Metallic circle swirls make an exciting lighting statement. Vertigo Four Light Pendant in Bronze/Gold Leaf finish, $1,431, at Brookfield’s City Lights Design Studio.

"Home décor follows fashion," says Michael McKinley, partner at the Milwaukee Design Collection in Milwaukee. "We’ve been seeing gold and silver purses and shoes for some time. Now we’re seeing gilded furniture, even silver and gold leather furnishings."

McKinley says the reason for this trend stems, in part, from the state of the economy. "The Hollywood Regency movement is extremely popular right now. It’s glamorous and makes people feel good. As a result, manufacturers of home goods have capitalized on it." Furniture lines like Worlds Away, which is carried in McKinley’s shop, are seeing a surge in popularity, and it doesn’t seem the trend will go away anytime soon.

The metallic craze isn’t just confined to furniture. For years light fixtures were typically made from ceramic, brass or crystal. Now they are being designed with different metals and interesting finishes. "New lighting selections are beautiful and metal finishes are being used for every style from traditional to high-tech. We are seeing a lot of chandeliers in bronze and nickel. Many of them have large drum shades, even on flush mounts. Some have crystals on the shades too. It’s an exciting trend," says Hank Albert, owner of BBC Lighting in Milwaukee.

Julie Spillius, owner of Brookfield’s City Lights Design Studio, agrees. "Today’s clients are looking for the ‘wow’ factor in lighting. Metallic finishes are becoming very prominent. They provide a glamorous, reflective value that other finishes just don’t provide. We are seeing these types of fixtures as the focal point of a room’s design and providing the punch the space needs."

One of the most unique uses of metals is in textiles. Metallic threads woven into fabrics and rugs are glamming up a lot of interiors. Metallics provide anything from a touch of sparkle to downright decadence. In addition to wallpaper, metallic fabrics, accessories and rugs, Manhattan Textiles in Wauwatosa carries a full line of metallic interior products.

"Metallic-inspired fabrics are all the rage and bring a unique designer touch to any space," says owner Judy Fleming. "The current trend is to choose ‘glitzy’ metallics for accent pillows and small furniture pieces, while the subtle look of linen with metallic threads might be used to dress a window. It’s always fun to put a metallic shag rug in a powder room. It brings a sense of whimsy to the space. Or sparkleup your bedroom with metallic shams and a dust skirt."