Metals: mixing or matching?

Do you think all metals in a space have to match?

To change hardware is one of the easiest ways to update a space. Contemporary handles will instantly improve the appearance of a tired kitchen. And a new faucet in the bathroom will at least temporarily remove the attention from dated tiles. But what if you like chrome and the rest of the hardware is brass? Can you mix the two? What are the rules?

Well, a few years ago the most common advice would have been: no mixing! But with today's more relaxed attitude towards design, there is no right or wrong. What is more important is that you really love the item. Instead of obsessing over finish, think about how all the pieces in a space work together in style, scale and shape.

One way to bring different metals together is to look for an item that includes different finishes. A mirror with a golden edge on a silver frame is one example. By featuring more than one metal, it gives you flexibility and is the unifying glue that holds the space together.

If you're still unsure, stick to metals in the same "colour family", either gold/brass/copper, or silver/steel/chrome/aluminum.

What do you think? Are you a "mixer" or a "matcher"?

Or is it OK to mix different metals in the same room?

Photos: Restoration Hardware