Nickel is nice, but chrome is cooler! Nickel has a high end cache. It’s true that in general nickel is more expensive, and has a softer warmer glow. But I guess I’m an all or nothing kind of designer. If metal is going to be bright and shiny, I prefer it VERY bright , VERY shiny and VERY cool in tone. That’s why I LOVE chrome, and of course, I’m not alone.
(below:Artimede Mercury Ceiling light fixture) lsiepj;soejfsljdflsihslkndflsiehfslhdf;lakjfpsiefhkshflsihfoih
;sdlfpsopsodjfpsojfpsodjfpsoejfpsojdfpsouefpsodjfpsufpsodjfpsoufpsjfdoiufps9dufspodfupsodufpsodufpsodufspodufps
Chrome has been the favored metal finish for furniture, ever since Marcel Breuer first fashioned the Wassily Chair in 1925, and continues to be so in the new century. The development of chrome in furniture runs parallel, and has often been reflective of its use in the car and motorcycle industries. Above and beyond its obvious practical applications, chrome denotes speed, modernity,technology, and a forward looking optimism.
The Zuo Chair (above) is from www.livingincomfort.com LIVINGINCOMFORT.COM ZUO CHAIRlkjfowifosjfosieufsknfoisehfsikhfoi;ajli

Design by David Jimenez
This bedroom by David Jimenez uses generous doses of chrome, and is nothing if not cheerful and optimistic! Wouldn’t you love to wake up in a room like this?The Platner Table (above) is available through Design Within Reach
I love the relationship here, between the spiroscope patterns in the art, and the similar effect in the chrome table base

Image via designsponge
Here’s a question I’m often asked: Is it OK to mix styles and periods? Let this eclectic, pretty room be the final answer to that question! What could provide a more elegant, yet neutral link between the wide ranging looks in this room, than the classic chrome Brno Chair,(1930) by Mies Van der Rohe.
MIES VAN DE ROHE Brno Chair lksjdfolsiurfosdjflskjfpoiesldkhflshflsdhf;skhf
The Brno Chair is available through Knoll Studio
ALMOST DINER CHAIRS IN DINING ROOM lskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdjflskdhl
I can’t resist comparing the chairs in this airy inviting dining room to good old fashioned diner chairs like this one from americanchairs.com Why not use diner chairs with a light neutral covering, in a slightly more formal way? The cost is low, the comfort is excellent, and the look would be very original.
AMERICANCHAIRS.COMlskdjfwoielskdjfpsijf;sdjfpsejfs;lkdjfpsoeufsodjfpsojplu
MY LIVING ROOM slkdjfowiflskdfhosieflskdjhosih;saljps;jpsihlkfhgosiohlkj
Here the chrome of the classic Wassily chair mixes beautifully with a warm earthy color scheme, adding a little glitter and shine. The Wassily Chair is available through Knoll Studio Designed in the Bauhaus Studio in 1925 by Marcel Breuer, then only an apprentice, it was the very first steel tubular chair.
Here are some of my favorite interior design CHROME INSPIRATIONS:
s;ldjf;sdjf;sldjf;sjfoejf;sdjf;psieufpsjfpsiufpshfpsodfps9eufpshfpsipihefph
pi;dfg;dg;dljg;dljg;djg;j;ljorjpsjs
s;djfspdjf;sdjCOLLAGEABOVEfp;sflksdhlskdhlskdhlskdhlskhflskdhflskdhflskdhflskdhflskdhflskdhlskdhflskdhflskhlslkh
LAMP: furnitureinfashion.net, FABBIAN EDGE 5 LIGHT TABLE LAMP: YLighting, BARCELONA PAVILION TABLE: classicsinstock.com ,CHROME BAR STOOL: AmericanChairs.com, DESK: Sam Flax, FURNITURE HARDWARE: mylivingspaceco.uk, MARTINI END TABLE: Kravet Furniture
GET NAMES OF DESIGNERS FOR ROOMS lkdjperod;ljperjgp;ojgpojg;sldjps9upsodjgpsodugp9rutpdojfgpsdjf;sljdgpsougpsouposufpsodufpso
alskdfjpwoefjskdhfowieyhfosidhfosiehfosidhfosiehfosidhfosidhfosidhfosidhfosihohoiyoiyskjdfh
Designed by Candace Olsen, this room has both a modern sensibility and a warm rusticity. This approach is embodied in the coffee table which combines a hand hewn rugged wood top, with machine age chrome legs. The open leg notches on the top enhance the effect of nature-plus-technology. It’s almost sculptural, and very forward looking. The table to the left from Chista, and the others below from Century and Hudson Furniture Inc. are very much in the same vein. In fact, once I started looking around, I saw enough in this general style to pronounce it a trend! These furnishings display a reverence for the beauty of the natural world, combined with a use of high tech man made materials. What a great metaphor for the future, if you’re an optimist, like me!
veisl;djfpwoefjsdjfpsioefj;sldjf;lseou;lsodjfpsoeursodhfpsoeufpsojpwoehpsihfpshoefshefpsodhfpsioesldhflshiehflsdkflskdhflsie

Century Furniture

Hudson Furniture Inc.
PUTITHEREfslidfolsiehfpslkdjfowiesldkfhosiehslkdhfosiefhlskdhfoisehfsidfhosiefhosihfosidhfosiheofhsodihfosiehfos;idfhosifh;sifhslidhfoe
We have enough history with chrome interior furnishings to look back on some of it with affectionate nostalgia. Meanwhile, many early examples remain as relevant and cutting edge as ever, and far more popular and available than when they were first created…And, the market place is filled with current, new examples of beautiful chrome furniture, from the innovators of today. It will be very exciting to see what forms in chromed metal will appear next!
Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
Long may you run.
-Neil Young

You’ve posted a lot of great chrome pieces
I love how chrome shines & sparkles and reflects light. I’ve tried to capture that sparkle in some car pics I’ve taken — you know, when the sunlight hits the chrome and you get that twinkling effect — but I just can’t capture it.
Love the rugged wood & chrome table in the Candice Olson room — I’m a big fan of combining opposite elements like that. Also, the circle wall sconce next to the framed coral in the picture above that one is gorgeous
Kelly @ DesignTies
Comment by DesignTies — August 12, 2009 @ 11:21 AM
Kelly,
I am MAD about that coffee table in the Candace Olsen room. I couldn’t figure out where it’s from, but I found something that is in that vein from Christa, which I just added to the post.
Thanks for reading, and commenting! (-:
Leona
Comment by admin — August 12, 2009 @ 1:31 PM
Wow! So many great examples on how to use chrome. I love that coffee table as well. Its good to see that chrome is not exclusive to just modern decor. I love the idea of throwing in a little chrome to shake things in a more traditional setting. Great post, Leona!
Comment by Live In Full Color — August 13, 2009 @ 8:19 AM
Honestly, Leona, and with all due respect to your Internet colleagues, you are just THE HIPPEST, coolest, savviest stylist and designer!! This post, though treating a fairly uncomplicated subject (not to say anything disrespectful about chrome, because I adore it), is so rich in associations and demonstrates the versatility and utility of this valuable but accessible design element. You consistently find great, affordable pieces and give excellent, varied examples of their uses. Thanks for this lovely post!
Comment by Caitlin — August 20, 2009 @ 10:50 AM
Fabulous stuff!! Living rooms are too good!Cheers!!
Comment by Sandy55 — October 25, 2009 @ 10:56 AM