Rutland Architectural Blog

Friday, September 17, 2010

Copper Wall Decor - Copper Design Interior

Copper has many qualities which make it an ideal interior design material. Copper has a warm, elegant, luxurious appearance and harmonizes especially well with wood, natural stone, glass as well as virtually any material and color. Copper has a timeless quality, not affected by changing styles and fads, remaining desirable and growing ever more beautiful with age. Copper comes in many hues, having many possible shades of natural patina and still more human treatment such as heat-fired and forced patination effects. Copper may also be alloyed with other metals to create even more shades of bronze and brass. In addition to many color variations, copper surfaces may appear with a wide range of textures and finishes, including polished, brushed, pebbled, hammered, quilted, patterns and even integral murals or art work created by copper artisans.

copper wall on interior front wall of St Croix Chapel

Copper Wall - Interior of St. Croix Chapel (courtesy copper.org)

copper wall decor - interior waterfall design with copper tile

Copper Wall Decor - Interior Wall Design Waterfall - by Lee Blackwell Studio

copper wall interior design made by patinating copper to match photograph of grass on farm

copper wall interior design made by patinating copper to match photograph of grass on farm

Copper Wall - Grass Image Patination from Photograph by MarcBDesign

copper wall - interior hammered copper wall design in bar

Copper Wall - Hammered Copper Design Interior

copper kitchen wall design around gas cooking range pictured

Copper Kitchen Wall - by LiLu Interior

copper wall panels - patinated copper sheets with flower design by Luvata

Copper Wall Panel Sheet Design - Patinated Flowers and Bubbles by Luvata
copper wall panels - hammered copper sheets with bubbles design by Luvata

copper wall panels - hammered copper sheets with bubbles design by Luvata

Copper wall decor can be a very elegant, warm and beautiful component of modern interior design. A copper wall can also be an integral part of environmentally friendly green design as copper does not require any coatings or paint, does not give off any toxic or harmful gases, lasts for a very long time, requires little to no maintenance, improves indoor air quality, is 100% recyclable and forever reusable. A copper wall is a very hygienic surface due to copper material's unique natural ability to kill off germs, viruses, mold and pathogens which can spread contagious or infectious disease. Any germs or pathogens which come in contact with the copper wall surface through touch or airborne contact are killed by copper's natural antimicrobial, germicidal and fungicidal action in a very short period of time, even the new super-bugs which are highly resistant to other measures. No other material possesses this uniquely powerful health benefit as does pure copper. Copper wall panels mounted on hard concrete backer board or structural walls may also assist in maintaining more even indoor temperatures. Copper is also one of the best materials available for blocking or shielding against electronic radiation and radio interference such as EMI - electromagnetic interference and RFI - radio frequency interference. Interior designs featuring copper including copper wall decor provide many additional noteworthy and important benefits as discussed here in addition to showcasing the natural beauty and timeless elegance of copper.

copper wall art rock pattern copper decor for interior wall or backsplash

Copper Rock Pattern and Tropical Scene Copper Wall Art by Rutland
copper wall art tropical palm tree design copper decor for interior wall or backsplash

copper wall art tropical palm tree design copper decor for interior wall or backsplash

9/17/2010 4:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Copper Architecture Awards

Each year the North American Copper in Architecture Awards acknowledges and spotlights selected North American building projects for innovative and exceptional use of architectural copper. The architectural copper awards program highlights a wide scope of projects which highlight craftsmanship, attention to detail, and architectural vision. Copper has historically long been used for its great natural beauty and finish, it's durability and performance, copper's long service life and recyclability. Copper is still today a superior building material and also one of most eco-friendly and green building materials, which is being utilized and adapted for an ever wider variety of contemporary and cutting edge building and architectural applications. Three of the twelve copper in architecture award winners are described and shown below.

Waipolu Gallery and Studio,Oahu,Hawaii with copper wall cladding and copper roofing pictured here
Waipolu Gallery and Studio, winner of North American Copper in Architecture award pictured here
Waipolu Gallery and Studio, Oahu, Hawaii
(photo credits Nic Lehoux, Vancouver, BC - Courtesy Copper.org)

The Waipolu Gallery above uses copper wall cladding and copper roofing which were chosen for this project as copper will perform well over a very long time and with very little maintenance in a very corrosive ocean side location. Copper's beauty and fluidity compliment the modern art contained within the structure. The copper provides a softer contrast to the other more linear materials used. Excellent workability or malleability of copper was advantageous allowing easy re-working or shaping on site. The building architects also like there will be changes in copper's patina or color over time, producing an ever evolving work of art. The studio with it's stainless steel, glass and concrete linear space is joined by a floating glass bridge to the copper clad gallery. The glass bridge rises above a limestone staircase which connects the building's three levels.

Mark Olsen Project,Holladay,Utah with copper roofing, copper gutters, downspouts, conductor heads and copper finials pictured here

copper gutters and downspouts with copper conductor heads, copper finials and copper diamond shaped roof tile shown with copper patina pictured here

Mark Olsen Project, a residential winner of North American Copper in Architecture award pictured here

Mark Olsen Residential Project, Holladay, Utah
(photo credits David Daniels of David Photography - Courtesy Copper.org)

The Mark Olsen Project exhibits excellent old world craftsmanship, with a copper roof and other architectural copper features such as copper finials, copper gutters and ornamental downspouts with copper conductor heads, copper crown molding, fascia and soffit, copper chimney top shroud and extended copper window box. This stately home has exquisite detailing and exudes quiet elegance from it's naturally weathered copper features. 16,000 pounds worth of hand crafted architectural copper work are used for this home's architecture. The copper roof is comprised of diamond shaped interlocking copper shingles, copper ridge vents and flashing. Of note, no sealants were used, only traditional craftsmanship and installation techniques were employed along with some soldering work on the copper gutters providing very long term durability with little to no maintenance required.

closeup of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina copper arches, copper spire and copper finials pictured here

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina side view with copper arches, copper spire, copper cross, copper finials and stone veneer tower pictured here

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina front view with it's stone veneer tower, copper arches, copper spire, gold leaf copper cross and copper finials pictured here

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Charleston, SC
(photo credits Steven of the Churches of Charleston Project
& Jeni Rone of Sea Star - Courtesy Copper.org)

One hundred fifty years in the making, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina has at long last been restored after being completely destroyed by fire in 1861. A soaring neo-gothic style copper spire, which had long been planned, was finally realized this past spring. The stunning beauty of the copper spire with it's gold leaf finished copper cross can be seen across the Charleston skyline and out to Sullivan Island. The cathedral's tower was finished with a stone veneer and at it's top there are four copper clad archways with copper torch finials. The copper spire with gold-leaf copper cross finial is perched on top at center of the copper arches. The 200 square feet of gold leaf which covers the cross will last at least 40 years without touch-up while the crowning copper art work comprised of arches, finials, spire and cross at the peak of the cathedral will last and stay beautiful for generations to come.

8/22/2010 12:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Copper Castings Designs - Copper Decorations - Copper Ornaments

Rutland offers several copper casting designs which may be used as copper decorations or copper ornaments. These lovely pure copper designs will enhance any outdoor architectural copper work including copper leader heads, custom chimney caps, roof dormers, copper plaques, copper planters, garden sculpture, light hoods, copper wall and column cladding. Inside the home, copper designs or decorative copper castings will dress up copper home decor and copper kitchen accessories such as range hoods, kitchen island hoods, light canopies, fireplace hoods, farmhouse sinks, apron sinks, bathroom or kitchen backsplash, copper wall coverings and wall art decor.

copper leader head - conductor head - hopper head with custom lion head design casting in copper pictured here

Copper Leader Head with Lion Head Copper Casting

copper design - copper casting decoration model CS 05 pictured here

copper design - copper casting decoration model CS 06 pictured here

copper design - copper casting cross decoration model CS 11 pictured here

Copper Castings - Copper Designs - Copper Decorations

copper design fleur de lis - copper casting decoration model CS 10 pictured here

copper design - copper casting decoration model CS 08 pictured here

copper design - copper casting decoration model CS 04 pictured here

copper design - copper casting decoration model CS 07 pictured here

copper design flower - copper casting decoration model CS 14 pictured here

copper design flower - copper casting decoration model CS 09 pictured here

Copper Ornaments - Copper Designs - Copper Decorations

copper design grapes - copper casting decoration model CS 03 pictured here

copper design lion head - copper casting decoration model CS 13 pictured here

copper design dolphins - copper casting decoration model CS 02 pictured here

copper design tropical palm trees - copper casting decoration model CS 01 pictured here

Copper Decorations - Copper Designs - Copper Castings

copper range hood - copper kitchen island hood with Fleur de Lis design copper castings pictured here

Copper Range Hood with Copper Design Fleur de Lis Castings

In addition to regularly stocked copper casting designs shown above, Rutland's copper craftsmen will create custom copper castings designs from your own drawings, pictures, crests, symbols, motifs or designs such as the custom Texas Longhorn design below. These copper casting designs may then be incorporated into any outdoor or indoor architectural copper work, copper kitchen or home decor. Rutland's copper artisans will also meticulously create, restore or recreate heirloom, antique or historic copper designs, crests, sculptures or plaques. The standard casting designs shown above are also available in mill finish cast aluminum for use with aluminum conductor heads and other aluminum architectural features. Visit Rutland's Copper Castings - Copper Designs webpage for additional information, sizes and specifications on these pure copper designs.

copper conductor head - leader head with custom Texas longhorn design in copper pictured here

Copper Conductor Head with Custom Longhorn Design

8/18/2010 10:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Copper Kitchen Art Work - Range Hoods

Copper Kitchen describes kitchen design utilizing copper work either extensively or strategically to achieve a very elegant, warm, hospitable and decorative kitchen. Kitchen copper usage may include copper hoods, range hoods or island hoods. Also kitchen copper sinks, copper countertops, copper backsplash, copper light hood canopy, copper pot racks, copper sculpture, copper accents, copper pots and pans. Even copper clad appliances, wall copper vents, copper fixtures (lights and fans) and other hardware such as cabinet and door handles, wall switchplates, etc. Given the sheer elegance, warmth and beauty of copper, it is near impossible to overuse copper in kitchen design, especially with the endless hues of copper available, from it's gleaming raw state to countless variations of patinated copper. Decorative kitchen design to personalize a kitchen, establish a design theme or create a designer kitchen may incorporate the use of kitchen art, such as kitchen wall art, kitchen murals and other themed kitchen artwork, including standalone accent pieces. Almost every copper kitchen has a copper range hood or island hood which has a large surface area ideal to incorporate copper art work into your kitchen design. You may view your copper hood, copper backsplash and copper kitchen sink as a blank canvas to which you can add your own unique design, personal expression or promote a kitchen design theme.

copper range hood CAD drawing ready for design copper art work to be rendered

Copper Kitchen Hood "A Blank Canvas"

Copper compared to other metals not only offers more warmth, luster and elegance but copper is especially amenable to being worked into many different shapes or designs. Copper may also easily be sculpted or hammered into custom art work including personalized or themed murals. Copper design work may involve simple accents placed subtly around a larger smooth copper surface, or a uniformly patterned surface such as a hammered copper pebbled look or using variegated copper hues created through patination or firing. A raised, textured three dimensional design or copper kitchen mural provides endless possibilities of personalization as well as the timeless elegance and enjoyment of your kitchen's copper work of art.

copper art work with ski lodge copper design shown here

copper wall art work ranch theme for copper kitchen hoods or kitchen wall art shown here

Copper Wall Art Work - Two Different 3-D Scenes
copper range hood Tuscan kitchen design pictured here

Copper Hood with Tuscan Design (Grapes)

Hammered Copper Hoods - Pebbled & Rock Pattern
copper hoods - kitchen island hoods with copper designs island tropical and southwest cactus themes shown here

copper hoods - kitchen island hoods with copper designs island tropical and southwest cactus themes shown here

Copper Range Hoods with Copper Art Murals

Copper art work or murals may be recreated from almost any design, drawing, illustration, painting or picture you provide, by true copper working artisans. The intricate detail these coppersmiths can sculpt into your copper hoods, copper sinks or copper backsplash is truly astounding, while your appreciation of their timeless beauty will last for generations of lifetimes.

copper hood range or custom island hood with ski lodge resort theme pictured

Copper Island Hood with Ski Lodge Artwork
copper kitchen sink with copper art work mural pictured

Copper Kitchen Sink with Artwork

Copper Farmhouse Sink with Mural

* Pictures shown above are courtesy of Rutland Architectural Copper Work, whose copper work artisans individually create by hand each of the copper hoods, copper sinks and copper art work shown above. The copper kitchen hoods are all fashioned from heavyweight 48 oz pure copper that are available in gleaming new copper appearance or also in various shades of copper patina. Rutland specializes almost exclusively in custom design copper work, each handcrafted one at a time with many being "one of" unique designs from customer's specifications. Rutland also creates custom copper sculpture and copper kitchen decor accent pieces to coordinate your overall decorative kitchen design. See additional copper range hoods created by Rutland.

Copper Sink, Copper Hood, Copper Counter Tops

(Photos courtesy http://design-ties.blogspot.com/2009/03/hooked-on-copper.html)

In addition to copper hoods and copper sinks, a copper backsplash is another copper surface that can be given a copper art work treatment along with other independent or themed hanging copper wall art. Copper counters or countertops usually preferrably have a smooth surface or are lightly patterned such as a pebbled look, quilted or tile design. Blending different hues of patinated copper together may create a very appealing used look that also wears very well. Part of the great allure and beauty of copper, somewhat similar to distressed or antique wood, is the ever changing character, warm hues and gracefully aging beauty that natural pure copper provides.

Copper Kitchen Hood Art Work HGTV Video