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Mixing matte bronze light fixture w/satin nickel cabinet hardware

12 years ago

I'm not a mixy matchy person at all. But does anyone see a style issue in using a pendant lamp that has a matte bronze fixture-top and rod (white milkglass shade) with cabinetry that has satin nickel pulls? Further, would the existence of satin nickel pulls make you shy away from a chrome faucet or not at all? Cabinets are old and white, walls nearly so, floors pretty and dark wood, countertops the palest lemon matte tile so they blend in really well with the white.

The satin nickel pulls are pretty small and discreet, and the lamp I had in mind is this, to keep it nonmodern looking:

http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/fixtures-detail.asp?FixtureID=20&all=0

My rationale is that the matte bronze is going to look antiquey and inobtrusive and is about the same color as the wood floor. I don't think that fixture and shade would have the same charm if I went satin nickel with the finish.

(Kitchenette table is off-white with off-white French country chairs.)

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Comments (3)

flwrs_n_co
12 years ago
I think it would look fine. I'm not a particularly matchy person either. I'm pretty sure I'm going to mix finishes in my reno, too. And, I should add, I love the schoolhouse fixture.
Jbrig
12 years ago
That is actually similar to what I'm planning: bronze lighting fixtures and brushed satin cab hardware. I've seen quite a few similar kitchens w/ this arrangement. If you haven't already, you can view tons of kitchens of other Garden Web Kitchen forum members at the Finished Kitchen Blog.

Here is a link that might be useful: Finished Kitchens Blog (FKB)
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bumping this up. Anyone out there who's actually done what I'm proposing? My California migrated lighting designer-who's helped me immensely on many kitchen design issues, is a bit more of a purist on finishes. My notes of our early discussion show he suggested hardware in satin or stainless steel for their sheen but not brushed nickel which is more matte. Antique nickel, brass, antique (aged) bronze etc was also high, polished nickel not so much. Also, I recently saw a "what's new in 2013 kitchens" and it said popular hardware are satin, orb, some brass, but not seeing as much polished. If you know of a "bright" satin cabinet hardware maker, please do share. A lot might depend on the base metal in the collection. :/ Thanks again.
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A quick search on Houzz will show lots of pictures with mixed finishes. The first two below have ORB light fixtures and chrome/brushed nickel plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware. The last picture has chrome plumbing fixtures and ORB light fixtures and cabinet hardware. IMO all these combinations look good. I am typically a "matchy/matchy" person but wanted chrome plumbing fixtures in my house and prefer ORB light fixtures to chrome light fixtures for some reason. So I have spent hours looking at pictures with mixed finishes and reading design blogs/home building forums and have come to the conclusion that there are no "rules" on this and it is really a matter of personal taste.
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Thanks, everyone! Copper would definitely be a great complement to the oil rubbed bronze, but unfortunately, it's not one of our "builder grade" options. I also love polished nickel - it has a warmer tone that would probably complement ORB better, but it's pricier and more difficult to coordinate with our options throughout the home. I do agree that black and oil rubbed bronze can work together - in fact, our front door is a black metal double door with oil rubbed bronze edging. I do have some brushed gold decor items/accents that I will incorporate (i.e. an etagere, end tables, etc.), but I think we are still limited to some combination of ORB/brushed nickel or ORB/chrome for our kitchen faucet, cabinet hardware, and lighting. So which of those is better? Brushed nickel or chrome?
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Yes, no one can look at both and take the time to be picky about it lol. You will be the ones who notice things more than anyone. And after the dust settles most of the time you wont even think about it anymore. Side note I dont think you need contrast on your cabinet pulls, a brushed brass would be really pretty with bronze..just a thought.
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cinnamonsworld
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you both, and flwrs_n_co, that Schoolhouse Electric site is amazing, lots of lovely simple things. Someone on another messages forum mentioned it to me.

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