Using Mixed Metals in Your Home

Hey Guys! How was your week? Was it good? Are you READY to see who won a gorgeous pillow from Casa & Co?!! I know I am! BUT! You'll just have to wait and see who it is at the end of the post. I appreciate your patience (I don't blame you for scrolling ahead. It's cool. I would do the same thing).

So this week I want to talk about something people have felt was faux pas for quite some time now, using mixed metals.

(Via : 1. Martha O'Hara Interiors : 2. PopSugar : 3. House of Jade Interiors : 4. Houzz)

For far too long people have assumed that you need to match all of the metals in your home. From the faucet to the lights, to the drawer pulls, door knobs, hinges, you name it. It is a clean simple look to keep your metals the same, so if you like the simplicity, by all means, keep on keepin' on and scroll right to the bottom of this post for the giveaway winner. But if you like the layers and the depth you get from using multiple metals in your home, and you want to just feel gosh darn free, then read on friend.

Above is a small sampling of spaces with gorgeously executed mixed metals. In the kitchen, try to think of your pendants as an accent to the rest of the kitchen, so they are kind of a free agent. You can go nuts with those guys and just mismatch them from the rest of the metals alone if you want. You can also do the same with the faucet in the kitchen. The key here is to try and keep it to 2 metals for best impact. Try to avoid going to 3 or more to keep the space from feeling too busy. You can contrast the light and keep the faucet and hardware the same, contrast the faucet and keep the light and hardware the same, or match the light and faucet leaving the hardware on it's own. I find it works best when one of the key features, the light or faucet, match the hardware to carry one of those finishes throughout, featuring the other. Make sense?

In the entry and a gallery wall settings, you have a little more room to play around. Here you have the flexibility to balance your materials in a tighter space and create a path for movement with clever placement. It may seem counter intuitive, but in these smaller installations you can definitely play with 3 metals and get away with it, if done well.

In the bathroom shown, I love that the metals are sort of layered, with the lights, mirrors and hardware matching but the dark faucets tying into the dark cabinet base. You could also match the lights and the faucets for a different look. Again here I would recommend that you stick to two metals to avoid getting too busy. It is much easier to get too busy in areas where you have cabinet hardware that your eye can dart all around to.

Gold

(Via : 1. Antelope : 2. Pillow : 3. Bar Pull : 4. Table : 5. Light Fixture : 6. Hex Wall Art)

Gold is probably one of my favorite accent metallics to throw into a space. It catches the eye and makes for a great, simple high impact accent. You don't have to have much of it, or you can use a good amount of it if you want. You really can't go too wrong with it. I positively adore gold thrown into the recently trendy all white or gray and white kitchens and baths. The natural yellow tones in gold really warm the space up and make for a nice contrast to the cooler whites and grays.

Silver

(Via : 1. Foyer Pendant : 2. Console Table : 3. Vase : 4. Faucet : 5. Mirror : 6. Pillow)

Silver, chrome or brushed metals, is very easy to work into a space. Often it is the metallic staple in a space, though bronze or oil rubbed bronze has become nearly as popular. Because the silver family has a softer impact than golds, it often acts as a neutral base to work off of and pop your accents in with it. Though if you are working with dark finishes and a fair amount of bronze, you can use silver as your light, higher contrast metal as I had suggested you can do with gold. Silvers work well to compliment gold, as you know from the classic holiday songs and decor, so they play well in gallery or cluster settings.

Copper

(Via : 1. Stool : 2. Mirror : 3. Pendant : 4. Orb : 5. Pitcher)

Copper accents work in a similar manner to gold. their natural warm undertones compliment and offset cool colors and spaces very well. A slightly more rustic, less polished decor generally works best with this finish, as a true copper will naturally patina over time adding even more texture and depth to the accented piece(s). A highly polished copper will work better in a clean more contemporary setting.

Bronze

(Via : 1. Sphere Light : 2. Faucet : 3. Drum Light : 4. Chair : 5. Porthole Mirrors)

Be it flat or oil rubbed, bronze works well as an accent with gold/brass/copper and even silver. Since it is a darker metal than the rest and often flat, it contrasts really well with the brighter finishes of the others. I personally love it with gold an brass or a high polish copper. When paired with those metals you have the added benefit of the contrast in finish as well as color. The oil rubbed detail on this finish works well with rustic, and traditional decor while I think the flat, solid black iteration of the finish works with those as well as industrial and often modern as well.

So that's my quick run down on metals. They are so fun to play around with, if you feel so bold. Let your hair down and giver 'er a whirl. And by all means, if you do, please share!

And NOW! The moment you've all been waiting for...........

First of all thank you SO much to those of you who entered! It means a lot to me and my lovely friend Ashley over at Casa & Co. that you guys liked our stuff, you're the best.