Lisa Keeter, design coordinator for Manuel Builders in Louisiana, says it’s “time to erase that outdated advice that metals cannot be mixed.” It also appears that formerly dated metals like brass are no longer out of fashion as the finish has been making a comeback—albeit with a bit of a face-lift.
“Trending across the U.S. right now is style fusion—a comeback of classic styles blended with newer, more modern features, which is why brass is making a stronger comeback,” says Laura Sullivan, principal at Asheville, N.C.–based IDology Interiors & Design. She notes that brass finish options before were lacking, but there are new colors and finishes “that tone it down a bit.”
Brass is being reinvented to be more warm and subtle—a soft, brushed gold rather than a hard, shiny surface, says Elizabeth Miller, Phoenix studio manager for Ashton Woods. The look is showing up everywhere from lighting and bar stools to faucets and hardware. Recognizing the demand, Moen recently launched a brushed gold finish, which is available on several of its kitchen and bathroom product lines.
“We look at what is happening in the design industry as a whole, whether it be furniture trends, cabinets, or lighting, to study what trends are taking root in finishes,” says Danielle Radic, associate product manager at Moen. “Consumers are becoming more open to experimenting with colors and nontraditional finishes.”
At Moen, chrome and brushed nickel continue to reign supreme as finish choices, but the increased acceptance of mixing metals means these revamped brass finishes can be incorporated as much or as little as a home buyer wants—gone are the days of an all-or-nothing approach.
“A few years ago there was more resistance to mixed metals, and more buyers felt that everything had to match,” Miller says. “In design you want things to coordinate and feel good together, but sometimes too much matching is not a good thing. Mixed metals is an easy way to play with this concept.”
Sullivan agrees that matching all of the fixture finishes in a home is “very limiting.” She and Deboni Sacre of Liv Design Collective in Salt Lake City touched on the mixed metal trend during their presentation, “What’s Cooking in Kitchen Design,” at the International Builders’ Show in January. Despite the session’s title, she says the trend encompasses the entire house. “The kitchen and master bath generally represent the heart of the home and the materials, finishes, and applications in those spaces reach throughout the home,” she says.
Mix In Moderation
As with any trend, it’s important to not overdo it. Miller suggests starting small by mixing metals—no more than two—in just one room. The goal is for the combination to look purposeful, she adds.
Keeter advises selecting finishes that complement each other in a way that emphasizes their individuality without being “too distracting.” She strives for balance by thinking of one as a base metal and one as an accent metal. “The base metal will help ensure a sense of harmony throughout your home while the accent metal will act like the perfect piece of jewelry with a classy outfit, pleasing to the eye without trying too hard,” she says.
One of Sullivan’s go-to combinations for an upscale look is brushed nickel and a soft brass, which she says provides contrast between the finishes, but with a subtle richness. Another option is to use different tones of the same metal. Mark Moussa, founder and creative director of Arteriors, which specializes in lighting, furniture, and decorative accessories, recommends playing with tone “for a more unexpected approach. Antique brass with polished brass is a winning combination.”
In fact, antique brass (shown below with the firm’s Gisele pendant) is Arteriors’ most popular finish. “It’s versatile enough to work on varying forms and appeals to many different aesthetics,” Moussa says.
Strategic Incorporation
Some markets adopt design trends faster than others. In Asheville and its surrounding areas there is a strong presence of traditional design, but Sullivan says she’s starting to see more of the style fusion take hold. Meanwhile, Keeter says about 50% of her clients in Louisiana want to incorporate different metals into their kitchen and living areas. She notes that in some cases, she has to reassure them that mixing metals is “a perfect strategy for adding visual interest and depth to a room.”
Home buyers in Phoenix are progressive and know a lot about design trends, according to Miller. “A lot of buyers like the matte black metals that are coming into fashion, mixed with a brushed brass or nickel option,” she says. “The matte black acts as a good neutral and makes the other metals stand out.”
In the end, it’s what home buyers want that prevails—typically a mix of trends along with some tried-and-true elements.
“More and more clients desire bringing the trends into their home while still wanting to ensure a timeless approach,” Sullivan says. “When you work toward timelessness, this usually means holistically just incorporating trends in limited but strategic ways.”
