Copper's Baaaaaack!

Copper kitchens are back in vogue.  We just completed a giant, L-shaped copper counter top, truly the perfect material for a kitchen or any other space with bacterial growth potential.  Copper has more antibacterial/antimicrobial properties than even stainless steel.  And while our personal taste lends itself to the more modern, clean and sleek feel and lines of stainless steel, the truth is that the copper looked amazing.  It also prompted a quick look around Pintrest (honestly a great resource for design inspiration and ideas) to check out some other copper kitchen looks.  There's some cool shit out there.  Reminiscent of the old-fashioned copper pots (the best pots for the kitchen, by they way - copper is an excellent conductor of heat, so the copper pots ensure even cooking), everything from copper sinks, range hoods, counter-tops and cabinet accents bring a beautiful warmth to the heart of the home.  It was surprising as well, how good things like a copper counter top with a chrome tap-set can look.  Who knew?

Here are 8 things you also may not know about this beautiful metal (source LiveScience):

1. Copper has been mined and used for over 5,000 years.
2. The word copper and chemical symbol for the element, Cu, come from the Latin word cuprum after the Greek word for the island of Cyprus.
3. Copper is second only to silver in electrical conductivity abilities.
4. Copper is typically used in electrical wiring and residential plumbing.
5. Copper is also mixed into the paint used on the underside of ships to prevent seaweed, algae and barnacles from sticking to the vessel.
6. Copper is also used to create brass or bronze alloys. Brass, a mixture of copper and zinc, bronze is copper and tin.
7. Copper is commercially available at a purity of 99.999+ percent.
8. Copper ore deposits are found in the United States, Chile, Zambia, Zaire, Peru and Canada.

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Traditional Kitchen

Next time you're thinking of a kitchen reno, or even a partial update, consider copper.  Check Pintrest, magazines, look around.  The possibilities are plentiful.  This is a metal that can add a timeless flare to your space.  It can be electroplated to give you a more modern vibe, or patina'd for a warm, traditional look.