Can you mix metals in the kitchen? Should you use mixed metal finishes in the kitchen? How can you best utilise the unique style of different metals to best effect in your home?
Mixing metals is a fantastic way to infuse captivating aesthetics and real-life practicality into your kitchen. But if you’re not sure whether it’s a style for you or how exactly to incorporate this trend in your home, this is the blog for you!
Mixing Metals – why do it?
Interior designers are increasingly using a mix of different metal finishes, such as brass, gold, copper, stainless steel, and even black metal, to create a bit of character, depth and complexity in the home.
There are a lot of different ways metal can be used and juxtaposed both with a complementary metallic surface and with other materials in the house. Ultimately, however you choose to use mixed metals, you’ll want to create an aesthetically appealing design.
Using Metals in the Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most common and best applications for using mixed metals in design. Apart from the texture and visuals of metallic finishes perfectly complementing the general layout and aesthetic of the kitchen area, there are many benefits and practical considerations to take into account.
The Benefits of Mixing Metal Finishes in the Kitchen
Durability
High quality metal is a highly durable material and when it comes to your kitchen that’s exactly what you need. Kitchens are classically places where there is a lot of activity every day and a lot of foot traffic. Whether it’s your sink, your countertop or even your cabinetry, a highly durable kitchen is a must.
Hygienic
From moisture and water to food and spilled drinks, your kitchen is going to be exposed to a lot! Being able to keep it clean and hygienic is critical. Mixed metals offer the benefits of being easy to clean, simple to keep clean and very hygienic.
Heat Resistant
Mixed metals, considerately chosen, offers a heat-resistant material for using in a space in the home exposed to unusually hot temperatures and unusually heated items. There are plenty of materials used in construction that look great but can’t quite take the heat of the kitchen. Metal finishes are not one of them!
Appliance Matching
There are many appliances on the market that are not just made of metal but are made to look metallic. (We’ll dive into this a little more later.) This means that if you’re considering what sort of material to incorporate throughout the rest of the kitchen, mixed metals offer plenty of opportunity to match your general kitchen finishes with your appliances.
Sleek and Appealing
Last but not least, mixed metals look great! While metal is inherently sleek and modern in its aesthetic, there’s no reason why you can’t achieve your chosen interior design style while using these practical materials. Whether you want to achieve an industrial, country, Scandinavian or traditional decor style, there’s a mixed metals option for you!
How can you mix metals in a kitchen?
Choose the Right Appliances
As we mentioned above, metal is a popular material for use in a variety of kitchen appliances, such as dishwashers, ovens, stoves, refrigerators and smaller items like toasters or kettles. What does this mean for you? It allows you to achieve a ‘mixed metals look’ by pairing a chosen material finish with your already purchased appliances! This practical application is easy, affordable and can produce a really stunning visual for your kitchen.
Think About the Faucets
Every kitchen is going to have faucets, and these humble little parts offer a lot of opportunity to add a touch of elegance to an oft neglected section of the kitchen. You can choose anything from brushed nickel or brass to chrome or stainless steel for your faucets. The key here is to remember that you’re mixing metals, so take the opportunity presented by your faucets to add something a little bolder, complementary and stunning to match with your other chosen metal elsewhere in the room.
Cabinet Hardware Looks Great!
Metal cabinet hardware can prove to be not just effective decoratively but equally beneficial functionally. Your knobs, handles, and drawer pulls are all popular and effective opportunities to add in a bit of mixed metal design. You’ll be surprised at just how impactful these little additions can be. Think about what sort of style you want to achieve: Is a black finish going to work best? Maybe some brass? Or simple stainless steel hardware?
Remember the Range Hood
Range hoods are excellent opportunities for using mixed metals. These very practical additions to a home may primarily provide ventilation and remove the odours of cooking, but they can be visual features in and of themselves. Using copper or stainless steel, you can turn your range hood into a focal point aesthetically and add an elegant, subtle yet impactful touch to the kitchen.
Light Up Your Lighting Fixtures
Light is important in a kitchen, especially considering what you’re doing in there. But lighting also offers an opportunity to incorporate metallic finishes. You might prefer track lighting fixtures, pendant lights or even a chandelier. All of these options can look stylish and be functional when made from mixed metals.
Use the Backsplash
Metal tiles, sheets or finishes for your kitchen backsplash is a practical, functional and stylish way of using mixed metals in the kitchen. The reflective surface will add light and spaciousness to the sink area, and your choice of metallic finish gives you plenty of scope to exercise a bit of creativity and infuse your own personality into the design of the kitchen.
Utilise Your Utensils
Like appliances, utensils and cookware are commonly made from metal, such as stainless steel. Highlighting your mixed metals design style through metallic cookware and utensils is an easy way to achieve aesthetic appeal. This can be especially effective if your kitchen has areas where utensils and cookware are stored in an open display. Additionally, as you replace or update your utensils, you have the opportunity to simultaneously update and play around with your style too.
Ready to Mix Metals in Your Kitchen? We’re here to help!
The Euro Marble team loves mixed metal finishes in a kitchen and we love to find gorgeous natural stone materials that perfectly complement such a design choice as well!
If you’d like to find out more about how you can mix metals to great effect in your kitchen, or just want to explore some new ideas for your home, make sure to contact us today. We’re the experts in home renovation, design and construction, and we’d be delighted to help you too.
