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Another "mixed metal" thread - pendants and pulls

last year

Still slogging through the lighting-fixture process. And still as color-blind as ever :) Supply chain being what it is, I am having trouble finding the pendants I would like over my kitchen island, in the finish I thought I wanted. I want just a basic schoolhouse pendant (well, two of them). The other metal things in the kitchen are all in the stainless/brushed nickel family, but it has been impossible to find a brushed-nickel schoolhouse pendant, in a reasonable size for my island, at a reasonable price (we are now close to 100% over budget - supply chain, labor costs, you all know the song). I've looked on all the sites you lovely people have recommended (Thanks to you I did find a sconce, though backordered till December...) All the companies seem to have the oil-rubbed bronze, or something similar, so now I'm trying to think out of the box.

Our island is a totally different color than the perimeter. It is brown, with a white marble top whereas the perimeter is white with soapstone counters. So now, I am thinking that the cabinet pulls do not all have to match, and I could do something different with the island pulls and pendants. Would the ORB-type color work well, do you think? Or is that too dark against the cabinets - maybe an actual brass-y color? What metal looks good with this color cabinet, and is likely to be in good supply in lighting fixtures? Floor is a neutral oak, currently covered with paper. For bonus points please recommend a size on the pendant globe - island is 9 x 4 feet. 12 inches? Bigger?

Island cabs:

Perimeter cabs:

The type of light I am looking for (not married to this brand at all, it's for example):

Featured Answer

rebunky

last year

last modified: last year

Here are some kitchens I found that might help you visualize the dark metal on the schoolhouse pendants with the chrome or nickel hardware.

For this last one, just pretend the island is wood.

I think the the orb or black on the pendants would look better anyways because then something would relate to the dark soapstone.

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Comments (9)

chispa
last year
That light would be easy to spray paint with Rustoleum to a "silver" finish. Pretty easy if you have some basic DIY skills.
gardengrl66 z5 thanked chispa
barncatz
last year
last modified: last year
I think you could use ORB hardware on the island with ORB pendants and brushed nickel on the perimeter. I also think you could use brushed nickel cabinet hardware on both the perimeter and the island with ORB on the pendants.
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What's funny is that I can't even remember the finishes that friends and family have in their kitchens and bathrooms. I don't think that people remember or notice that stuff, unless they're in the process of choosing their hardware/fixtures or they're the kind of people who notice those design details. I went through the same thing: Mix or match. Except for the bathroom doorknob, I went with all chrome (light fixture, faucets, shower curtain rod, etc.). I love chrome! The only thing that isn't chrome are the vanity knobs and pulls, as I chose to go with vintage-style glass that has a center part that is nickel (nickel is not that large, so not too noticeable). I do love the look of mixed finishes, too, but I felt I would be most happy with chrome. Whatever you choose, choose it because you love it for yourself, not to please the designing world. You have to live with it. So unless you are re-selling your home very soon so that you are designing to make it pleasing to buyers (and you can't please everyone's tastes), choose what makes you happy and enjoy! You can always change things later if you get tired of them. This post was edited by grass-cat on Thu, Jan 22, 15 at 9:48
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LL - thank you for your input. Good, white painted island, that's what I was hoping for. I know it's fairly common here but I really like the look of a white island with a wood top. Mmm, to match the wood on the lower cabibets might be tough. I have seen a few other pics similar to this one but I like this one the best. Did you mean cup pulls in particular or just dark ones - is that orb? Deedles - I'm glad you like (liked?) it. I have had this picture saved forever, I should have just stopped looking way back when. A different colour? I might be too timid - what would you suggest? Do you think a different (tougher) backsplash would be fine, if it was the same colour as the upper cabibets.
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Boy, can I relate to what you're going through! We're just about finished with our kitchen and I had the same concerns. We ended up using brushed nickle and bronze. Brushed nickle faucets because I like how they look with stainless steel sinks and bronze lighting and handles on the island. The handles on the rest of the kitchen are zinc (which looks a lot like brushed nickle) and copper. I love the way it turned out. Personally, I love polished chrome! I love the way it sparkles! With the colors you're describing I think it would look great. I can say from experience, Stop worrying abut mixing metals. It can make you crazy! Go with what looks good to you!
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I have seen very few ORB or dark finish faucets that I thought looked good. Most look like they were chosen because they were supposed to match and wind up looking out of place. Don't get one because you think you should. I think the antique brass would look great with darker cabinet hardware, but not all ORB is the same. Look at them together. If they don't compliment each other, try a black or iron look for the cabinets. And the plumbing fixtures can still be chrome or brushed chrome or nickel. The nickel might be good because of the warmer tone and softer finish, but the cabinet finish, counter nad sink can all make a difference.
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gardengrl66 z5
Original Author
last year
@chispa you are more adventurous than I; also it would sort of gall me to overpaint an expensive light fixture:) @barncatz thanks for the vote of confidence. "regular" brass is also in the running. i should probably just get some sample pulls.
chispa
last year
last modified: last year
@gardengrl66 z5, you need to define expensive! I was going by the photo you posted. Minka has quite reasonable prices and good quality products. Lighting has gone up a crazy amount in the last few years. I would spray paint a $200 fixture if everything was perfect but the color, but if the fixture was $1000 then it should be perfect/amazing in every way and not need any tweaking!

I've also taken hardware to a metal plating company, but that is more expensive and requires that the item can be taken completely apart for the plating.
gardengrl66 z5 thanked chispa
gardengrl66 z5
Original Author
last year
@rebunky I cannot believe you found all these kitchens with basically my color scheme! I think I found one in all of my planning-searching! I think you are right, pendants are "removed" enough from pulls that different finishes can work.

@chispa now I feel like a cheapskate :) but regardless of price, it just seems a waste to paint something brand new! Seriously though you are right, lighting is way up these days. That Minka was probably the cheapest thing I found that looked right, everything else is more...
nicoletouk
last year
Have to tried Olde Brick Lighting? They have tons of different schoolhouse styles, and all are available in Brushed Nickel, I believe. Plus, made in the USA!

Olde Brick Lighting

Nicole
gardengrl66 z5 thanked nicoletouk
gardengrl66 z5
Original Author
last year
Thank you to everyone! @nicoletouk, the Olde Brick website is great. They don't come up for me on the general searches - obviously I'm not searching right.

This thread has really got me evaluating my options. I'm now strongly leaning toward doing a different metal theme for the island. Here's my reasoning: It already has a different cabinet color and countertop from the perimeter. Some on this forum say that's a no-no - too busy - but I think of it as a "setting apart." The island is a transition from the kitchen to the living room - there's no wall between them. The far side of the island is our seating and "office" space, as there is a shelf under the island for our devices. The end near the oven is dedicated to baking only - all the food prep is flowing along the perimeter. And the other short end, near the TV room - AKA the Man Cave - is for DH to do the refrigerator/microwave two-step!

So really the island is functioning as more than just another set of cabinets with counter over it. It's truly going to be the center of the great space we've created. I've just ordered some sample pulls in different metals. I really do think a light-colored brass might look good with the warmth of the wood cabinets. But I've got polished and brushed nickel coming too. Stopped short of chrome, as nothing in there is quite that "shiny". Wish me luck!
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
Whats the budget, for the scale you want and the glass size, I think 200 is fair? The problem is if you go 12-14 inch globes they will get $$ https://www.homedepot.com/p/Light-Society-Portola-1-Light-Modern-Bronze-Schoolhouse-Pendant-with-White-Glass-Shade-LS-C251-BZ-WH/313593345

this is called modern bronze which might be a nice go between for brushed nickel.

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