So you want to decorate like a Brit...

What designer Lonika Chande is loving right now.

When I need ideas for warming up a space—and after the latest snowfall here in New Jersey, it's top of mind—I tend to look to the Brits. (The latest trend coming for our kitchens proves I'm not alone.) British designers were pros at crafting endearingly quirky, always cozy spaces long before we started calling everything [blank]core. Lonika Chande, in particular, is one to watch. If you love stripes on stripes and built-in storage painted in mood-boosting hues, welcome to her fan club. In Chande’s hands, even utilitarian metal details can ooze charm. Lately, she’s into these two… —Lindsey Mather, digital director

P.S. Our thoughts are with our L.A. community as they face the devastating impact of the wildfires. If you’re looking for ways to help, we put together a list of organizations providing relief efforts.

Current Mood

What I’m loving right now: The revival of nickel and stainless steel. I love the classic charm and warmth of nickel, the simplicity of stainless steel, and the elegance of both.

Architecture by I-Beam Design; Photography by Belle Morizio; Styling by Julia Stevens

How I’d bring the look home:

• Lighting. We have specified the Hector Finch Onos pendant in brushed nickel for the dining area in a client project in London. It’s a large, open-plan family space where we have used a variety of finishes and materials. Nickel is a living finish, so it develops a patina like brass does. Personally, I love this. Microfiber cloths are good for cleaning marks off though.

• Hardware is another good way to experiment. Swapping handles, cabinet knobs, and hooks is simple to do but impactful.

• I love the combination of stainless steel and wood in a kitchen, like in this beach house kitchen or chef Nasim Alikhani’s apartment above. Stainless steel countertops will scratch and scuff, but there is a beauty to imperfection and a more lived-in feel. Plus it is nonporous, making it an incredibly practical option as it’s easy to keep clean. It is also corrosion-resistant, so it can withstand heat and spills.

1. French stainless steel cutlery with red handles.