Heat up your kitchen with some heavy metal

Stainless steel remains an important material in modern kitchens but it doesn't always have to come with a glassy, mirrored finish.

Brushed steel kitchen accessories and design features offer all the benefits of stainless steel, such as durability, ergonomics and hygienic qualities, but create a softer, sleeker look. The shabbiness of brushed steel evokes old industry and an air of productivity, unlike the often overly clinical feel of polished finishes.

If you're in the market for a new kitchen sink and want something a bit different, brushed steel sinks and sink surrounds are widely available and make a wonderfully subtle impact, particularly in kitchens with lots of clean lines and grey or dark tones in their design.

When it comes to splashbacks and cooker surrounds, acid-etched steel is proving hugely popular in modern kitchen design. Acid etching is an ancient industrial process that dates back to the Middle Ages, and creates a matt texture that provides a softer look than un-etched steel. When used on surrounds, etched steel also provides a grippy, non-slip surface for safer food preparation.

The recent rise of rose gold as a trending colour in interiors has switched designers on to new ways to incorporate copper into stylish modern kitchens.

As well as sitting beautifully alongside popular kitchen paint colours such as Hague blue, copper brings a range of beneficial qualities when incorporated into your kitchen. Copper is antimicrobial and antibacterial and for that reason is often used in hospitals to deter the spread of microbes. This, along with the fact that copper can be cut to size and glued onto wood for a thick or thin look, makes it a great choice of worktop material.

Copper is completely recyclable and sustainable and its natural warm colour looks elegant on taps, sinks and splashbacks. When used on the inside of pendant kitchen light shades, copper bounces light around the room without being too harsh or garish, and there are some wonderfully attractive copper kitchen accessories available, such as kettles, toasters, pans and pots that can complete your copper theme.

What's more, copper is a living material that develops a patina over time, so as your kitchen ages it becomes increasingly unique. If you enjoy seeing your home's history captured in its design materials, copper could be a great choice for your kitchen.

Brass kitchen design elements can be used to create the increasingly popular 'luxe industrial' look in your home, and with no two pieces of brass the same it is a sought-after material among those aiming to create a kitchen that cannot be copied.

Subtle brass kitchen accessories, such as drawer handles and pan hooks, can bring a real touch of class to your kitchen and some designers have taken to adding brass trim to kitchen units to create a glowing metallic outline to various features.

Rolled and hammered brass features are appearing in cutting-edge kitchen design with increasing regularity, with traditional blacksmith techniques being used to create striking cabinet knobs, handles and cabinet fronts.

Brass cooker hoods and taps can combine to bring bright, bold style to your kitchen along with lasting functionality, and if you really want to go the whole hog you could add a brass kitchen chandelier for a touch of extravagance that will set the whole room off beautifully.