Brio Project / Alyssa Ence Photography
We get asked a lot of questions about metal mixing in the kitchen. Between hardware, faucets, lighting, and appliances there are a lot of finishes to choose from and ensuring a cohesive look can be overwhelming. Today we are answering your metal mixing questions and showing how we do it in our designs!
Q: I love brass hardware, but what about my stainless steel fridge?
Aveituna Project / Autumn Grace Photography
This is a common concern with our brass loving clients. If you do not want a mixed metal look, there are options. You can go with white and brass appliances (check out our Double Eagle Project) or you can use a panel-ready refrigerator to match your cabinetry (see Amber Fillerup Clark Kitchen). But we also love to embrace the metal mix. Here in our Aveituna project, we used all brass for the fixtures and hardware, but chose stainless steel for the appliances. The look works as another layer of contrasting warm and cool tones.
Q: Should my lighting match my hardware? What about my faucet?
Villa Bonita Project / Alyssa Ence Photography
Metal mixing with lighting is our favorite way to get the mixed metal look. Let the lighting make a statement in a color of it’s own, but make the look feel intentional by pulling in the same finish somewhere else in the kitchen. In our Villa Bonita kitchen, brass lighting contrasts with chrome hardware and faucets but is balanced by the barstools.
When we transformed this kitchen from Tuscan to coastal, we decided to keep the previous sink faucet. It had been updated since the original build, and trashing it seemed a waste. Although we selected brushed brass for the cabinetry hardware, the chrome faucet works with the stainless appliances.
Q: Can I mix more than two metal finishes?
Yes! In both our Arboles and Torina projects, we mixed black, brass, and silver. There are a few ways you can make this look intentional and not messy. One option is to let your metals define each category. In Arboles, our appliances are stainless steel, lighting is brass, and hardware + faucet are matte black.
In Torina, we visually divided the space in thirds with the upper half dark lighting, middle level chrome/stainless steel faucet and range, and the lower portion of the room brass cabinetry hardware.
Q: Is metal mixing a trend that will go out of style?
Summit Creek Project / Rebekah Westover Photography
Design is constantly evolving, with trending ideas going in and out of style. Hardware is no exception. However, a mixed metal look works in all styles, all budgets, and although it adds interest to a space, it doesn’t dominate like many other trends. We think it’s a look to love and will stick around.
We love to answer your design questions. Anything you wish we would write about? Comment below!
Happy Monday!
Xxo
Becki
Thanks so much, I love all the examples you gave, it really helped to visualise what the mixed metals look like together.