Can you mix metal finishes?

I love reader questions because they give  me a writing focus a post.  So here goes...<br /><br />Can you mix metals in your finishes?  The answer is a resounding YES!!  You can also match all your finishes. I personally find that a  space can look  somewhat boring if you choose to slavishly match every metal finish, but that's me. I like harmony with some variety.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Marc Jacobs "Love Edge" Heart Bracelet shows that metals really do work well together. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCyLdm8iWEyxYYZNOScfiGnp2rmNMiRjs87lQJF5RRSXac9SsAisGffrVa3t7NhHqw_YWzZKAujVjE-X6YbhjK4fEPH6dnnR4VeSagf4PW9ZkdnwmlhQozOKVMxEFVzg_zAZbdfHrvVXY/s1600/TrendyTuesdayMixedMetals.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCyLdm8iWEyxYYZNOScfiGnp2rmNMiRjs87lQJF5RRSXac9SsAisGffrVa3t7NhHqw_YWzZKAujVjE-X6YbhjK4fEPH6dnnR4VeSagf4PW9ZkdnwmlhQozOKVMxEFVzg_zAZbdfHrvVXY/s400/TrendyTuesdayMixedMetals.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Here are a few guidelines that will ensure that you have a cohesive look. <br /><br /><b>Work with what you like best</b><br />If you are renovating/ updating, choose the finish you like the best / is the most stylish and match to it. Be aware that a dull gold/brass look is trending right now as is chrome, and it may not be long before all that brushed nickel will have a new status.<br /><br /><b>Limit the variety of tones </b><br />If you already have things in silver tones (brushed nickel, pewter or chrome) consider mixing them with wrought iron or black finishes. Two to three tones would be the limit or you will end up with a hodge podge.<br /><br /><b>Connect with other tones in the room </b><br />In the picture below black is used predominately in the light fixtures while the faucet has silver tones and the handles are either pewter or brushed nickel, still in the silver family. Because black carries such visual weight it works best when there is something else black in the space to help anchor it. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/56738/KitchenLab-traditional-kitchen-chicago"><img border="0" height="340" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/56738_0_8-1000-traditional-kitchen.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/wittconstruction/witt-construction" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Witt Construction</a></small></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/545323/Parkside-at-Mayfaire-traditional-kitchen-wilmington"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/545323_0_8-9913-traditional-kitchen.jpg" width="500" /></a><small> </small></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/56738/KitchenLab-traditional-kitchen-chicago"><small></small></a><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/whitneyblaircustomhomes/whitney-blair-custom-homes" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Whitney Blair Custom Homes</a></small><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The heavy black lighting fixtures in the previous picture would overwhelm this room because there's  little black in the space. The delicate application of black does not look out of place in the lighting.   </span><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/56738/KitchenLab-traditional-kitchen-chicago"></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/109636/Showhome-2010---2-traditional-kitchen-new-york"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/109636_0_8-6119-traditional-kitchen.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/rebekahzaveloff/rebekah-zaveloff" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Rebekah Zaveloff</a></small></div><br />Many older homes have brass or copper fixtures that  look good  when paired with oil rubbed bronze or black. If you already have something that is dark in the room this is the tone you should select to supplement with. While copper and black breaks the keeping to the same tone guideline, it can work when you have other black furnishings. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdlWOktdybHkZZ_IMv5mhqc0YnN_DP4ybC8V9aN7VYYrdwxmGEqCq1e_TbzsKqBXCpubnQmuXaJ_1kyqGJ3li-lDt_Qw_qKsEqx_o160rNGy43HNKiCXroJwluu7VXSqpEURQTYrPJ5zJ/s1600/elaine-griffin-interiors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdlWOktdybHkZZ_IMv5mhqc0YnN_DP4ybC8V9aN7VYYrdwxmGEqCq1e_TbzsKqBXCpubnQmuXaJ_1kyqGJ3li-lDt_Qw_qKsEqx_o160rNGy43HNKiCXroJwluu7VXSqpEURQTYrPJ5zJ/s400/elaine-griffin-interiors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Elaine Griffin Interiors</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Copper in this space is paired with stainless steel and possibly pewter.  The copper is picking up the tones in the wood and your eye is moved around the space very nicely. It's all a matter of creating flow. <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b> </b><small><br /></small></div><div><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/360784/MJ-Lanphier-contemporary-bathroom-los-angeles"><br /></a></div>

Can you mix metal finishes?

I love reader questions because they give  me a writing focus a post.  So here goes... Can you mix metals in your finishes?  The answer is a...

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