SEDUCTIVE MATERIALS

In the nineteenth century, when the world was in the midst of the industrial revolution, romantic designers countered the machine age by designing homes and furniture that highlighted beautiful materials such as handcrafted wood, handmade ceramic tiles, and blown glass. Those old-fashioned arts and crafts not only incorporated motifs relating to nature; they employed rich natural materials in their construction. Modern romantics are similarly fascinated by seductive natural materials such as wood and stone. However, today's architects don't stop there; they also admire the picturesque qualities of materials such as concrete, metal, and masonry.

Natural materials appear at their best when put together in the most practical way given their makeup. Granite stones can be nicely chiseled into blocks, so they look best when assembled like an old stone wall. Traditional methods are not the only way, however. A good modern architect may use materials in a more innovative fashion, to tell a story or make an impression. The architect knows that wood for siding can be cut and carved in a hundred ways that will show off its rich texture and soft profiles while still standing up to the elements. A modern romantic may take common building components such as bricks and stack them to form elegant patterns— without the custom shapes or details that a nineteenth-century romantic would have used. Concrete can be poured into rough wood forms with a raised grain to produce wonderful, soft-looking wood patterns.

Two or three contrasting materials can become even more seductive when combined in a simple composition. Set against a glossy all-white interior, a slate floor appears richer than the most extravagant marble. A touch of elegant stainless steel or nickel on its details will make a staircase of inexpensive concrete seem exotic. A material that may not seem in keeping with a home's other materials may be introduced as a way of creating a focal point. A fireplace assembled from industrial materials will have a bigger impact than one made of stone when added to a cottage in which stone and wood abound. What matters is that the materials exude feeling.