MIXING METAL FINISHES

Often times, when we look at a space or piece of art, we might recognize that it looks beautiful but can’t quite put our finger on what makes it that way. Is it the colors? Or maybe the layout? What’s ultimately pleasing to our eye is a whole serious of elements that come together and create harmony. When we design a space, the end result is the culmination of many decisions made along the way which result in a cohesive design. One of these elements being metal finishes.

Without realizing it, you’ve probably walked into many spaces or seen photos of spaces that just feel more “custom” or designed than others. One (not so) sneaky trick that designers use to achieve that custom look is mixing metal finishes. You may have heard us talk about our distaste for furniture sets, which tend to make a room feel stale and too matchy-matchy. We feel the same way about using the same hardware finish throughout an entire home. Instead of sticking to one metal, we suggest picking 2-3 coordinating finishes that you can alternate between in any given room. By doing this, you create variety and interest in your home.

Keep in mind that you should consider the undertones of the finishes when curating your assortment. For example: Brass, nickel and copper all have warm undertones. Chrome on the other hand is cool. Black finishes are neutral and go with most any other finish. It may be helpful to select one finish that will be your dominate finish throughout, and then use the remaining 1-2 finishes as accents that you sprinkle in for statement pieces like a light fixture.

Not sure where to start?

Take this coffee bar for example. Here we paired beautiful antique brass sconces with polished nickel accents. The polished nickel faucet, knobs and pulls help to balance the strong statement created by the dominant finish of the sconces.

Here’s another example of this classic combination of brass and nickel. For this room we took into consideration the finish of this client’s appliances. Had we selected matte black knobs instead of polished nickel, this room would have taken on a completely different feel. The subtleness of the finishes selected instead help to create a much softer look with less overall contrast.

Make it stand out

Sometimes bold is better! If you’re trying to make a statement with your hardware, pick one place to do it. In this powder room, we chose a matte black faucet to be the focal point and let the mirror recede into the background with the softer finishes present in the rest of the room.

a match made in heaven

Here are some of our favorite combinations to play with in your own home:

Matte Black + Chrome

Black has a neutral undertone that works with nearly any other finish. We particularly love the crisp + clean vibe when paired with the cool undertones of chrome.

Polished Nickel + Aged Brass

Both of these finishes have warm undertones that make for a heritage feel. You can’t go wrong with this classic duo!

Brass + Plaster White

A little bit old, with a little bit new. This unexpected pair provides the perfect amount of juxtaposition by combining the cleanness of a bright white with “aged to perfection” brass.

Share your favorite metal combinations in the comments below!