Metal Matters

Metal finishes impact the overall design of any home—and ultimately bring the design together.

Every house has it—metal! From metal on door handles, cabinet hardware, light fixtures, plumbing finishes, and more, metal seems to be everywhere.

Choosing the right metal finish involves answering many questions: Do all metal finishes work for all styles of houses? Which metals are a fad, and which ones are timeless? Which metals look better with darker interiors versus lighter ones? And, finally, the big question: Can I mix, or should I match, the metals in the home?

Think of metal as the jewelry of the home. Just as the metal finish on a pair of earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, or a watch makes a statement about a person’s outfit, metal finishes impact the overall design of any home. Choosing the metal finish may seem like one of the smaller decisions you’ll need to make for your project, but it ultimately brings your whole design together!

Metals and House Styles

Which metal works with which style of house?

The style of home you’re designing will direct whether you choose a metal that’s just a fad or one that’s more timeless. Many home designs are traditional; therefore, choosing a traditional metal will be more in keeping with the home and lower the risk of the design looking dated. Remember, fads are short-lived, so if this is your home or a property you’re holding onto for some time, then sticking to a more timeless look will keep you from needing to remodel sooner than you wish.

Let’s take a look at some of the more common choices.

Matte black is a popular new option on the market today. Matte black is taking off in home design alongside using black windows in a home. Matte black works well in eclectic style homes and modern homes and can even make a statement in the modern farmhouse design.

Satin bronze and oil finishes have a rich deep color and are most often seen in Mediterranean, Tuscan, and rustic-style homes. These finishes provide a more traditional look and feel.

Copper is sure to make a bold statement! It is a great metal to use in Tuscan, rustic, ranch, steampunk, and farmhouse-style homes. The shine and warmth of copper give these style homes a more earthy feel.

Polished nickel is more of a baseline metal. It’s a finish anyone can feel confident working with because it works well in a long list of different style homes. Polished nickel is darker than chrome and can vary in color just by changing the lighting of a room.

Chrome is very durable and easy to maintain. It is often the least expensive of all the metals used in homes. Chrome is a great metal to use in beach houses, river houses, and lake houses because it works well with houses designed around water. The clean, shiny feel of chrome ties in well with the decorating of these style homes too.

Brushed nickel is durable, to say the least. It does not show fingerprints or water spots, and it works well in a long list of homes, condos, and apartments due to its durability.

Polished brass and gold metals are back in a big way! But you either love them or you hate them; there honestly seems to be no in-between. These work great in traditional, vintage, and eclectic designs. Polished brass and gold are durable, and they are great for matching with other finishes and accessories. Although some people feel this look is “dated,” it’s not the finish that dates the look. Instead, it’s the shape and design of the object that dates it.

Colors

Taking into consideration the colors you’re using in the overall design of the house plays a big role in the choice of the metals. Brushed nickel, for example, tends to have a more grayish color, making it a great choice to use in homes with blue undertones.

Chrome, on the other hand, has a more silver feel to it. It’s a great choice for homes with white cabinets and white painted walls.

The boldness of black and darker colors creates drama, creating the perfect background for warmer metals such as gold and polished brass.

Mix and Match?

Although there is no rule stating all metals need to match, you’ll be wise to follow a few guidelines if you go this route. Keep in mind that the overall home design should feel balanced. The design needs a rhythm and flow to create a feel of “comfort.”

As stated previously, the finishes for plumbing fixtures, door hardware, cabinet hardware, and light fixtures act as the “jewelry” to the home’s interior. In fashion, you want to match your jewelry to the vibe of your outfit—delicate pieces to enhance formal wear and bold jewelry to bring casual wear to life.

Because the same is true for home interiors, some feel “mixing and matching” metals is a big “no-no.” But how the mixing and matching is achieved can change most naysayers and greatly impact most designs. Done well, it projects a “design-forward” feeling. Remember, for most investment properties your design goal should be to make the house feel new or up to date.

Large bathrooms and open spaces that are connected—even kitchens and dining rooms—all lend themselves to mixing and matching metals.

Here’s how to start:

1. Choose a “feature metal,” or the metal that will dominate the finished look. Use the dominant finish on the object that is the focal point of the room (e.g., the kitchen island with the sink and faucet).
2. Use the same focal point finish on the sink faucet as on the cabinet hardware because both are “high-touch” elements.
3. Choose a complementary metal finish for the lighting.
4. Keep in mind that the metal finishes you select should all be the same sheens.
5. Also pay attention to the undertones of the metals. Keep warm undertones with warm colors, and cool undertones with cool.

Following these tips will give the room a more balanced feel and create rhythm and a better sense of flow even though all the metals don’t match. It’s always important to remember that mixing and matching metals works best in larger spaces. Because larger rooms give your eyes a bigger space to look at, mixing and matching metals in larger spaces often creates an interior that drives you to look around the space. On the other hand, small rooms (e.g., powder rooms) are often more appealing when metals match and give the area a more harmonious look and feel.

The metal finishes you use will ultimately make a statement in any design. They will set the tone for the interior and help to achieve either a formal or casual feeling. The choice you make about metals may very well be the driving force behind the sale of your next big investment!