4 Ways To Add Gold To Your Interior Design | Insights From JMF
Who doesn’t love a touch of glamour in their home décor? Gold has been a favorite among designers for centuries, and for good reason. This timeless and elegant color has the power to elevate any space, bringing warmth and opulence to even the most ordinary of rooms. But how do you effectively incorporate gold into your interior design without going overboard? In this blog, we’ll share four tips for using vintage pieces and lighting to introduce gold into your space, including mirrors, furniture, lighting, and Murano glass. So, whether you’re looking to add a touch of sophistication to your living room or want to create a bold statement in your bedroom, keep reading to discover how to bring the warmth and beauty of gold into your home.
1. Mirrors
Adding gold to your space through mirrors is a fantastic way to bring texture, light, and a reflective moment to any wall. Mirrors come in a variety of styles and materials, giving you plenty of options to choose from. Our collection often includes carved wooden frames that have been gold leafed, which is a stunning and unique way to incorporate gold. Gold leaf’s delicate and thin nature allows it to be applied to various surfaces, creating a durable gold finish that adds an element of elegance and glamour to any space. The technique of applying gold leaf is an ancient art form that has been used for centuries to create beautiful and intricate designs, making it a special and timeless addition to any interior design. Gold leaf also symbolizes wealth, power, and prestige, values that were important in French culture. Our French antique gold leafed mirror is a perfect example of this, giving your space a classic and traditional feel. If you’re after something grand and more glitzy, mirrors with metal finishes such as our French antique Napoleon III mirror are an excellent choice. This piece is made of finely cast bronze ormolu with intricate decor of friezes, “godrons”, and acanthus leaves. The lavish gold color highlights all the intricate detail in the metal frame. A floor mirror or standing mirror, like our vintage French “Psyché” mirror, is ideal if you have limited space but still want to add a touch of gold. And don’t forget about smaller mirrors like sunbursts or tiny gold leafed mirrors, which can add fun little pops of gold to your space.
2. Lighting
Lighting is a wonderful way to bring a touch of gold into your home decor. Gold is a color that truly comes alive in the presence of light, making it a natural choice for lighting fixtures. When choosing lighting, there are many factors to consider, such as the type of metal and finish. At our store, we offer a range of lighting options with various finishes, from brass to chrome. If you’re after a classic and traditional look, our Italian Mid-Century Brass Chandelier is a perfect choice. However, if you’re looking for something edgier and more modern, our Italian Modernist Chandelier is sure to catch your eye.In the 60s and 70s, French design houses like Maison Jansen and Maison Charles embraced the luxurious and malleable qualities of brass. They incorporated intricate designs with palm leaves and metal floral details, which became a popular detail in lighting design. If you want to bring a touch of vintage charm to your space, our vintage palm floor lamp is a great option. It’s in the style of Maison Jansen, perfect for adding a touch of gold to any area of your home. For a more unique and organic approach to incorporating gold into your lighting, consider the Lotus Lamp by Maison Charles. Its beautiful and delicate design will add a stunning touch of elegance to any room. Lighting is a great way to add an element of sophistication and glamour to your space, and with our selection of gold fixtures, you’re sure to find the perfect piece to suit your style.
3. Furniture
Furniture is a fantastic way to incorporate gold into your design, and there are plenty of examples of designers who have utilized this beautiful material in their work. For instance, Willy Rizzo and Romeo Rega were designers from the 70s who loved to mix brass and chrome together, and they introduced the concept of mixing metals that many designers still use today. Our brass and chrome harp dining table, which was a popular design in the 70s, helped to introduce this marriage between brass and chrome. Italian mid-century modern seating also often features angled brass legs, which is a signature look of Italian designer Marco Zanuso. Zanuso was part of a generation of furniture designers who encouraged a departure from traditionalism and classicalism, and instead focused on new technologies and materials to deliver on the world’s newfound need for streamlined products that represented the future. His chairs were known for their smooth curves, sleek stiletto legs, and luxe leather-and-velvet upholstery that embodied the suave, sophisticated appeal of 1950s Italian modernism. The stiletto legs seen on these chairs are often solid brass, adding a subtle layer of shine and gold to the overall design.We carry benches, stools, and chairs that feature this brass angled leg, which helps mix well with other brass pieces, like a brass coffee table or accessory such as our Maison Charles brass coffee table. If you’re looking to use gold as an accent through furniture, bar carts are the perfect job for this. Bar carts are great because they are a unique and delicate way to add gold to your space. They are functional yet glamorous, and small enough to work well as a final accent piece. Our bar carts range in styles, so if you want something more classic and French, our French Vintage Brass Bar cart would be an excellent choice. However, if you’re looking for something more mid-century modern, our Vintage brass bar cart from the 1940s might be more up your alley.
4. Murano
Finally, Murano glass is our favorite way to bring gold into the picture. Murano glass blowers are renowned for their intricate designs and attention to detail, often incorporating gold leaf, gold flecks, and gold colored glass to create stunning gold-colored pieces. The shimmery and etherial qualities of Murano glass make it the perfect material for adding gold accents to any space. Its ability to capture and reflect light creates a truly unique and stunning effect that is hard to replicate with any other material. At our store, we carry a wide variety of pieces made of Murano glass, ranging from vintage to newer pieces. From chandeliers to table lamps, bowls, vases, fixtures, and even sconces, the variety of pieces that Murano glass blowers create is truly remarkable. Our vintage Murano glass chandeliers are especially one of a kind and unique, making them perfect for adding a statement touch of gold to any space. The combination of gold and Murano glass creates an unforgettable ambiance that will leave you in awe every time you enter the room. Below are some of our favorite Murano Glass pieces that we use to bring gold into our designs.
Incorporating gold into your interior design can add a sense of luxury and timelessness to your space. Whether through mirrors, lighting, furniture, or Murano, there are plenty of ways to add gold to your design. At Jean-Marc Fray, we carry a variety of vintage pieces that can help you achieve the look you want.