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Hardware Help; am I mixing in too many metals?

13 years ago

So I posted earlier that I've ordered emerald pearl granite, white cabinets with mostly glass uppers, stainless appliances sink and faucet. I thought I was going to go with black or oil rubbed bronze hardware. This weekend when I was ordering my granite I was shown some antique/weathered brass hardware and it actually looked really nice with the granite. My floor plan is very open and the hardware will be used not only in my kitchen, but on cabinets being built on one wall in my breakfast nook which will serve as a buffet, and also on cabinets being built above my wet bar in the family room. The family room has a ceiling fan with orb and antique brass, lamps are a weathered looking gold color, but the chandelier I just bought for my breakfast nook is very dark (almost black) orb.

I have brass throughout the house as the house was built in 1986. I thought about changing all those shiny doorknobs to antique brass as well (or orb).

Question is Is this just too many different finishes going on or is it okay to mix it up? I'm starting to feel like those expensive stainless appliances I've ordered are going to be the white elephant is the room.

Would appreciate any suggestions, opinions, pictures. Thanks

Diane

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Comments (5)

lascatx
13 years ago
Since you already have antique brass and ORB and seem to be happy with them, I think you can go with either. Keep in mind that your appliances are cooking tools and the hardware is the decoration -- the jewelry. They shouldn't fight each other, but they don't have to match.
hortonbrass
13 years ago
Our blog has two articles specifically about mixing metals. Search for our name and blog if you are interested. The sidebar tag "mixed metals" will show you the articles.
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I don't think so at all - you could definitely go with chrome in the bathroom. One resource I've used to see what may be considered 'acceptable' is the Houzz website. They've got thousands of remodel pictures, most of which were done by designers/architects - I have noticed that there are a lot of high end homes with ORB door knobs, but chrome in the bathrooms. Lots of postings also have pictures for other rooms, so you can see how they've carried out whole house remodels and what finishes they used throughout. Hope that helps - just my opinion! Here is a link that might be useful: Houzz website
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I am somewhat in the same boat. I did polished brass everywhere in my 1998 colonial. I didn't want to go ORB for my redecorating because I have white cabinets everywhere and thought it was too much of a contrast. I haven't hung them yet but I am replacing all my brass lighting with antique bronze-ish (using Murray Feiss Coventry Castle & Minka Lavery Belcaro lines). I switched my cabinet knobs to Cifial's French Bronze finish. They are a soft gold color with black antiquing in the grooves. They blend with the polished brass. I priced new faucets in Cifial French bronze and well, let's just say the polished brass will stay for a while.
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Did you go to Elizpiz's album so you could see all of her photos and enlarge them? I have several coats of Waterlox on my wood island top. It is a wonderful finish and I have no worries about how it will hold up to the water around the sink. (I am always creating a lake around our sink, and we have kids who cook and bake, so aren't the most careful and neat either.) Our sink could be undermount or self-rimming and we did the self-rimming, feeling it was safer with the wood (and to match our main sink, which was self-rimming because of being in a laminate counter.) Many people here, though, have done undermount in a wood counter. If we did that, I would have made sure to also finish the under side of the wood for a good radius around the sink opening.
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If you like the copper, get the copper! Personally, I love the metallic warmth of copper here and there in a house. Yes, white would be safe. But would you smile when you look at it?
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dldl
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions/opinions. Still up in the air, but appreciate the input. I had another suggestion that I paint knobs white to match cabs for more of a cottage feel. Curious about opinions on that idea.
lavender_lass
13 years ago
I have something similar planned for my kitchen, combining antique brass and wrought iron, rather than ORB, but with a similar effect. I'm not doing stainless steel appliances, but the white appliances often have stainless accents.

Since most of your antique brass is not right in the kitchen work area and it sounds like you may be using ORB for a transition between the two...I think it will look very nice. White would be fine, too and would probably go very well with any of the other finishes you mentioned, since it's such a great neutral :)
dldl
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks lavender lass for your input. Have you posted pics of your kitchen? I'd love to see it!

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