Styling with Copper: A Traditional Entryway in Warm, Moody Tones and Vintage Details
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When you think of antique and vintage interiors, brass often comes to mind first. It is one of the most common metals found across antique and vintage pieces, from sculptures and statues to candleholders, vases, lighting, and furniture details. Brass brings warmth and familiarity, and it has long been a staple in traditional interiors.
But there is another metal that feels just as beautiful in a space, and far less expected.
Copper.
When you think of antiques and copper, you might picture a beautiful collection of hanging pots in a French country kitchen. Copper kitchen and tabletop accents are some of the most sought-after antique pieces out there, and consistently among our best sellers in our own antique shop.
Beyond your typical kitchen cookware and tabletop accents, however, copper and copper-plated pieces can be difficult to find. Decorative objects and wall pieces in copper are far less common, and often significantly more expensive depending on material, size, and age. But that rarity is part of what makes them feel so special and elevated within a space.
In this entryway vignette, we centered this collected look around one of the most striking pieces of wall decor we have ever sourced, a unique set of copper-plated relief plaques.
In this article, we explore the details of this entryway look, along with a few additional ideas for using these plaques throughout your home. Read on to learn more and shop these one-of-a-kind pieces from our vintage and antique collection.
About the Look.
Without further ado, we are excited to introduce this absolutely stunning Set of Cast Iron Art Nouveau Relief Plaques.
While not solid copper, each piece features a cast iron base with a thin layer of copper plating on top, resulting in a finish that carries the warmth of copper with added depth from the darker iron beneath.
Over time, the surface has developed a beautiful natural verdigris patina, adding variation and additional depth to each piece. This beautiful, natural aging process enhances their authenticity and highlights the timeworn details that makes antique pieces so beautiful.
We especially love the “coin” or medallion-like quality of these pieces. It introduces something unexpected, adding a decorative moment that feels both refined and a bit different from more traditional wall decor.
Additionally, the generous scale and substantial weight of these plaques immediately set them apart. These are pieces with real presence, offering a level of visual impact that is unmistakable.
We’ve chosen to style the plaques here in a small entryway vignette. The classic, soft white walls feature traditional molding, which naturally frames out the oval silhouettes of the plaques. The contrast of the warm, dark, aged copper finish against the soft white wall allows the pieces to stand out and feel more defined, which is a look we especially love for traditional interiors.
To anchor both the pieces and the vignette, we reached for one of our favorite small side tables. With its rich mahogany finish, it complements the darker tones within the plaques, while the curved silhouette creates a subtle connection to the feminine forms depicted in each plaque.
Atop the table, we selected our Black Porcelain Neoclassical French Empire–Style Vase With Gilt Bronze Accents. It’s a beautiful nod to classic design and adds to the depth of the darker palette, reinforcing the rich, layered feel of the vignette. We styled it with a single deep purple stem (linked below), letting it extend throughout the center of the vignette to bring in movement and an organic quality.
Next, we layered in our Brown Alabaster Claw Foot Trinket Box. This piece is unlike any alabaster box we have sourced before. Its delicate scalloped edge detailing reflects a level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that immediately sets it apart, while the warm brown tones make it feel especially unique among more typical lighter alabaster pieces. Overall, this piece helps balance the arrangement while bringing in another layer of material and depth.
Lastly, we styled the table with one of our Brass Peacock Chamberstick Candleholders. We especially love the sculptural quality this piece introduces. The bird motif adds a more decorative element, and we love how clearly its silhouette stands out against the soft white walls.
Together, this vignette feels cohesive and intentional, built around a rich and moody palette enhanced by the warmth of the copper-plated plaques. The mix of materials and forms creates a layered look that feels both collected and elevated.
While they are pictured side by side above, these plaques would be equally striking when stacked or staggered. This approach works particularly well in smaller or narrower spaces, such as a hallway, bathroom, laundry room, or a narrow wall beside a window. In these settings, a vertical arrangement feels more proportionate to the space and brings a greater sense of intention to the design.
Shop the Look.
Antique & Vintage Pieces from Refuge Interiors:
Set of Cast Iron Art Nouveau Relief Plaques
Black Porcelain Neoclassical French Empire–Style Vase With Gilt Bronze Accents
Brass Peacock Chamberstick Candleholders
Brown Alabaster Claw Foot Trinket Box
Additional Decor Featured in this look:
Hi, I’m Casey, founder of Refuge Interiors, where I combine my lifelong love of decorating and design with a passion for sourcing vintage and antique treasures to create classic, collected interiors that feel warm, inviting, and beautifully lived in.
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