skip to main content

Mixed bathroom fixture finish confusion

Jill Coopersmith

6 years ago

As mentioned in a post in the kitchen forum we are recovering from severe water damage in our home (burst waterline). All of our floors were removed and the drywall was flood-cut in all rooms throughout the house. Among other things, we have to replace our bathroom vanities and counter tops, but the original (2008) shower, tub, and toilets remain in tact.

We have already selected cabinetry and counter tops. We are going with dark maple glazed vanities and cultured marble tops which are mostly white with some pale gray and pale salmon swirls. I have my heart set on oil-rubbed bronze faucets and cabinet door/drawer pulls, but everything else in the bathroom is brushed nickel.

The bathtub drain, trip lever, tub filler, and shower controls are brushed nickel. I know I can change the shower head, and I might even be able to change the mixer and the tub filler, but it doesn't seem much sense to have a rubbed bronze shower head when he drain and trip lever are brushed nickel.

The existing towel bars are builder-grade white porcelain and the vanity light fixture is brushed nickel - these can be easily changed, and I want to. But I just can't figure out how much mixing of finishes is okay and where I should draw the line.

I was thinking about using rubbed bronze for the vanity faucet, pulls, light, towel bars, and toilet paper holder, and leaving the brushed nickel finishes in the shower/bath.

I am second guessing myself... my toilet flusher is chrome and my doorknobs are brushed nickel... haha... every time I think about it another item surfaces that I need to consider... the shower curtain rod... the light switch plates...

Please help me figure this out! Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

enduring
6 years ago
If it's real brushed nickel it will have a warm finish, and look ok with the bronze IMHO. Brushed and polished stainless steel is less warm, but still warmer than chrome. You will need to see the actual products in real life to determine the look. I have chrome fixtures and lights, and I have a darkish steel for my mirror (Hubberton Forge) and vanity knobs (Amerock). I also have a stand alone cabinet with black knobs (HD). It all looks great. It is all cool in tone. My grab bars are polished stainless steel and are ever so slightly warmer than the chrome bath fixture.

Once every thing is in place, you won't notice. But I would go for either a warm look or cool look in your fixtures.
Jill Coopersmith
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks enduring! I appreciate the feedback and advice!

I had a conversation with someone the other day who told me a story about a woman who changed her front doorknob to oil rubbed bronze.... which led to a new hallway chandelier... which led to new dining room set... which led to new kitchen fixtures and appliances... which led to new counters... and then the bathrooms... and on and on and on. In the end her new doorknob led to a 50k home renovation!

After hearing that I decided to stay with brushed nickel in our guest bathroom (whrre the tub is), and ALL the metal trims will be brushed nickel.

I am going to use ORB for our master bathroom vanity faucets, lights, and towelbar because the vanity is actually in a separate room from the shower and toilet, separated by a pocket door. The shower and toilet have chrome trims but you never really look at them at the same time as the vanity area.

I'll post some pics when its done. Our guest bath tub was just installed and seems to exactly match the brushed nickel faucet we picked out.
Related Discussions
mixing metal finishes in bathrooms
Q
Comments (3)
In general I prefer that not everything matches perfectly, but I think you have to be a little careful. Especially if two things are right next to each other, or if one is lined up above another (like a sink faucet and a vanity light), I think it's better to have an exact match OR two entirely different finishes. If the two finishes are in the same room but don't rely on each other for symmetry, you have more play.
...See More
Mixing finishes in the bathroom
Q
Comments (7)
What you plan sounds acceptable. It seems like, instead of matching finishes, the objective seems to be ensuring the "theme" is consistent, such as vintage, modern, traditional, etc. For example, there would be more room for mixing in a vintage bathroom, where individual items would seem to have been chosen and used at different times. A modern theme lends itself to matching finishes because it's assumed you used current sources (allowing for more matching). And then there's a mix of everything in between. Unless your choices are really disparate, if you like them and they "fit" your look, they'll be fine.
...See More
Mixing metal finishes in bathroom...?
Q
Comments (1)
we chose chrome faucets and towel bars & hooks. The door hardware is ORB, as are the knobs on the doors and drawers of the built ins. I need to choose a light fixture for the center of the room; I intend to choose ORB or similar. Here is the vanity view.
...See More
Mixing Bathroom Light Fixtures with Bathroom Fixtures?
Q
Comments (5)
no, it wouldn't I mixed finishes in all my baths..looks pretty natural. I don't even think people notice..they just see bigger picture. Don't mix brushed nickel and polished nickel, or chrome and nickel, these are too close to mix successfuly. ORB is different enough from brushed nickel, and also gives that very neutral feel, it being dark..you should be fine. but you can also cross post your question in Home Decorating forum..there's usually where questions about colors etc. go. Or Bathrooms one..but Home Decorating has more traffic..you 'll get more responces
...See More

Related Stories

BATHROOM DESIGN How to Mix Metal Finishes in the Bathroom

By Rachel Grace

Make a clean break with one-dimensional bathroom finishes by pairing nickel, silver and bronze hardware and fixtures

KITCHEN DESIGN How to Mix Metal Finishes in the Kitchen

By Rachel Grace

Leave matchy-matchy to the catalogs and let your kitchen's personality shine with a mix of metals for hardware and fixtures

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD Houzz Tour: Easy Mix of Old and New Revives a Family Townhouse

By Lara Sargent

Contemporary furniture and modern fixtures blend with period architecture in this large open-plan home in London

BATHROOM DESIGN A Crash Course in Bathroom Faucet Finishes

By Change Your Bathroom©

Learn the pros and cons of 9 popular faucet finishes

KITCHEN WORKBOOK When to Pick Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes

By KitchenLab Interiors

Is it faucets first and sinks second, or should cabinets lead the way? Here is a timeline for your kitchen remodel

ECLECTIC HOMES Houzz Tour: High-Low Mix in a Colorful Victorian

By Natalie Wain

An unloved house is transformed into a cheerful, versatile home with a blend of design classics, budget pieces and treasured finds

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Mixing It Up in a Century-Old Edwardian

By Becky Harris

Different eras, patterns and textures mingle beautifully in a Canadian interior designer's home and 'design lab'

BEFORE AND AFTERS Room of the Day: Tile Patterns Mix It Up in a Master Bath

By Jeannie Matteucci

Contemporary and classic elements mix in a boldly detailed San Francisco bathroom makeover

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Room of the Day: A Moroccan, Traditional and Industrial Mix

By Becky Harris

In Illinois, a 52-square-foot hall bathroom gets a lovely transitional look

BATHROOM DESIGN Convert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Fixtures-Shopping Phase

By By Any Design Ltd.

Step 2 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Determine your mechanical needs and buy quality fixtures

Sponsored

DelCo Handyman & Remodeling LLC

Franklin County's Remodeling & Handyman Services

More Discussions

Any photos of Daltile Valor Gold Quartz

4

What are these countertop spots?

16

Bathroom countertop material

4

bathroom remodel fan placement

0

Is it possible to change a color of a granite countertop

2