Stainless steel has had its time to shine. As cold winter months close in, warm metals like gold, copper and bronze are elbowing their cooler cousins out of the spotlight.

From runways and makeup kits to kitchens and home accents, metallics are taking on a warmer glow.

"We've certainly seen it in not only the obvious appliance direction, but in the kitchen, in housewares, in pots and other things people use in their homes," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

She considers it a nod to the warm, nurturing feeling those colors give off, and notes that they blend with warmer wall tones in the cheery red, orange and yellow families.

"I think people have gotten much more experimental with the colors that they're using and understand the psychology behind it better than ever before," she says.

Here are some examples:

* Copper shade pendants by Tom Dixon ($450 each) http://www.tomdixon.net

* Gold Glass Table Turnings from West Elm ($19) http://www.westelm.com

* Bobbi Brown shimmer brick compact in bronze ($38) http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com

* Sierra Copper Towels, by Avanti for Bed Bath & Beyond ($8.99-$19.99) http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com

* Calvin Klein Home Burnished Metal budvase and large vase ($40-$120) http://www.calvinklein.com/home

* Jenn-Air oiled bronze refrigerator ($2999) http://www.jennair.com/

* Michael Kors gold brocade top, available Spring 2008 http://www.michaelkors.com

* Crate & Barrel copper ball ornament ($4.95) http://www.crateandbarrel.com

* Chocolate Gold polished round hoop earrings, QVC ($112) http://www.qvc.com

* notNeutral Designers' Gilt No. 3 plate ($76) http://www.notneutral.com

* Maya Romanoff True Metals in speckled copper metal tiles ($28.50 per square foot tile) http://www.mayaromanoff.com