desktop etc) is used and loved, the more the surface will develop.
Picture this – perhaps your dining table features a richly antique patinated copper top… the table ware that you use such as placemats, coasters and trivets will be carefully moved across the surface into position ready to look beautiful. So too will cutlery, serving utensils, salt and pepper shakers, along with wine glasses and perhaps a bottle or two! As you sit at the table with your dinner guests, you will gently place your wrists on the table, resting in between delicious mouthfuls. Oh gosh… ‘crash’ the serving spoon for the potatoes has clattered onto the surface. When you reach over for that extra helping of mesmerising dessert, your jumper softly glides over the table edge, gently buffing the surface as it moves. All of these events/interactions with the surface and of course so many more, are the moments and memories which help to create the character and personality of a patinated metal surface. Some areas will develop more of a sheen as they are gently buffed, other areas will naturally darken and simply because ‘we are all human’… blemishes will occur! All of these surface textures, colours and markings tell a story, unique to you and like a fine wine, will improve with age.
Whilst the surface patina will continue to develop throughout its life, there are a few ‘good habits’ worth getting into which will promote the changes to the surface you will love to see and minimise those you don’t want!
When living with a patinated metal table top or worktop DO…
When living with a patinated metal top or worktop DON’T…
Metal wrapped/clad tables, worktops and desks (to name a few) are not only a beautiful way of injecting an interior space with a material which can uplift, harmonise with or take centre-stage, but some metals can also provide health benefits too! Antimicrobial and antibacterial properties can be found in copper, zinc and brass, making them a very good choice for many environments – home, office, restaurant etc.
On a final note, with so much focus on the impact of climate change, resource depletion and general ‘wastefulness’ within our world, we design all of our pieces with longevity in mind. Our aim is to provide our clients with pieces that will be loved, used and kept for many, many years and even passed down through generations to come. In choosing a piece from Andrew Nebbett Designs, almost 100% recyclable/renewable materials will be used, thus we are all achieving something sustainable and vital for our planet’s health.
Our team of craftsmen have decades of experience in patination techniques. We can create unique surface finishes for your projects. Talk with our team today to find out more.
Whether you have a desire for a brand new custom-made kitchen table with a unique surface finish or whether your project requires a specific finish for the metal trims, plinths, door furniture and hardware etc. Our team have a wealth of knowledge to be able to help and advise. Please call for more information.
