I'm thinking dining room wall and buffet. Real or faux might depend on $$$.

There is no formal dining room but an eating area in the kitchen. Maybe in the kitchen somewhere? Would this be too "icky" in the kitchen (difficult to clean or even just having the look of being too hard to clean thus looking dirty)? i believe this facade was from a 1920's building and I think I'm also drawn to the Deco vibe (powerful, prideful etc)? Oh I just noticed your screenname...I'm sensing you have opinions about going deco :)

That's one really cool bathroom!

What about cold rolled steel in family/living room? Much you can do with it and a more economical option (compared to copper)

Great idea! I was actually looking at 20" brushed aluminum flashing last week-end thinking I could rock it somewhere. I also looked at copper flashing but the cost was insanity. I'm thinking rivets with rolled and creased edges. A patina would make it less "Umbra" and more warm (I have no problem with Umbra. I actually really like the look sometimes. It's just not the feel I want). Aluminum oxidizes to a white chalky finish if I remember correctly. Don't love that. Any ideas on how to give it a patina that looks right on brushed aluminum? It reads much less aluminum and more stainless steel with the brushed finish. I'm afraid doing faux copper will look cheesy. There are so many faux painters out there and so few truly good faux painters out there that the contemporary distaste of the whole technique is developing given all of the bad work. I realize I'm likely behind that 8 ball but I always get there eventually. About 99.99% percent of the time faux copper patina (and most faux patina's) don't grab me. Somewhere the idea that faux doesn't need to actually fool the eye came into the practice and now most artists don't attempt realism but simply impression (again not bad, just not me). I would attempt faux copper on the flashing if I thought I could do it to look authentic and not contrived. There is no budget to hire a well skilled artist for this so I'm it.

Think you're going in right direction...unfortunately can't answer your detailed questions

If you really like "industrial" for its honest and unapologetic look, you may find a faux finish doesn't meet your standards. Sometimes small things set the tone very well. Something smaller that is genuine may also fit your budget better than a large faux finished thing.

Great call Apple Pie.

Kevin, sieglerdesign posted a great pic of a fireplace she did in steel...it's under a dilemma called "have you redone a fireplace"

You might consider Porcelanosa Xlight Nox Corten panels (1 meter x 3 meters). They are only 1/8" thick, use 1/32" grout line. Impressive finish and appearance on the wall.


http://www.porcelanosablog.com/2013/05/the-charm-of-corten-steel-in-ceramic.htmlhttp://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/home/products/tile/urbatek--xlight---through-body/xlight---extra-light--thin-porcelain.aspx/d=16257/title=Xlight_Nox_Corten

Have you used it?

why can I sometimes comment on others posts and sometimes I can't?

No, but I'm interested in the product, which is similar to another thin, laminated porcelain from Emil Ceramica. These are very modern materials, and you would probably have to visit a showroom to see them in person. I have samples of the Emil tile, which is impressive. I like the metallic finish of the Porcelanosa panel (which comes in many other colors), and am considering it for a bathroom.

I've been to the porcelanosa store in DC...it's nice looking stuff...I'm just all about the touch and feel of authentic :)

On the subject of use of metal for interiors it just depends what you are trying to accomplish. Here in the southwest we love our "rusted look" metal finishes as well as copper and bronze and rolled steel etc... (Arizona provides around 40% of US copper) Metal terrific contrasting material to use juxtaposed with stone, tile and wood.

On my project for condo at Papago Village the location is near desert / Papago mountains but, also, close to old "urbanized" downtown Tempe Az so, we were looking for a blend of rustic southwest and urban for condo improvements. So, metal was a great solution for the fireplace look. For that project I was able to successfully blend a "metal finished" large wall tile with actual used metal "L" angles and bolts. The hearth is welded metal, face of fireplace is metal finish tiles and connectors are actual bolts. The coloration in reality is a lot of gray, silver, black and some reddish orange color similar to "rustication" that is seen a lot here. The real reddish color for steel is of course "corten" steel as seen on many outdoor sculptures. It is very expensive.

My advice for you and the use of metal for your environment is to first check out resources in your own area from architectural antique places to industrial metal "resellers". See whats out there that appeals to you and then think about looks that you've seen that you like and something might shake out for you as an application. Steel we bought and used was "scrap" so, it was not expensive. The seller happened to have a "scrap materials" category so, we used metal items we could buy from that section.

The "TRUE" greenish finish of copper takes years and weather conditions before it changes and there is no way to predict completely how it will weather so, there are all kinds of finishes and applications to get the look. Bronze is beautiful and expensive but, like copper is a long term material and price reflects that.

So, metal as a finish takes planning and a budget. I love metal projects but, my favorite metal smith stays pretty busy and hard for me to contract for small things though I've designed and had several metal items custom built. Write or send any questions you might like to discuss. Good luck and I understand your love for metal and industrial I'm with you there. Some awesome industrial items on ebay right now. I think selection is the best I've ever seen right now.

Other "metal project" for me was for my client "Flancer's Cafe" and too, much to talk about on that project here but, again we used "local materials, local talent" and readily available materials. Just for general interest am attaching picture of "perforated divider metal wall" Good luck.

I totally get where you're coming from. Copper is such a cool metal. I'm not sure how it ages compared to solid, but might copper leaf be an option? I've seen gold and silver in person, never copper, but it does exist and it's about $60 / 100sq ft. Get a good paper hanger and you might be in business.

http://www.gildedplanet.com/copperleaf.asp

Wow! Great information you guys! @siegler I have always been drawn to the look you have down there. If an old truck rusts down there it just looks better. It develops a history. Does it have something to do with the drier environment? If I were to oxidize (rust) steel I might play with humidity somehow and cycle the process through periods of high humidity and very dry air. Up here when a truck rusts, it just rusts. It's not pretty. We use salt on the roads in NY and that just puts the whole process on rails. We sail past that "perfect rust patina" stage at about 100mph and go straight to the "ugh...was that a truck?" stage. I have been looking around my local salvage yards and haven't found anything that strikes me. Again, unfortunately there's not a wealth of that kind of raw material up here as when it goes...it goes FAST. We have a beautiful building up here called the Niagara Mohawk Building that is a classic 1030's facade with a breath-taking sculptural and decorative work. The material for the facade is stainless steel and aluminum and they had it restored a while back and then preserved with a layer of wax.
@Rooster Great Idea!!! I'm going to get some copper leaf and try that. I've actually done leafing in the past so I'm not sure why that didn't occur to me. Great call.

Faux copper patina from the right source is controllable. Paired with the right wood worker can be indistinguishable from the real thing. If sealed can be virtually maintenance free.

Kevin that is a phenomenal building! Yes, low or total lack of humidity here in Az has everything to do with a "rusticated" finish staying intact and being popular. I feel like though that architects and artists prefer the corten steel but, for budgets will sometimes settle for other materials that come close to the look. Metals and its many looks is a huge category of design to explore. Your intro to sources otherwise not known to you is probably going to be through a metal smith who quotes a scope of work for you.

So, if you do want a real metal application for something and you build a relationship with a metal fabricator then I think it will open more doors to you for considering a variety of products and items. My favorite metal smith has whole walls that are metal faced in his home. He used the panels on touch latch to hide storage. He also, has proprietary finishes he uses to get different effects for different kinds of projects. I used (4) different finishes for a guitar display for a client that has some valuable guitars. The finishes are as follows:

* steel panel in natural finish from supplier
* steel panel with "rusticated" treatment
* steel panel shiny
* steel panel with paint splatters

Don't know why I didn't think of before, but I've been on john beck paper and steel email list for a while...check out some of the things he's done at johnbecksteel.com

I love your inspiration photo, I have it saved in one of my idea books. I have another photo in an idea book that I think would work if the metal idea doesn't work out. I don't want to change your vision but take a look. Instead of a half moon, imagine a full circle like your inspiration. Jerry Bussanmas is the designer.

@sieglerdesign - Yes this building has inspired me for years. They change the lights that illuminate the metal work according to the season (red and green during the holidays, green for St Patty's day etc...). I've always thought it's a bit cheesy and would much more appreciate it if they just kept the clean white light on the architecture that the original designers in the 30's intended but alas, I'm the minority. People seem to really look forward to it here in the city.

The building design is truly amazing and I have yet to find a more perfect example of true American optimism. I'm far from a flag waving extremist but I also appreciate what it means to be a citizen in this culture. This building seems to really embody the positive parts of what that means. Powerful, optimistic, generous, fair, honest, unapologetic, proud of technology and respectful...it all seems good to me. whew....I got a little dizzy there for a sec.... ;)

@sieglerdesign - I do have a metal fabricator in this market whom I respect but it seems he doesn't "get it". The idea of patina and history is lost on him. He hopes to "restore" pieces to a shiney androgenous finish that appeals to a more "Home Depot" market....oh.....did I say that out load? Unfortunately, he's the best in the area and barring going outside the market, it's my best resource. Before anyone starts slashing my tires, I love Home Depot....it's just that I don't count on them to understand the finer points of aesthetics.

I think your questions will be answered once you find your inspiration piece. Here's a great start ...
http://ogtstore.com/antique-tin-mirrors/copper-mirrors-panels.html

Good luck!!!

Great link dezign! Thanks! Got a number of way's to interpret my concept with these ideas. Particulalry, I loved the large rectangular copper mirror at http://ogtstore.com/mirrors-tin-creations/copper-mirrors-panels/patented-copper-window-surround-mirror/ ....hmmmm....

Takes a special kind of ownership to be a trustee of a real estate property that shows pride of place and pride in design. Believe me after 20+ years of design services to real estate biz I know it is the exception and not the norm. Too, bad about your metalsmith contact being so unadventurous and uncreative but, I feel you have the courage of your convictions too, and you are going in right direction. it is your home, your vision and you are customer or client so finding right fabricator is part of the puzzle piece. Believe me it's never easy. After all this time I find hooking up right source to do a client's work a never ending challenge. But, it's just part of this profession of design and interiors. It's always much harder than people think and those who tell you it's easy are lying or deluded or NOT very creative.

You need to find a finisher who understands how to create age and patina on a project such as this. You can have you metal guy make it and they can finish it for you.

Ok, thinking WAY outside the box here but bear with me. I do not know how you would attach it, or even if your structure could support it, but have you considered fountain components or a concrete bench disassembled, or even formed curved concrete edging to begin to form this? http://www.concretecreations.net/virtuemart/tables-and-benches/patio-bench.html

"Stroll" through concrete creations.net website and look at the components and think about standing them vertically instead of the way they are traditionally used. Other items of interest there were garden edging that was curved and in sections. Also the fountain rings that are typically at the bottom on a fountain may give you a good foundation on which to build your project.

Although not metal, concrete forms it's own beautiful "patina". Or, use the metal leaf and take it from there.

You can call me crazy now...or not. I totally love your style! Can't wait to see the final project. Good luck.