The trend of using natural building materials has never gone away. It’s the appeal of certain types of natural materials that trend over time. Since the early settlers installed their first 40” wide pine boards, natural building materials have proven they are beautiful and timeless.

The ability to bring nature into your home has been an ambition that homeowners have strived for over the centuries. For generations, humans love the natural and organic appeal of elements that make them feel calm, at peace and above all welcomed into a space. — Ronique Gibson, Freshome

Today, we’ll look at three of the most popular over time, and three ways you can use each of them in your home.

Brass

Over the last 10 years or so brass has gotten a bad rap with consumers because the market was saturated with low quality, imitation materials in everything from the hardware on your doors to the lighting fixtures hanging in your living room.

But the intrigue of brass from the design community has never truly died, it just became more difficult to acquire the high-quality brass that you might associate with high design of the 70’s and 80’s. These reflect a timeless style and exquisite craftsmanship that everyone desires for a beautiful interior.

We all know that you can find brass lighting fixtures and door hardware, but here are three unique ways you can also use brass in your home:

1. Stairway

Building a stairway to incorporate brass into the ballisters, handrails, and spindles is a unique look. You can dress it up in a modern penthouse with marble and granite, or incorporate it into this stylish, yet more rustic decor with wood flooring and antique beams.

2. Trim

There are many types of trim you can put in your home — everything from baseboard to molding. Or you can trim out your kitchen with brass like in this kitchen. The light reflects out of the translucent cabinetry, the bronze accent trim is a nice accent to the modern kitchen.

3. Range Hood

Interior Designer Lisa Farmer suggests that if you want to incorporate brass into your space do so “sparingly or in unexpected ways” because it can make a big impact. Nothing proves that more than a brass range hood from featured in Dwell magazine. It’s a nice touch, along with the brass lighting accents and sink faucet, without being too overwhelming.