Remodeling Blog: Mixed Metal
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The Resurgence of the Mixed-Metal Kitchen
Mixing metals in a kitchen has, for a long time, been one of the great faux pas of kitchen design. It has been considered completely unacceptable, the sign of someone who got in over their head on a renovation project.
But 2019 is the year of breaking and remaking the rules, and flourishing your kitchen with combinations of iron, brass, nickel, and gold is emerging as a great way to make your space stand out from the crowd.
What is a Mixed Metal Kitchen?
Mixing metals is the use of multiple metal finishes within a room. This includes using two or more metals for your lighting fixtures, faucets, knobs, and in some cases appliances. Your options are typically iron, steel, nickel, brass, and if one is willing to invest, gold or chrome.
Why Was this Against the Rules?
The traditional thinking has been that mixed metals would look like a mistake, or worse, like you ran out of funds partway through a remodeling. This alone has been enough to make interior designers skittish, and there’s also an increased risk of clashing with the overall room. As a result, design has typically opted for an emphasis on consistency.
Why Is Okay Now?
The simple answer is Instagram. In the search for the look that will secure the most attention, people have been pushing the boundaries of home décor. This has brought on a wave of public experimentation that you wouldn’t normally see, and many old ideas are being tested.
Beyond this, when well-executed on-screen mixed metals just look downright good. Rather than clashing or being an eyesore, carefully coordinated mixed metal finishes give the room a sense of depth and layering. Steel with a touch of gold can be visually exciting, and a great way to draw the eye to key details.
Should I do a Mixed Metals Kitchen?
Mixed metal kitchens aren’t for the faint of heart. Old taboos aside, they’re risky, complicated statements. They require a vision, confidence, and the willingness to invest. But if you’re eager to create a kitchen that’s on the cutting edge, this is a great way to do so.
The style is ideal if you’re looking for a modern update of mid-century styles, as mixed-metal accents are a great way to invoke nostalgia.
How Do I Create a Mixed-Metal Kitchen?
The first step is to pick your primary metal, like how you would do a non-mixed kitchen. This should be what would compliment the kitchen itself, especially your countertops or backsplash. Your secondary accent metal finish should be used carefully. Pay attention to what you want people to notice. When someone enters, do you want them to look at the light fixture or the faucets? What do you want your guests to talk about when they leave?
It’ll require a lot of searching and a bit of luck, but ideally you want any major features that have the secondary metal, like a chrome lighting fixture in a primarily steel kitchen, to have some of the primary metal in them as well.
You can also soften the contrast between the new metals with the color scheme of the room. Compliment your nickel fixtures with a splash of light gray, or yellow for gold. This emphasizes that the inclusion is intentional.
And finally, the secondary metal finish must be evenly distributed throughout the room. If the instances are sparse or concentrated in one area, it’s going to look like a mistake. There are no half-measures in a mixed metal kitchen. You’re doing one all the way through or you aren’t.
Fortunately, we can provide the expertise to bring your vision to life affordably and effectively. We can help fine tune the kitchen that will stand out!