We're going to put oil rubbed bronze hardware on our wood doors, but we are building a log syled home (not a primitive interior but a more refined farm look). We are putting mostly all pocket doors in, so it'll be whatever the nicest pocket door hardware is. We're still in the process of building, but getting close to being finished. I wasn't trying to discourage anyone from mixing oil rubbed bronze items with chrome, or any other finishes in a room. I mix and match all the time, as I buy what I like when it comes to curtain rods, lights, etc. that I like. It all always works and looks personal and homey. It's sort of like when I enjoy wearing a silk blouse with a pair of jeans. What I meant was if you have a certain shade of ORB on a sink, and that is near another matching sink, or a bathtub, etc. that if you ever need to replace the faucet it may be hard to make them blend to satisfaction. It sure is a shame to feel one has to replace other things not broken if they don't like how the differing finishes work. However, that might not be an issue with many people. And even though that has happened to me before, the chance of ever having that happen is probably low and would happen so far down the road you would want a total change by then anyway. I'm not a matchy matchy person, but when I tried to imagine if I had to mix and match the ORB faucet fixtures I didn't like it. I'm actually considering a vanity light that has oil rubbed bronze even though my faucets are chrome. All the magazine pictures show the vanity light metal matching the faucet. I don't think that is necessary. It all boils down to going with what your gut is telling you what YOU like. You need to feel happy every time you walk in the room. Just double check the warranty on the finish. Some companies won't warrant that. Sandy

Genuine ORB finishes will wear off or patina on the high spots when rubbed, there are "ORB" finishes that are more like a permanent brown coating. I did inexpensive ORB for a client that felt and looked like matte brown paint, to me. I am not sure that ORB is going to go away, now. The first time I used it was about 17-18 years ago in a 170 year old house where the original brass was mostly blackened, and modern antique brass finishes were too golden tan looking in comparison. The door Knobs were fairly shiny because they got touched all the time. Most of the stuff I did at that time was a custom order or custom plated. Some of it got pretty light at the high spots, but that is the nature of the true finish. If you don't want that, I think I would go with black. But I think ORB is here to stay for a while just because it actually has developed over more than a decade.

Matchy matchy is bad. Having things be in the same color family but different colors is good. You might also look at plain living brass as well. Brass is back in a huge way and you are seeing less and less of the dark bronze look. Adding in a piece or two of brass with the bronze can give you an updated "evolved over time" look.

I was hesitant to open this post for fear that ORB would be shot down. 🙍‍♀️ I am pleasantly surprised!!! My husband and I are building a new home to look old. We too struggled with what finish of hardware to use. The house is a traditional home that we want to fit into our 1930's neighborhood. I thought that black hardware was too harsh for some of our more traditional elements. I really wanted to use an old world champagne brass for all door hardware. Too expensive to do the whole house! I finally settled on ORB from Schlage, the same finish that we had in our previous home...just a different style... an oval rosette with an egg knob. In addition to the ORB, we will have chrome and glass knobs in 3 of the bathrooms, including the main bathroom (near to our ORB closet doors). We will have polished chrome bath fixtures, but also touches of champagne gold in sconces, a chandelier, and mirrors. ORB on all of the bedroom doors with the polished chrome & glass bathroom knobs. Our guest powder room will have an Emtek champagne gold door knob set, champagne sconces, an ORB faucet and dark glass sink over a stained antique piece, and ORB shower fixtures. It's a mixture that I really didn't think about until it was done. I wish I could have splurged and used the champagne gold in the shower and the sink. Our kitchen cabinet hardware and faucets are also champagne gold. Island lights are an ORB/linen mix. Lighting throughout the house is a mixture of finishes. We shall see how the house turns out.