The choices you make regarding the hardware and the other metal finishes in your kitchen can completely alter its style. Some people choose oil rubbed bronze for old world flair, others opt for the timelessness of satin nickel or stainless steel finishes, while yet others pick polished nickel or chrome for modern, contemporary style. The questions often arise, when you fall in love with satin nickel pulls and vintage brass light fixtures. What happens then? Is it okay to mix metal finishes in your new kitchen? The answer is yes! You can mix metal finishes, so today, let’s learn how to do it well.   

Mixing metal finishes in the kitchen is not new, though it is certainly making a comeback now, as consumers seek to showcase their personal style in their kitchen design. A complementary mix of metals amid fixtures and hardware delivers a unique, welcoming design that is all your own. A poem once reminded, variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour. Well, what better place to add a little flavour than in your new kitchen? Make your design decisions based on what moves you when choosing your new kitchen hardware, fixtures, appliances, and lighting. After all you’ll be spending lots of time there, so why not enjoy the environment you’ve created. 

Considering your Mixed Metal Finishes – A Few Timeless Tips

There are lots of ways to mix it up in the kitchen, so here are some well-loved, complementary options for your new kitchen design. The goal should be a balance of metal finishes which draw the eyes from one to another for a unified, yet distinctive effect. Consider limiting your mixes to various stations in your kitchen in an artsy blend of your favorites. Also, try to repeat finishes, with multiple components in the same finish. For example, choose stainless steel appliances with a brushed stainless steel faucet and light fixtures combined with complementary oil-rubbed bronze elements like cabinet pulls and knobs, door handles, and even decorative cooking pans and utensils.

Polished nickel plays well with the newest soft, brushed golds, as well as oil-rubbed bronze and classic copper. You could try polished nickel sink fixtures with oil-rubbed hinges and pulls, adding copper light fixtures to balance the look. Another option with similar design might include stainless steel appliances with brushed gold pendant lighting, and oil-rubbed bronze hardware.

Given the contrasting cabinetry trend, mixing metals is evolving alongside the changes. If you feel, too much metal mixing may be over-the-top, consider incorporating contrasting cabinetry finishes with different metal finished hardware as an accompaniment. For example, add brushed nickel pulls and knobs to white cabinetry, with oil-rubbed bronze hardware accenting a wood-stained island. You could also use brushed nickel hardware on a dark painted island, with oil-rubbed bronze pulls and knobs on timeless white cabinetry. 

If you want to mix metals and simply aren’t sure the direction to go, calling on a designer might be the answer. Designers can guide you in the selection of options which will harmonize beautifully giving your kitchen the warmth and style you desire. Some designer trends to watch right now include brushed nickel fixtures, stainless steel appliances, alongside oil-rubbed bronze hardware and lighting. Warm brass finishes are coming back into vogue and are being paired seamlessly with brushed nickel by fashion-forward kitchen designers. If you want to try this trendy pair, you might consider brass hardware on cabinetry combined with brushed nickel plumbing fixtures. Another unexpected combination of metal finishes which pairs well includes polished nickel fixtures with bronze lighting and cabinet hardware. And don’t forget the always classic and beautiful pairing of stainless steel and copper.