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Renovating our new showroom in Poets Corner in The Hayloft space was an exciting opportunity for our team to work together on our carpentry and coppersmith skills to display our newest range of Copper and Brass taps, showers and handles for local home owners interior designers and architects.
The building was formally a mechanics and historically thought to be a horse stables for the casket makers in the building adjacent where we have created our Copper Workshop and hub for Proper Copper Design .
The existing staircase was nothing more than a wooden ladder which made access to our new space upstairs difficult to climb. Restoring the staircase became a top priority to make an inviting entrance and feature element to The Hayloft.
Here at Proper Copper Design, we strongly believe in reducing our carbon footprint. That’s why we began our staircase renovation scouring Brighton & Hove for reclaimed timber from wastage from building projects in the city.
We were able to collect and salvage beautiful timber boards, giving them a new lease of life with time, care and attention. The process began by de-nailing each timber, after which Henry our apprentice carpenter set about hand planing and sanding.
We set to work reconstructing the opening, tearing back the space to start a fresh and reinforcing the floor support to create a structural spindal staircase.
Building our way up, we began to clad the staircase. Adding small features of copper nails and tacks to decoratively lead you to the first room of our showroom which has a copper theme throughout from copper Taps and Showers on display to Copper lighting and fixtures.
To create the banister, we wanted to draw attention to the stairs while merging together the two rooms. We felt that this would be a statement piece in itself for people to observe and enjoy!
A final sanding of the timber steps and banister framework then attaching more strips of copper sheeting with copper tacks; a custom statement design! As well as varnishing the staircase all over to seal all our hard work!
The final process in building this copper and reclaimed wooden structure staircase involved ageing the copper banister spokes and the copper edging strips. Over time, copper naturally ages and develops to a rustic reddish brown shade. To enhance this we can add a light wash of a salt solution which will speed up the ageing colour change.
We have a full range of individually aged products for example our Aged Copper Handles which are a popular choice with our customers for vintage kitchen and bathroom projects.
The staircase is a key feature of the reconstruction of our new showroom The Hayloft drawing our visitors from the Outdoor Shower display area downstairs up to our refreshing light studio space / copper and brass showroom.
If you are local to Brighton or you are visiting the area and you would like to book an appointment to visit our showroom then please give us a call on 01273 973 650 or email our Manager Khan at team@propercopperdseign.com
Thank you for reading.
Blog written by Bronte Simpson-Little
Proper Copper Design
Copper is the most conductive engineering metal available. It's twice as conductive as aluminium and an amazing 25 times more conductive than stainless steel. Our tin lining is a magical material; it is extremely non stick and it protects the Copper from acidic food and corrosion. Tin doesn't taint food or hold strong flavours.
Where are these Artisan pots and pans made?
Our collection of Copper Pots, Pans and Tagines have been hand crafted by expert Copper Artisans at Netherton Foundry in Shropshire UK.
What are the advantages of Cheffing with Copper pans?
There are many advantages to Copper pans, Copper is very intuitive to use and responds quickly to changes in power. Copper pans ensure that heat is distributed evenly across the base and sides of the pan, meaning food is cooked evenly.
As Copper pans heat up extremely fast, this results in much less energy and cooking time needed. No metal coatings are used in the making process of our pans, meaning that users do not need to be concerned about the risks from chemical non-stick coatings.
Why do we support metal workers in the UK?
Metal work is an extremely sustainable trade, as new tin lined Copper pans have been widely unavailable for more than 25 years. The sustainable way of finding, resorting and retaining vintage pans has now been developed, and is a process largely used in France and the USA. Which is why we have been overjoyed since discovering Nertherton Foundry, a UK based company, who have been tin lining pans since 1818.
Why are Copper pots and pans sustainable?
Furthering the above, Copper trading is extremely sustainable, possibly one of the most sustainable metals. Copper recycling also plays an important role in Coppers availability since today’s 'primary Copper' is tomorrow’s recycled material. The recovery and recycling of Copper also helps to satisfy the increasing demand and to build a sustainable future for future generations.
It is highly unlikely that we are going to run out of resources of Copper. Historically there has always been, on average, 40 years of reserves and 200 years of resources left since 1950.
Where can I hang my pots and pans?
Found your perfect pans but don't know where to store them? At Proper Copper we have a wide range of Copper kitchen storage solutions, all of which are both practical and attractive. From wall mounted rails to hanging racks, your Copper pans can take pride of place in your kitchen!
Our Wall Mounted Copper Pot and Pan Rail is a great example of rail to display your Copper pans as it is designed for the hanging of Cast Iron Pans, making it a great durable storage solution.
Browse to shop our Kitchen storage solutions now via the following link to get your hands on your very own Copper storage solution, https://propercopperdesign.com/collections/kitchen-storage.
Cleaning your Copper Pans
After use, wipe the inside and outside of the copper saucepan with soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Do not use an aggressive scourer, or you will rapidly wear through the lining and it will require re-tinning.
Helpful tips for your Copper pans
If you are cooking meat or fish - oil the food, not the pan.
Be patient;allow the food to cook before trying to turn it over.
Don't fry food straight from the fridge, allow it to come up to room temperature.
The pan bodies are spun by hand, so each one is slightly different. They will not all be as flat as a billiard table.
Use a hob the same size as the pan base, small rings WILL warp big pans.
Never drop a hot pan into cold water. This will buckle it.
Purchase your Copper pans here: https://o7p1bexl1obkmj4a-19423330368.shopifypreview.com/collections/artisan-copper-pots-and-pans
Purchase your Copper kitchen storage here: https://propercopperdesign.com/collections/kitchen-storage
All images used in this Blog post are of the rights of Netherton Foundry, who we would link to thank for their on-going support through this collaboration.
Are you looking to change up the aesthetic of your home? Have you considered Industrial Interior Design? Industrial Design is an interior category characterized with “used effects” which consists predominantly of unrefined structures, sheet metals, wooden surfaces and lots of Copper. Furniture from old industrial companies from the 1920s-50s is often inspired in this process. Wood and metal are gladly taken and then converted to a contemporary piece of furniture, whilst being sustainable in process!
Industrial Design is great for a minimal yet comfortable feel to your space, with its polished, organised arrangement and contemporary character. The added juxtaposition of our 10 chosen Industrial furnishings will help you to assemble your perfect industrial sanctuary in no time.
https://propercopperdesign.
https://www.maisonsdumonde.
https://www.grahamandgreen.co.
https://www.made.com/chicago-
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7.https://www.sklum.com/uk/
8.https://www.made.com/markle-
9.https://www.etsy.com/uk/
10.https://www.bestheating.
Thanks to its unique combinations of properties, brass is often the best material to use to manufacture many components. Some of the properties we’re referring to are good strength and ductility, combined with excellent corrosion resistance. Brasses are available in a wide variety of product forms and sizes to allow minimum machining to finished dimensions. Here’s a brief history of brass and how it is used in homes today.
A Brief History of Brass
Brass has been used for home hardware for almost 500 years. Solid brass hardware is an alloy typically made of a combination of copper and zinc with tin added. It’s golden-brown in colour because the alloy can complement different types of interior designs. In the Roman empire, its use was intensified in pipelines, warlike instruments, adornments and statues, among other things. In the middle of the XVI century, in Europe, the screws and nuts were elaborated principally of brass. Elaborating the gears of the clocks has also been done with brass. In the XVII century brass was used in the optical telescope in Holland, in the clock of a pendulum, and for manufacturing cutlery.
The Convenience of Brass
Manufacturers have been using brass for home hardware because it’s very soft and easy to work with. It can easily be bent, cast and moulded into the desired shape. Due to these characteristics, these metals can feature intricate designs. Another advantage is that solid brass can take on a finish, which makes it emulate other colours or materials. Whether you need a smooth finish or a brushed finish, brass will offer you the desired design. Brass has become an essential part of every household, considering it's been used for cooking, storing food, decoration, and even heating water.
Decorative Applications
Aside from its antimicrobial properties, brass's aesthetic value is also the reason why this material has become a popular choice for decorative applications. The variety of shades and colours, be it gold or silver, and even red, allows for a full spectrum of uses in a household. You can choose brass residential dishwasher fittings and lamp fittings because of their visually appealing and bacteria-resistant properties.
Lamps and Lighting
For everyone who wants to add a vintage, edgy vibe to their home, brass is the right choice. It can be used excellently as an eye-catching accent. Brass will seamlessly add a luxurious touch to any room. Many people also tend to integrate it into warm and white interiors. Alternatively, it's a good option for adding an extra pop of colour in rooms with darker tones. If you want the lighting fixtures to be the focal point, use brass finishes.
Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Bedrooms
Brass is often used in kitchens and bathrooms for its modern design. From a variety of fittings, sinks to miscellaneous hardware, you’ll find brass everywhere these days. Brass is a perfect material to choose, when you want to add elegance to spaces. Consider bringing in old brassware, cookware, cutlery, plates and jugs into your kitchen to bring something luxurious to the space. Think about an old brass water carafe filled with fresh flowers or plants to bring in a dose of freshness to the kitchen. When it comes to bedrooms, hair accessories and old jewellery boxes will adorn the dressers and side tables. Brass bed frames are another very popular bedroom decor item that can style up the entire interior.
Frames and Mirrors
Many people will try everything to make their home look more sophisticated. What they don't know, is that it only takes an antique brass frame in the bathrooms or hallways, to make their home more inviting and chic. Unique designs and patterns add texture and character to plain walls, and so will a mirror with a brass frame. A hand brass mirror will look wonderful on your vanity and add a touch of old Hollywood charm to your powder room.
Accessories
Given that brass is highly adaptable, you can use it in several forms and finishes. From antique to rustic, hammered, wired and gleaming plain finish, you can decorate cupboards and drawer pulls without any problem. Do the same to escutcheons, hinges, and keys to achieve a unique design. Other brass accessories that can be used to add more style to your home include planters, candle stands, cutlery, curtain rods, mugs and decanters. Go for brass decorative mesh storage bins, magazine holder bins, pin-up wall display grids and watch your home become a place you’ve always dreamed of having.
Spring is upon us and it is a time to turn our attention to home renovations, for those with a budget you will be pleased to hear that you can transform your favourite bedside cabinet, kitchen drawers or window shutters by swapping your outdated knobs with beautiful artistic and handcrafted knobs.
In our Brighton workshop we craft knobs by hand and ship them all over the World and we have enjoy seeing how customers have restored furniture with a new coat of distinguished paint and a set of quirky knobs.
Here are a list of knob styles chosen by our design team, these are suitable for kitchen cabinets, chests of drawers, wardrobes and much more..
Bringing this heritage metal into your home will add a touch of luxury, this is the most stylish metal colour of 2021 and the variety of tones from antique burnished brass to a high polish brass will suit a variety of interior styles.
John Lewis & Partners Oval Cupboard Knob, Brass
Brass Oval Knob in a brushed finish
£5.00
Brass T Shaped Knob in a luxury polished finish designed by Proper Copper Design
£15.00
Coppers distinct rose colour has a feminine and modern edge that will be the talking point of your living space. Copper knobs are well matched to wooden surfaces, white cabinets as well as decorating bold colours and industrial spaces.
Copper Hammered Cupboard Door Knob Handle
Round pure copper door knob with hammered detail exclusive to Not On The High Street.
£4.49
A classic copper knob design easy to fit and renovate stylish cabinet door and drawer furniture.
£12.00
Avant-Gaurde Large Knurled Knob
Large kitchen drawer knobs are luxe-industrial knobs that are perfect for using on kitchen drawers & cupboard doors. With a rugged knurled pattern around the outer edge, this solid brass knob has a real industrial vibe to it.
£13.99
Chrome and Copper Knob - T-Shaped
Proper Copper Design
Bolted industrial chrome T Pull handles perfect for a robust finish to your kitchen cabinets and drawers made in a variety of finishes.
£19.00
The soft and muted style of Matt Black is a popular choice for modern renovations across interiors from office spaces to living spaces. Matt black internal door handles look great as a contrast against white or wooden doors making them a fantastic choice to showcase your interior flair.
Mushroom Cast Iron Cupboard Knob
Yester Home
A simple round chunky cast iron cabinet knob which can give both a traditional or contemporary look and deep Matt Black finish.
£3.50
Proper Copper Design
Designed and handcrafted in our Brighton workshop from pure copper, this matt black copper T knob is minimal in form but striking in appearance, a perfect finishing touch for contemporary furniture and spaces.
Decorative Knobs
Knobs that draw the eye are often those with detail and texture, such as engraved knobs, hammered knobs, traditional knobs with patterns and scroll leaf.
The designers Beardmore collection in London craft a huge range of knobs with skilled engraved detail in many different styled collections including period knobs, organic shaped knobs and ornate classical handles fit for a palace.
https://beardmore.co.uk/product-category/door-hardware/door-knobs/
Beardmore Door Knobs
price upon request
£63.00
Inspired by the striking beauty of the small, globular sea animals found across the ocean floors, the Urchin knob is a delicate and majestic range of furniture drawer handles. With a noble texture, it's a fine cabinet hardware addition to cabinets and sideboards.
This sideboard has been refurbished with black paint and our Chrome and Copper T-Knob added to the drawers and doors.
This navy sideboard dresser with Copper T Knobs is the height of simplicity and modernity.
As you can see these knobs bring to life cabinets, doors and drawers in a new way by adding detail and colour.
As we reflect on this years Global pandemic we think about our health, our loved ones and the environment in which we work and live. You may not be aware of coppers incredible antimicrobial properties and how many are replacing their handles and surfaces to benefit their health.
Millions of people are affected by viruses and diseases worldwide each year, leading to significant mortality and financial losses for our economy and health systems.
Infections such as Covid-19 are caused by microbes that thrive on objects people touch every day. Despite aggressive hand-washing campaigns and routine cleaning and disinfection, infection rates remain unacceptably high and more needs to be done to lower the risk of acquiring an infection and improving our safety.
This could be achieved by replacing fittings with antimicrobial copper products, as part of contemporary hospital architecture, interiors and design, can supplement current infection control practices.
The reason that we think it is magic?
It is scientifically proven to be a fast acting antimicrobial surface, continuous and ongoing action even after re-contamination. Copper is sustainable, safe to use and not harmful to our beautiful planet, and most of all it's colour is beautiful and stylish.
If copper is naturally antibacterial then how does it work?
Scientists have proven that bacteria on copper surfaces will not survive for long!
On a microscopic level the bacterial membrane will quickly rupture causing cells to weaken and loose vital nutrients and eventually vanish.
Copper in it's natural state exhibits impressive antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties whereas other materials such as wood, plastic and stainless steel can harbour pathogens responsible for causing infections.
Has the effectiveness of antimicrobial copper been proven?
Copper is the only solid metal touch surface to have efficacy data independently verified through a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public health registration, which supports its claim to continuously kill more than 99.9% of the bacteria that cause Global Diseases, within two hours of contact when cleaned regularly.
Tests carried out in healthcare facilities by swabbing touch surfaces have shown that a heavy growth in bacteria on stainless steel surfaces even though they looked cleaner and brass and copper surfaces showed little to no harmful microbes.
The National Institute of Health has conducted research, and results have shown that the Coronavirus germ stays alive (and transferrable) for the following lengths of time:
Does the copper have to be pure for it to have an antibacterial effect?
Yes copper must be of a pure grade and must be left untreated.
Proper Copper Design crafts most of it's products including copper hardware, copper taps and showers from 99.9% pure grade copper which has strong antimicrobial qualities and will gradually tarnish if left in a Natural Copper finish.
Brass is an alloy of copper and so it also benefits from having the oligodynamic effect,the result of which it's metal ions have a toxic effect on moulds, spores, viruses, and other living cells. 
Is copper-plating and treated copper antimicrobial?
As you need direct contact with the surface for this to work our satin lacquered finish in which we treat the copper with layers of marine lacquer to protect its shine.
While copper coatings (plating) on other metals may initially display antimicrobial characteristics, they are susceptible to wear and tear which may reduce the effectiveness.
If you would like more information about our finishes then please see Our Finishes page.
Where is copper being used for it's antimicrobial properties?
The 2012 and 2014 champions of the National Hockey League have helped address possible surface contamination on their equipment by electing to install Black Iron Strength's high quality CuVerro antimicrobial copper surface gym equipment. The equipment installed within the facility included items such as bar and dumb bells as well as machine attachments.
In the Department of Defense-funded US trials, carried out in ICU rooms at three hospitals, the aim was to not only determine the efficacy of antimicrobial copper in reducing the level of pathogens, but whether such a reduction would translate into a lower rate of infection.
Researchers at the three hospitals involved in the trial—Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the Medical University of South Caroline and the Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, both in Charleston, South Carolina—replaced commonly touched items such as bed rails, over-bed tray tables, toilet facilities, nurse call buttons and IV poles, with antimicrobial copper versions.
Rooms with copper surfaces demonstrated an 83% reduction in average microbial bioburden compared to controls, better than the level achieved by 'terminal' cleaning: the regimen conducted after each patient vacates a room.
Furthermore, the initial results demonstrated that the use of antimicrobial copper surfaces in intensive care unit rooms resulted in a 58% reduction in the risk of acquiring a hospital infection.
Where would be the best places to fit copper in my home or business?
If you have any ideas for a product that you would like to see on the market or you have a bespoke request then please get in touch with our team, team@propercopperdesign.com .
What benefits does copper have for your health?
Our connection to copper dates back to prehistoric times in which it was worked on by the hand of early man and used as spearheads or formed into jewelry.
Copper was known as the healing metal across early civilizations, using it to enhance energy and cleanse both the body and mind. In particular the metal is known to help you spiritually with inner-vision, channeling, self esteem and optimism.
Copper is often used to detoxify, whether this is by simply purifying the water in your bath or being worn on your body to help alleviate rheumatic or circulation problems.
What type of industries would benefit from switching to copper?
First and foremost copper would be best suited to be used in Hospitals but other ideal locations include care homes, spa resorts, offices, airports and gyms.
Copper could be integrated into our modern day transport systems such as airports, trains and buses.
We hope to see these changes rolled out across public spaces in the future but for now these changes can be made in our everyday lives by replacing handles, surfaces and everyday objects at home and in shared spaces where transmission of infection could occur.
Our copper pledge for 2020!
Thank you for reading this article about the magic of antimicrobial copper, we hope that it has educated you about how importance this metal for the future of infection control and cleaner, healthier living. We feel honoured to be crafting orders from such an adaptable and wonderful metal and we are aiming to innovate new products this year that will be affordable and easy to fit, in order to help our customers looking to make the change over.
We will also be on hand to help you with your bespoke requests be that for modifying a product that we already sell, making surfaces from sheet metal or any other custom idea.
Thanks to our references..
A greener and more sustainable future rely on copper. We believe sustainable development offers a way to do business that respects people and the planet.
Copper Alliance
