Lesson 7: Metal, stone, and hard surface specifications

Alright, now we’re getting into the materials that add structure, contrast, and that little bit of edge to your spaces. Metals and stone can make or break a design—they’re the jewelry of interior design. And just like with wood and fabric, specificity is everything.

Let’s start with metals, because AI absolutely understands the difference between brass and chrome:

The Major Metal Finishes:

Warm Metals:

• Brass – Warm gold, slightly vintage
• Brushed brass – Matte warm gold, more modern
• Antique brass – Aged, darker patina
• Unlacquered brass – Will show natural aging
• Gold – True yellow gold (use sparingly, reads very formal)
• Rose gold – Pinkish warm tone, trendy
• Copper – Warm reddish tone, artisanal
• Bronze – Darker than brass, aged quality
• Aged bronze – Even more patina

Cool Metals:

• Chrome – Shiny, modern, cool-toned
• Polished chrome – Very reflective
• Stainless steel – Industrial, commercial
• Brushed stainless – Matte version, softer
• Nickel – Cooler than brass, warmer than chrome
• Polished nickel – Shiny finish
• Satin nickel – Matte finish
• Silver – True silver (rare in interiors, more jewelry-like)
• Pewter – Darker grey, matte

Black/Dark Metals:

• Matte black – Modern, dramatic
• Black steel – Industrial
• Wrought iron – Traditional, ornate possible
• Blackened steel – More textured, organic
• Gun metal – Dark grey-black

Specialty Metal Finishes:

• Hammered metal – Textured, artisanal
• Oxidized – Intentional patina
• Powder-coated – Matte, can be any color
• Oil-rubbed bronze – Dark with warm undertones

Why metal finish matters:

“Metal table legs” – Generic, could be anything “Brass table legs” – Now it’s warm and elegant “Brushed brass table legs” – Now it’s warm, elegant, AND modern

AI uses metal descriptions to set:

• Temperature of the space (warm brass vs. cool chrome)
• Era (brass = vintage-leaning, chrome = modern)
• Formality level
• How reflective surfaces interact with light

Where metals show up in interiors:

Fixtures & Hardware:

• “Brass cabinet hardware”
• “Matte black faucet”
• “Brushed nickel door handles”
• “Polished chrome fixtures”

Furniture Elements:

• “Brass coffee table legs”
• “Black metal dining chairs”
• “Stainless steel bar stools”
• “Bronze side table frame”

Lighting:

• “Brass pendant lights”
• “Matte black sconces”
• “Polished nickel chandelier”
• “Copper table lamps”

Architectural Details:

• “Black metal window frames”
• “Brass stair railing”
• “Steel beam ceiling”
• “Bronze door hardware”

Mixing metals (yes, you can!):

One of the questions I get most: “Can I mix metals in a prompt?”

Absolutely! But there’s a smart way to do it:

The Rule: Pick a dominant metal, then add an accent metal

Good: “Modern kitchen with brass hardware and matte black light fixtures” Not great: “Kitchen with brass, chrome, copper, and black metal everything”

Classic metal pairings that work:

• Brass + matte black (warm + cool contrast)
• Brushed nickel + chrome (cool family, different finishes)
• Brass + bronze (warm family, slight variation)
• Black metal + stainless steel (modern industrial)
• Brass + glass (warm + neutral)

Style-specific metal choices:

Mid-Century Modern: “Brass accents, aged brass hardware”

Industrial: “Black steel beams, matte black fixtures, raw steel shelving”

Scandinavian: “Brushed brass details” or “Matte black minimal hardware”

Traditional: “Polished nickel fixtures, crystal and brass chandelier”

Coastal: “Brushed nickel hardware, chrome accents” (cool metals for breezy feel)

Modern Farmhouse: “Matte black hardware, black metal light fixtures”

Now let’s talk stone—because this is where luxury happens:

The Stone Types AI Knows:

Marble (the queen of stones):

• Carrara marble – White with grey veining, classic
• Calacatta marble – White with dramatic bold veining
• Statuario marble – White with even more pronounced veining
• Black marble – Dramatic, luxurious
• Green marble – Bold, unique
• Pink marble – Soft, feminine
• Travertine – Cream/beige, porous texture

Granite:

• Polished granite – Shiny, speckled
• Honed granite – Matte finish
• Black granite – Dramatic
• White granite – Clean, less veining than marble

Other Natural Stones:

• Limestone – Soft, matte, neutral
• Slate – Dark, layered texture
• Soapstone – Dark grey-green, matte
• Quartzite – Similar to marble but more subtle
• Onyx – Translucent, dramatic (can be backlit)
• Sandstone – Warm, textured
• Terrazzo – Composite with visible chips

Engineered Stones:

• Quartz – Clean, uniform, can mimic marble
• Concrete – Industrial, modern
• Polished concrete – Sleeker version

Stone finishes matter as much as the type:

• Polished – Shiny, reflective, formal
• Honed – Matte, sophisticated, modern
• Leathered – Textured, less formal
• Tumbled – Aged, rustic
• Brushed – Subtle texture
• Flamed – Very textured, slip-resistant

“Marble countertop” vs. “Honed Carrara marble countertop” – The second one is a specific design choice that reads more modern and refined.

Where stone appears:

Countertops:

• “Calacatta marble island”
• “Honed black granite countertops”
• “White quartz counters”

Backsplashes:

• “Carrara marble subway tile backsplash”
• “Travertine backsplash”
• “Slab marble backsplash”

Flooring:

• “Limestone floor tiles”
• “Marble flooring”
• “Slate tile floor”
• “Terrazzo flooring”

Feature Walls:

• “Book-matched marble wall”
• “Stacked stone accent wall”
• “Concrete feature wall”

Surfaces:

• “Marble dining table”
• “Stone fireplace surround”
• “Marble pedestal sink”

Describing stone veining and pattern:

This is where you can get really specific:

• “Subtle veining” – Quiet, elegant
• “Dramatic veining” – Bold statement
• “Minimal veining” – Almost solid
• “Heavy veining” – Busy, textured
• “Grey veining” – Color specification
• “Gold veining” – Warm, luxurious
• “Book-matched” – Mirror image pattern (very high-end)

“White marble” vs. “White Carrara marble with subtle grey veining” – One is generic, one is a vision.

Color + Stone combinations:

• “White Carrara marble”
• “Black marble with gold veining”
• “Cream limestone”
• “Charcoal slate”
• “Warm travertine”
• “Cool grey concrete”

Other hard surfaces worth mentioning:

Tile:

• Ceramic tile
• Porcelain tile
• Terracotta tile
• Zellige tile (Moroccan, handmade)
• Subway tile
• Mosaic tile
• Large format tile

Glass:

• Clear glass
• Smoked glass
• Frosted glass
• Fluted glass
• Ribbed glass
• Back-painted glass

Composite Materials:

• Terrazzo
• Concrete (polished, raw, cast)
• Resin

Combining metals and stone (luxury formula):

This pairing is chef’s kiss for high-end spaces:

“Calacatta marble island with brass hardware and brass pendant lights” “Honed black granite counters with matte black fixtures” “White marble bathroom with polished nickel fixtures” “Concrete countertops with black steel shelving”

Texture descriptors for hard surfaces:

• Smooth
• Polished
• Rough
• Textured
• Matte
• Glossy
• Honed
• Natural
• Refined

“Polished marble” vs. “Honed marble” – Different levels of formality and light reflection

Common mistakes with metal and stone:

❌ “Stone countertop” – What kind of stone?

❌ “Metal fixtures” – What metal? What finish?

❌ “Shiny stuff” – Be specific!

❌ “Expensive-looking materials” – Name them

✅ “Carrara marble countertop”

✅ “Brass fixtures”

✅ “Polished nickel hardware”

✅ “Honed black granite”

My favorite material combinations:

For modern luxury: “Calacatta marble, brushed brass, smoked glass”

For industrial chic: “Concrete, black steel, raw wood”

For warm minimalism: “Limestone, brass, white oak”

For dramatic contrast: “Black marble, polished brass, dark walnut”

For coastal elegance: “White marble, brushed nickel, light oak”

Pro tip: The 60-30-10 rule for materials

Just like color theory, material distribution matters:

• 60% – Your dominant hard surface (usually flooring or walls)
• 30% – Secondary surface (countertops, backsplash)
• 10% – Accent material (metal details, stone accessories)

Example: “Limestone flooring (60%), Carrara marble counters (30%), brass fixtures and hardware (10%)”

Real example from my work:

High-end restaurant bar prompt included: “Dark walnut wood shelving, black marble bar top with subtle white veining, brass foot rail, brass pendant lights, polished brass liquor bottles display”

The combination of warm wood, dramatic stone, and warm metal created this incredibly rich, luxurious space. If I’d just said “wood shelves, stone bar, metal lights,” it would’ve been completely different.

The specificity test:

Close your eyes. I say “marble bathroom.” What do you see? Could be anything, right?

Now: “Honed Carrara marble bathroom with brushed brass fixtures.” Can you see it now? That’s the power of specific material descriptions.

Exercise time:

Look at a kitchen or bathroom photo. Identify:

1. The stone type and finish
2. The metal finishes (there are usually multiple)
3. Any other hard surfaces

Practice naming what you see. That muscle memory will make your prompts so much better.

Remember: Materials aren’t just functional choices—they’re emotional ones. Brass feels different than chrome. Marble reads different than concrete. Your material descriptions tell AI not just what things are made of, but what they should feel like.

Alright, we’ve covered metals and stone. Now let’s talk about something that brings all these materials together: color…