Something I love about Pinterest is it's a nonstop stream of learning for me.
And while in that stream I stumbled apon a couple interior designers who pin stuff I really like. So I was looking through their boards and they had boards named "Brass is Back."
I was like "Wait, What!?"
I, like you (I'm sure), had begun to associate brass with the monstrosities we are constantly removing from homes--- those brass 80's updates. I like, most who like to DIY, had begun to think the ONLY way to deal with brass stuff was spray paint -- because I assumed brass was just the worst thing known to man.
But because I really liked these designer's tastes I decided to check their pinterest boards claiming Brass is Back. I was sure my opinion of these designer's was about to plummet. But I clicked anyway.
And suddenly my eyes were opened.
Brass is not ugly.
Its a thing of beauty that has long been abused by gross misuse.
If you do brass right its fantastic!
Skeptical? I know I was too.
Take a leap with me...just peak at my brass board here.
Seriously,
I pinned these for you just click here and humor me for one moment.
See what I mean...
Pretty.
Pretty prettiness.
Ok so why (besides the fact that these photos are pretty) am I getting on board the brass is back train?
Well, there are a few reasons.
1) It kinda blew my mind. Like in the best way. Like in a way that taught me to just go with what looks good --- not what everyone thinks you need to go with. (I mean yeah, this is trendy now, but simultaneously, its kinda of a secret to most people. So if I go and put brass back in my house, some people are gonna come over and immediately comment (or think) about how that must be painted or changed because its dated, just going on whats been normal for some time now.)
I too had thought "ew" when I heard the word brass. But do you know I had pinned a lot of these pins earlier without even noticing there was brass in there? Yeah it just looks so right it didn't draw any attention to itself. So until looking at these brass boards and being informed that "Brass is Back" I would have shied away from, and painted over, all things brass because I would have thought that was what we are supposed to do.
These boards were an "ahah moment" for me. It really woke me up to just going with what I like, even if someone else says "no." (This applies of course to more than brass.)
2) After years and years of people taking out brass and displaying just stainless and nickel, with only oil rubbed bronze (which is essentially black) for warmth, houses have become very cool toned. And that can start to feel sterile and chilly. Adding bronze back in warms up the world, it feels like a smile to me -- like the laughing real smiles of friends, not the posed pretty smiles of "perfection." Cozy, real, a little earthy, but gorgeous. Feels like home.