It’s a fight to the finish as designers Patrick Sutton and Susan Ferrier tackle the finer points of timeworn patina and hand-hewn metals versus glimmer and shine.
“I gravitate toward materials that have character, where you can see the craftsman’s hand, like the subtle pitting from grains of sand in sand-cast bronze hardware. Unlike a polished gold or brass fitting, where every piece is exactly the same, matte finishes project a sense of individuality. They seem the most honest to me, as they present themselves without gloss or hype.
I’m also drawn to the romance of travel and the patina of time. Think about aged copper and pewter, galvanized or waxed blackened steel, and zinc countertops—these timeworn finishes convey qualities of authenticity and endurance. They are living finishes whose beauty is only amplified with use. Grand old European buildings with their fading plaster walls and the sophisticated, highly edited palette of Japanese architecture are both sources of inspiration for me. Shine has no place in either aesthetic.
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