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Nickel or Rubbed Bronze hardware w/ light maple cabinets?

Amy Short-Jones

15 years ago

I have been pouring over all the beautiful kitchens that have been completed and posted on this forum and I've seen so many that I would love to move right into. I love the monochromatic look of creamy white cabinets and counter tops with polished or brushed nickel hardware. The problem I'm having is that I have light colored maple cabinets and they will have to stay that way. I've been to the granite yard and the granite that I really liked was giallo ornamentale - it looks really nice with my cabinets. I was thinking of a cream colored subway tile for the backsplash and the floors are already a light taupish tile. My appliances are bisque color except for a black dishwasher and there is some black on my stove. The small amount of remaining wall space and the attached dining area will likely be painted a dark red/rusty color at the suggestion of you helpful folks:)

Given the backdrop that I've put together, would it look nice with nickel hardware and lighting (two pendants over the island and some type of chandelier over the dining table) or would it look modern? I have found several inspiration kitchens with similar choices to what I have listed above that have rubbed bronze hardware so I know that it will look nice that way but it's just not what I'm hoping for. I've also considered the possibility of nickel hardware for cabinets and rubbed bronze for the light fixtures...

I'm excited about the choices I've made so far, but I am completely open to suggestions. Thanks everyone!!

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Comments (4)

lightlystarched
15 years ago
I just have to laugh at your phrasing: Will nickel look nice or will it look modern? It can look nice *and* modern, lol. I think it depends on the hardware style. Simple and sleek will convey modern, but you can get something more ornamental, a la Christopher Peacock for a more traditional look. Get the metal you like most.
Amy Short-Jones
Original Author
15 years ago
Of course I meant will it look nice with the more traditional look I'm going for or will the hardware create a more modern look :) Most of the kitchens that I have seen in the galleries that have light maple and polished nickel or chrome hardware look more modern to me overall not necessarily because of the hardware. I would like to use cup pulls for the drawers and then maybe something more ornamental for the doors. I think the lighting decision will be the trickiest of all for me, I'm so indecisive!
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I, too, am having this problem. Our cabinets are on order, yeah, antique white with a glaze and medium color hickory cabinets on the island. Have looked at granite and are set on a cream/brown wavy one(can't think of the name). Plan on using cup pulls and knobs with a small detail around the edge. We are having quite a few drawers so lots of pulls. Our appliances are SS have a white not brite white farm house sink and a stainless faucet. I do agree that ORB would look great on the white cabinets. How about the hickory cabinets? What about light fixtures? Plan on having pendants over the island. Our dining room is connected. Tearing down the wall that seperates the 2 rooms-making the kitchen larger. I mention this because should the light fixture match the kitchens light fixtures, in style and in metal finish? The more I ponder this the more confused I get. Can't wait to work on ideas for a backsplash. ;-) Thanks for your help and input, norma
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Thank you sprtphntc...gorgeous color cabinets-kitchen. In your 1st photo,(upclose) the hardware looks totally pewter or matt silver though not ORB...Can you explain...As I need rich very dark (but not black)ORB matte real iron/metal. I initially though matte black to go with our handmade black custom potrack, wroight iron stair wells etc..and not be matchy matchy with hardware but the black didn't look good with my sample wood and so I'll have no contrast but go with dark ORB. LOVE the look. I am so thankful I found this page/thread..Apparently I'm not doing what is the trend but I go with what I love which tends to be timeless IMHO, traditional with rustic leanings.
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I think you are good to go with the darker ORB pulls/hardware. I think it will look beautiful and won't steal the focus of the show. Satin nickel is to light and will pop out too much. (My opinion); and it looks like the other comments are in agreement - including the sample kitchen from Shenandoah: http://shenandoahcabinetry.com/sites/prod.shenandoahcabinetry.com/files/imagecache/Glamour_Image_Main/images/mckinley/glamour_images/k-lw-36msc-horz-14.jpg - I've got the Shenandoah Maple Mocha Glaze (Breckenridge) and decided to go with the ORBs
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Patricia, thank you for the feedback. If I could ask one more question. First, I said our cabinets are going to be Agreeable gray, but they are SW Repose Gray. I am not sure I am liking the Repose and Anew grays together. We will have a ton of natural light in our house, so that may make the colors look totally different once installed. Would appreciate your opinion. Thanks for your time. ( I didn't know making all these choices would be so hard.)
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remodelfla
15 years ago
Brushed nickel cup pulls should look quite quaint.
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
I love brushed nickel, cup pulls, maple cabinets, and traditional/cottage kitchens! You can start with the Rejuvenation or RH catalogs for some ideas, both of which have lots of brushed nickel traditional designs, and post here for feedback.

FWIW, I was able to mix in some antique pewter finish country themed knobs in to the brushed nickel everything else. So don't rule out that finish.

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