Assuming you use a very dark, almost black, ORB, I see no reason why you can't mix it with other finishes. I know other posters will disagree with my position, but I have ORB door handles throughout my home mixed mostly with polished nickel bathroom and kitchen hardware. In the kitchen, I also have ORB knobs on my cabinet doors and drawers mixed with stainless steel appliances. Because ORB is generally matte in tone, I think it mixes well with other shiny finishes.

Does this mean that all of the other finishes in the rooms need to be ORB too?

It absolutely does not! You can absolutely mix hardware finishes. What you can't mix well inside one room is 'moods' or feelings. If you're going for a charming old-fashioned look, don't go for 'sleek' hardware just because the color is the same.

I agree with the other posters....just make sure your hinges match your knobs. That is the only thing that I am vigilant about :-).

sweeby is 100% correct. Though I PREFER in MOST cases for the finishes to be consistent, mixing the finishes can also create interest. I'm seeing more & more mixed finishes in shelter mags.

~Jeana

In my last house I replaced the rag-tag mixture of knobs with some really dark ORB. In 2 bathrooms (1940's chrome fixtures still shining bright) the ORB bronze bugged me so I bought a set of silver knobs and split the set up so that from the hall side, the ORB knob matched all the others in the hall, while from the bathroom side you saw silver.

So that's another option if the ORB bugs you in your bathrooms.

On the other hand, I had ORB in the kitchen with silver finishes everywhere and that never bothered me and I'm planning to do the same in this house.

I think you idea sounds fine.

I have a mix in my house. All our doorknobs are builder brass and while I don't like them, they have to stay for now. So in our one bathroom, for example, I have ORB light bars with white globes, ORB curtain rod, chrome faucets, chrome & white knobs on the vanity, chrome shower curtain and towel bar. It may sound like a mess but I think it's cohesive. Enough for me anyhow. :)

We are building a new house and I have been wrestling with this same question. (I LOVE Emtek's Old Town crystal knobs, which come in a myriad of finishes and can be found online for 30-40% off the suggested retail.) I was flipping through a magazine last week with a big spread on Sarah Richardson's farmhouse and I realized that was exactly the look I wanted. She mixed finishes beautifully in her house. Her hinges and rectangular door rosettes are either dark oil rubbed bronze or matte black with white porcelain knobs and she has distressed gold, oil rubbed bronze, wood and painted light fixtures throughout the house. The bathrooms have silver finish bath hardware and most of the curtain rods are dark. Everything has a collected over time, not matchy matchy look to it. Gorgeous!

Happyafwife, would you mind telling me which magazine had the spread on Sarah Richardson's farmhouse? That is my all-time favorite HGTV "house."

Thanks so much.

Thank you all for your replies! It looks like I am safe to use different finishes as long as the styles are similar. Thank you, thank you!! :)

bird_lover6, the new HGTV magazine (Oct/Nov)has a feature on Sarah's farnhouse (it was great to see what it looks like lived in!) and last November the Canadian magazine House & Home did a huge spread on the farmhouse showing it in all its holiday glory. Back issues are available on their website for $9 plus $9 shipping. Totally worth it; the pictures are incredible and the picture of Sarah's daughter on the front is adorable. Here's a link to the back issue page: http://houseandhome.com/magazine/2010-5

We just custom built a new home, and worked with an interior designer. She said it is absolutely fine to mix finishes. We used ORB egg-shaped door knobs and hinges, and used satin nickel in some baths, antique nickel in some baths, and satin nickel for kitchen hardware. I really love it!

Nini,
What brand of door knobs did you use? We are considering ORB egg-shaped.