I received an email recently asking about cabinet hardware and what finish she should choose and it got me thinking about the art of mixing metal finishes.
Generally speaking, you have two choices:
Match everything to death, *YAWN*.
This is the equivalent of buying a suite of matching furniture off the showroom floor at a furniture store (which is a definite NO if you want a well designed home).
It screams, “I’m afraid I’ll make the wrong decisions, I just want it done.”
OR
You can mix different finishes. This results in a curated look that is far more dynamic. BUT there is a fine line between curated and chaotic!
Too many finishes, scattered about willy-nilly doesn’t look artless, it looks thought-less, as if you weren’t really paying attention and just bought random stuff with abandon and threw it all together to co-exist hoping it would do so peacefully.
Editing choices to create a curated look is one of the biggest contributions a skilled designer brings to the party!
Sure, we know all about colors and undertones, fabrics and furniture construction, finishes, codes and ergonomics, and a zillion numbers for appropriate distances and sizes…but creating a great design is alchemy…part science and part art. It is born from a combination of experience, knowledge, and intuition.
That said,
here are a few guidelines that can help when mixing finishes:
Repeat the finish in more than one element.
A table with gilded iron legs might echo the same finish tone in a lantern fixture or picture frame, for example. A polished nickel or chrome bathroom faucet might be paired with mercury glass accent pieces and brass cabinet hardware and sconces.
I like to use chrome for bath faucets and shower fittings because it is a classic that will hold up and never look dated. But mixing in some gold tones in other metals in the bathroom (sconces, hardware, mirrors) is a nice way to add some elegance and warmth.
The bath in the above image uses exactly that formula, and the gold against the black cabinetry and mosaic tile feature wall is stunning. I can’t wait to get back to get official photos of that project now that it is finished!
Notice that in this stunning kitchen, stainless appliances and faucets are beautifully mixed with brass cabinet hardware and brass accented pendants. Brass foot rests and nailheads were also selected for the custom counter stools. More of this kitchen HERE
Spread the repeating finish around the room
Much the same way we sprinkle accent colors in a space, spread the finish around the room to create a pleasing rhythm. Don’t segregate all the silver stuff on one side of the room and all the gold-toned finishes on the other like they were having a fight!
In this Boston condo kitchen project we mixed silver toned appliances and faucets with vintage antique brass pin pulls and knobs found at an antique store. The gold and bronze tones of the hardware are echoed in the gilt framing and bronze chandelier.
Black iron or nearly black bronze works as a neutral
A touch of black is always appropriate, and a bit of black-finished metal in a curtain rod, cabinet hardware, furniture, or lighting plays well with almost any other finish.
In this gorgeous sunroom project (which we saw before in THIS curtain post), we combined black iron custom rods and a brass floor lamp. The Baker side table is a combination of black iron legs and with brass accents, and an antiqued silver mirror top set in a black iron gallery rail.
Limit yourself to 2 or 3 metal finishes
There are exceptions, of course. But sticking with 2 or at most 3 colors of metal is a safe bet.
You might also want to try mixing shiny with more matte finishes i.e. polished nickel or chrome with gilded iron. Natural brass with stainless steel.
If you have an element that integrates two finishes, like a stainless steel hood with brass accents, or two tone lighting or cabinet hardware, even better!
Below are a few favorite metallic accent selections, from tiny martini tables to pendant lanterns. Click on each image for more information.
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