Mixing metals in a room?

15 years ago

A few years ago I decreed that all antique brass in the house would be replaced by satin nickel, and I made all the obvious inexpensive changes to door handles and such. Now I'm attracted to the shiny aspect of polished nickel on light fixtures, in bathroom fixtures, and such. Would it be frowned upon by the Decor Police to have both in one room? I am 100% certain that I don't want to replace door handles with smudge-attracting polished nickel that will drive me crazy, but only about 80% certain that I'll mix in some polished nickel light fixtures (dining room, hallway, miscellaneous) and bathroom fixtures.

Featured Answer

bigdoglover

15 years ago

I agree with everyone that mixing is good and gives more interest and less cookie-cutter look, except in extreme cases like the gold faucet shannon mentioned. Go for it!

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Comments (11)

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
15 years ago
I don't see a thing wrong with having a mix. In fact, it will add interest to have different textures. I think a lot of us are too concerned about having everything match and not making a mistake, and we end up with boring houses.
patricianat
15 years ago
Having everything match really does say "volume price, contractor discount, subdivision, track housing." Don't you think it is just way more interesting to have some mix and match instead of all matchy-match.
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pbrisjar
15 years ago
It better be OK. Our house will be a mix of nickels and stainless.
Shannon01
15 years ago
My bro was extremely disturbed my the doorhandles not matching the fixtures. He even changed out every single hinge in the house to match. I did agree that one bath had gold fixture in sink but the tp and towel racks were silver. That looked really out of place. He changed faucet and now it looks right. I personally think it just depends on the room/house.
sue36
15 years ago
I will mix by but stay with the same warm or cool tone in a room (antique brass with regular brass; polished nickel or chrome with brushed nickel or stainless).

My mudroom has polished nickel lighting and brushed nickel knobs specifically due to the finger print issue. Although, you can avoid the finger print issue if you do glass knobs, which I have in many rooms. But glass knobs may not be right in your house (my house is traditional).
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
15 years ago
I think it helps to keep some things consistent. For instance, I have all brass (old and shiny) in my house: light fixtures, hinges, doorknobs, faucets, lamps, etc but add different metals as accent pieces. There are silver and pewter items all over the house and and several accent lamps are a brushed stainless. One is a dark brass- orb- I suppose.
However, the overall coordinating metal is brass, which I like very much. Some of the pieces are very beautiful and old and nothing is cheap looking. I hope not anyway!
uxorial
15 years ago
Standing in my great room, I can see at least six different metals, although most of the door and window hardware is black. My bathroom sinks have gold faucets, but also other metals (black, chrome) nearby.

My home is definitely not a "matched" type of decor. The Decor Police would have a busy day here!
moonkat99
15 years ago
I guess I would be tossed in Decor Jail, probably w/o even a trial. Each individual room in my house has 2 metals (or more), & I've probably got pretty much all of the known metals somewhere in the house.

Except ORB. No orb. Do I get an extra penalty for that? ;-D

I do get the concept of consistency, but my personal style doesn't really lend itself to having every room look the same. I crave variety!
bluekitobsessed
Original Author
15 years ago
Okay, I guess the Decor Police will give me a "get out of bland jail free card," and thanks y'all for the reassurance!
patricianat
15 years ago
It's knowing how and when to mix the metals and give it that traditional look of heritage and time passing.

Remember the beautiful hotel that Renofan posted here recently from her stay in Charleston? I have stayed in that same hotel on the conceigere level and other floors, and all the bathrooms for the suites we had, had mixed metals and it was done so well and so pleasingly as well as different stones in the suites.