Never thought I’d dig gold — too many associations with 1990s decor, rope chains and Donald Trump.

But recent designs are changing my stubborn mind. 2012 marks the year I’ve purchased gold-edged ivory enamel picture frames, two gold paper-lined white lampshades and a clear glass candle votive with gold triangles. Why am I a golden girl all of the sudden?

Gold beats silver in the warmth department, casting a happy glow. And today’s gold doesn’t have that loud yellow-orange hue of yesteryear’s door knobs and faucets we’ve been replacing. It’s toned down with brown, making it more palatable.

Chilewich’s new gold placemats caught my eye at chilewich.com. Founded by textiles designer Sandy Chilewich in New York City, the company is known for its woven vinyl placemats and table runners. They’re a good grown-up-looking solution for those of us with messy kids because the surfaces simply wipe clean. Through its 15-year history, Chilewich textiles have mostly been black, beige, gray and silver. But gold is a fairly new introduction as more people like me are warming up to it.

Chilewich’s gold categories:

Pressed Gilt features a naturally distressed and timeworn feel through the use of spot printing with metallic foils. The gold printing technique on top of a black base evokes the feel of an ancient textile. It’s for indoor and outdoor use. Placemat (14 by 19 inches), $10; runner (14 by 72 inches), $40.

Metallic Lace looks like real metal. The open abstract netting is “metalized” contemporary lace. Placemat (13 by 18 inches), $30; runner (13 by 70 inches), $100.

Pressed Dahlia, with open lace cutwork, acts more like a charger than a placemat.. Indoor/outdoor placemat (14.25 by 15.25 inches), $10.

Lately, even gold flatware looks appealing. I’d commit to a few serving pieces but not replacing my spoons, knives and forks. Too Donald.