The mix of metallic finishes is a thoughtful design choice for New York designer Thomas O’Brien, founder of Aero Studios, which he even made for his own residence. When he renovated the kitchen in his home in Bellport, New York, he painted his cupboards bright white and installed handles in satin brass, but he chose to use chrome for all plumbing fixtures. He says that when mixing metals in a room, there should be logic behind each choice. “For example, I chose the brass handles because I wanted a softer, warmer feel than chrome.” He considers kitchen cabinets to be furniture, so in his mind, they can be treated differently.
Interior designer D.C. Zoe Feldman is also in favor of mixing metal hardware finishes. “I think it keeps a space from feeling too much a single note, and it gives a more collected and layered look,” says Feldman. In general, she avoids using any type of assorted sets in her work, such as a dining room or bedroom set, because she says that the sets are too predictable; she sees the matching metal hardware in the same way, and says it has an annoying and uninspired effect on the parts.
But you can’t just mix all of the metal hardware finishes. O’Brien and Feldman both agree that there are certain guidelines to follow. O’Brien suggests mixing brass and dark bronze, brass and chrome or brass and nickel, but says never mix nickel and chrome. Additionally, it warns that there is a limit to the number of metallic finishes you can mix in one room. “There should be a main finish choice and maybe an accent,” he says. More than that, he says, it may be too much. And for those worried about how their stainless steel appliances integrate with other metals, O’Brien says, “Chromium and stainless steel are really the same and can be used together.”
Feldman says she usually sticks to a maximum of three metals in a room. She also pays attention to the placement of each finish. “You want to make sure there is a certain rate when mixing the metallic finishes,” she says. By cadence, Feldman means that you must always disperse the types of metals throughout the room; all handles and knobs must be one type, and all accessories (such as sink and bathroom faucets) must be one type. Feldman says lighting is a good place to introduce another type of metal, as are accessories like pan racks in kitchens or door hooks in bathrooms.
In addition to mixing metallic colors, Feldman also says to pay attention to finishes. She likes to mix metals of different colors but which share a similar warmth, like unpainted brass, polished nickel and matt black, but she says never to mix the same metal in different finishes, like polished nickel and nickel satin. Like O’Brien, she says not to mix metals that are closely related but just a little distant, like nickel and chromium. “They’re too similar to be interesting,” she says. “One is the cool version and the other is the hot version.”
When possible, Feldman likes to use what she calls “living metals,” which are unpainted metals. “I love the idea of aging metals and getting a patina,” she says. “It gives a depth of space and allows the lights to age elegantly.”
As for Young, she decided to leave the existing chrome fixtures, install antique brass cabinet handles and hang an antique brass and dark bronze ceiling light that unites all the finishes. “The fixture ties it all together,” says Young. “It’s like jewelry. When you wear a stainless steel and gold watch, you can wear silver or gold, or both.”
Mayhew, a “Today” show style expert and former magazine editor, is the author of “Flip! for decoration. “