Metal finishes in a kitchen are a key design element, from the lighting, appliances, fixture and fittings, designing a kitchen means having full control of bringing all of these different elements of a space together… Mixing metals adds interest and depth to a design but that is not to say that you you can’t match your metals either – it really comes down to getting the proportion right and there is an art to mixing the right metals in the right proportions that creates cohesiveness and balance in your design.
Sound complicated?! Well it doesn’t have to be – we have created some basic do’s and dont’s when it comes to mixing metal finishes in a kitchen!
Do:
Choose a dominant metal
One common challenge when it comes to mixing finishes is still creating balance rather than confusion… It’s important to choose a dominant metal that remains consistent throughout your entire kitchen (yes that includes the lighting too!) that way no finish is fighting for attention and they can all peacefully co-exist in the one space.
Our Redland Bay Residence
Design by Amber Interiors
Play with tones
Metal tones can be categorised as warm and cool. Warm tones being your brass and gold finishes and cool leaning more towards the chromes and nickels… just to name a few. For a long time it was considered wrong to mix the two, but these days we beg to differ! Just as long as you make it look intentional rather than messy… this can be done by the above, ensuring you pick a dominant metal and stick to it!
Our Ascot Residence
Be consistent
Consistency comes into play when you have two or more of the same element in your kitchen. For example when it comes to tapware, if you have two visible taps in two locations then always try your best to keep them consistent in finish! If they aren’t visible at the same time, ie. one is in the scullery and the other out in the main kitchen – that’s when you can potentially go with a chrome or something more cost effective if you desire.
Design by Poco Designs
Design by Flack Studio
Don’t:
Over do it
There is beauty in mixing metal but only when done right! Choosing up to three or more different metals will scream chaos and certainly do more harm to the design of your kitchen than good.
Go crazy on finishes
Don’t go over kill on the finishes – having aged bronze, brushed nickel and polished brass all in the one kitchen will make for a confusing space… When it comes to picking between brushed, aged, polished… no matter how beautiful they all are – just stick to one or two at most!
Make it a last minute decision
Last minute design decisions will stand out within a space… for the wrong reasons! There is an art to mixing metals correctly, so the design decision needs to be well thought out… I’m talking in the design stage (way before constructions gets started!). This will give you a good understanding of how the mixture of metals come together within the one space – making for a more intentional and complimenting outcome.
