Nature reimagined

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Reshaping architectural design with coatings that mimic wood, stone and metal in stunning detail. 

This episode of MetalCast™ explores the groundbreaking possibilities of Sherwin-Williams Emulate™ Architectural Metal Coatings. Host Karen Edwards sat down with Kiki Redhead and Brynn Wildenaur to discuss how this collection brings natural aesthetics to architecture, offering enhanced durability and limitless creativity. 

While the Emulate collection captures attention with its wood and stone designs, the metal coatings stand out as a bold exploration of modern trends. One notable highlight is a faux perforated leaf pattern inspired by biophilic design. “What we decided to do was join the two together and design a faux perforated leaf pattern, which is very unique and interesting. It's really beautiful,” says Brynn. Featuring options with mica accents, this design is as visually stunning as it is versatile. 

Another standout in the metal collection is the hammered texture. Brynn describes it as having “one of those you want to go up and touch, because it just looks so realistic without distracting from the other materials on a facade.” This attention to detail reflects the design team’s expertise in balancing visual depth with natural mimicry. 

The conversation revealed how the versatility of Emulate coatings inspires unexpected applications. Beyond traditional exterior facades, architects are envisioning these designs for spaces like elevator interiors, terrazzo ceilings and retaining walls in parking structures. As Kiki notes, “Instead of feeling like you're in a concrete jungle when you're parking, all of a sudden you feel like you have this relationship with nature and landscape all around you.” 

Durability remains a core feature of the collection. Built on Sherwin-Williams’ proven coating systems, Emulate offers long-lasting performance. As Brynn explains, “The wonderful thing about our Emulate program is that it's using our coatings that have been tried-and-true for a very long time… Those have been in the market for a long time [and] have been tested rigorously, over and over and over again.” 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about Sherwin-Williams’ Emulate collection!