Although aesthetics may be the primary reason for adopting a copper kitchen design for some, using this kind of metal actually has more advantages than one might think.
First off, copper requires little to no maintenance.
It's durable - which means repairs and replacements won't be an immediate concern - it doesn't rust, and it doesn't corrode.
Considering that most if not all of food handling and preparation happens in the kitchen, the two latter qualities mentioned will have you worrying less about food contamination - especially if you're planning on using copper range hoods, sinks and countertops.
The major benefit of using this kitchen design, however, is not visible to the naked eye.
Going back to food contamination and hygiene, copper is actually antimicrobial in nature, making it ideal for food preparation.
Whereas copper can kill certain bacteria, stainless steel, in comparison, shows no degree of having bactericidal properties.
To explain further: E.
Coli, a potent and highly infectious bacterium that causes diarrhea, among other more severe symptoms, is killed just after 1-2 hours on copper.
Inversely, E.
Coli can survive for weeks on a stainless steel surface.
Naturally, the first thing one would notice about a copper kitchen design is, precisely, its design.
And having one that kills bacteria isn't a bad idea either.
It now just becomes a matter of perspective: Are you looking for antimicrobial elements in your kitchen that just happen to look great, or are you after a warm and classic looking kitchen that just happens to have antimicrobial properties? Either way, it's a good deal.