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As far as aesthetics go, copper is easily the most versatile member of the metal family. It can appear soft and playful when paired with pink furnishings, or edgy and industrial in the form of a range hood and exposed pipes. But there’s another reason to love the finish. A March report from the National Institutes of Health revealed that COVID-19 is detectable for only up to four hours on copper, compared to two or three days on plastic and stainless steel. In a time when touching doorknobs feels, well, risky, this news has us considering making simple swaps in the future. And we’re not the only ones.
According to a September New York Times story, Manhattan real-estate developers, like Gotham Organization and Kuafu Properties, are updating their appliances, hardware, and even workout equipment with copper-based upgrades. (Alchemy, for one, went with antimicrobial barbells, dumbbells, weight machines, and kettlebells from Black Iron Strength.) If you live in a house or if your building manager hasn’t quite caught on to the data, switching our your metals is an easy fix you can tackle on your own. Bookmark these products for a healthier home this flu season and beyond.
For the Kitchen
Stand Mixer by KitchenAid
Williams Sonoma
Vintage Copper English Saucepan by Coppermill Kitchens
Food52
Pull Down Single Handle Kitchen Faucet by Akicon
Wayfair
Christina Double-Bowl Farmhouse Sink
Signature Hardware
We first saw the copper kitchen trend this past spring, when fashion designer Alexa Chung decided to put a copper sink, faucet, and backsplash in her London office kitchen. When paired with rich blue or forest green Shaker-style cabinets, the material reads old-world, though it could easily skew contemporary alongside Carrara marble countertops and open oakwood shelves.
For Everything Else
Pendant Hardwire u0026 Bell Shaped Shade
Pottery Barn
Edgecliff Appliance Pull
Schoolhouse
Copper-Plated Crowe Utility Cart by Blackhouse
Food52
Kettlebells
Black Iron Strength
Dress up a basic IKEA credenza with Pottery Barn’s sleek pulls, or if shiny isn’t your thing, go dark with a vintage-looking bar cart to safely serve your drinks. If you lead an active lifestyle, don’t forget to upgrade your weights—Iron Strength’s kettlebells come in antimicrobial copper perfect for fighting off germs.