Martha Stewart Living magazine
Wrote about decorating with silver accents
Silver can be stately and luxurious or modern and cool. It can clamor for attention or speak in the barest of whispers.
To contemplate the color silver in nature is to amass a list of precious, rarefied things: moonlight, foxes, the undersides of aspen leaves, snowy landscapes at certain times of day. In those silvers one can find hints of blue, green, even yellow and pink, each revealing new tones with subtle change in light. This chameleon-like quality makes silver a remarkably versatile color, one that is easy to employ in a wide range of settings. And yet many of us think of it only around the holiday—we bring out the good silver tableware and the tinsel for the tree, and let their cheerful glimmer set the tone for our celebrations; then we hide them away for the rest of the year. But this needn’t be the case. As Kevin Sharkey, editorial director of decorating at Martha Stewart Living says, “By incorporating silver objects into your decor, you can eliminate the notion that silver is for special occasions only.” Silver has been admired for centuries. Its place of importance can be seen in our language: The word silver implies all manner of virtuous things (as in silver-tongued and silver lining); sterling, which is 92.5 percent pure silver, has become synonymous with top quality (“He has a sterling reputation”). In design, we have learned to appreciate silver as a precious metal and as a color, one with endless tones and reflections. And yet, while many decorating schemes have included brass and gold as standard accents, very few have made the same use of silver. Perhaps nowadays, with cool grays and blues a conventional palette in many homes, it is time to add silver to the mix.
Silver can bring distinction and light to a room. Handles sparingly, it pulls details together, cheerfully unifying a setting; applied more lavishly, it becomes the focus, with a personality all its own. There are plenty of objects in silvery shades available for use in home design, many of which aren’t silver at all; they may be made from nickel, mercury glass, chrome, or pewter. There are also many silver-hued fabrics, including old favorites such as silk velvet and taffeta, as well as high-sheen synthetic textiles. Choices range from brilliant metallics to gray tones with just the faintest luminescence.
Adding silver elements to a decorating scheme need not mean reinventing and entire room, or even purchasing accessories. Many of us have silvery baubles and notion, such as glass ornament, glittery ribbon, and metallic trimmings, that are trotted out for holiday displays. These items can help define a room year-round. Begin by adding details - silver edging to brighten pillows; a soft, shimmering ribbon to set off a collection of black-and-white photographs; or a luxurious length of braiding to smarten up an otherwise plain velvet table runner. All will provide sophisticated sparkle to a room, regardless of the season.
Silver can also function as a neutral, complementing a variety of hues. Coupled with a second tone, it reflects hints of that color in its sheen. When paired with either blue or green, for example, silver becomes more bluish (or greenish) itself. And that color can be transposed to different textures - a bright chrome lampshade, a length of antique silver cording, and a mirrored coffee table can collaborate as accents, each softly casting back that hue.
Used in structural details such as lamp bases, drawer pulls, and furniture legs, silver may be modestly displayed but still show its undeniable wattage. Silver hardware can also be used as counterpoint to a larger silver element. A table with a silvery faux-bois finish, for example, provides a reference point for smaller accents; each bright spot of silver sets off this central one, without any of them overwhelming the room.
Even a few glimmering objects can work magic. With muted silver paint on the inside, a cabinet of niche winks like a seashell. Faceted crystal vases make light dance on a silver surface. Silver-hued upholstery tacks lend refined elegance to a chair. You may well find that an understated play of silver is the most appealing. Don’t worry about being too subtle; the tiniest glint of this shimmering hue is guaranteed to catch the eye.