Mixing metals-bathroom faucet

5 years ago

We are remodeling most of our house and I put off deciding on a faucet for the powder room and then ultimately forgot (pregnancy brain and small kids). since our plumbers are coming tomorrow to install all of our fixtures like, I picked up two options at a big box store. I like the look of mixing metals in a bathroom but I also want it to work. the scones will be aged brass, out of these two faucets which do you think goes better with the room (polished chrome and brushed nickel). Sorry for the poor picture quality but these were taken at night (last pic shows tile in daylight).

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Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author

5 years ago

Here it is (excuse the mess). I think I do want to explore other lighting options in black or nickel. if I did nickel, should I stick with a brushed finish (vs polished). I also have the mirror finish I need to incorporate (TBD).

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Comments (28)

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Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
hutch,,,why don't you pick a brass faucet? this one is from Home depot

even a matte black? your hardware on the vanity is even a dark. for sure not the chrome. what about the venetian bronze option? that would be better than either of those. mixing can work, but your sconces and faucet are next to each other. I'd keep them the same if possible.

mixture of both?
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi Beth,

I went to Lowe's and they didn't have any brass options but I could head out to Home Depot in the morning. I do like that first one a lot and possibly the 3rd. I'll have to check if any of my local stores have it in stock.

My husband said no to black unfortunately but I could always switch out the pulls so I didn't have 3 different metals going on.
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There may be to many finishes if you go with the black mixer, do I'd be tempted to say go with the gold fittings but you don't necessarily need to go brushed, take a look at our finishes (even if just for inspiration) https://www.thewatermarkcollection.eu/the-finishes/ - we've got a number of variations of gold's and brass's which you might like. Of course if you like our brassware that would also be great! If you take a look at the project we completed below will give you more of a visual on how these "tarnished" finishes can work against white for you. https://www.houzz.co.uk/projects/5656863/hackney-family-home The Watermark Collection
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@Jaya Garella I wasn't 100% sure what you meant by 'the bras'? haha. none of the tiles on the mock up pic are anything I have specifically chosen - they are the least offensive on the app I had which is a house mock up program and not specifically for bathrooms. I would need a splashback with a sink unit though as that back sink/wc wall is just a wood frame at the moment so will need plasterboarding. Part of me wants to avoid the grey as although I love a rich grey, the rest of my house is off black by F&B so very dark and moody. In the tiles in a small room it might be a bit drab? I'm also struggling to find patterned tiles that I could put all over the bath wall and bath that wouldn't be too much ie too large a pattern or too small. I would then have to have maybe a wood effect (vinyl or tile) on the floor as I think pattern on the floor and bath panel and large wall might be too much? You don't see the bath wall when you walk in as the door opens to the left and hides it. Trying to find some industrial glam images of alternative options as I'm a bit stuck in a rut with it and my bathroom fitting team is a bit old school so not up on design! haha
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PRO
Vanessa Empire Interiors, LLC
5 years ago
Hello! That tile is gorgeous! Because it has cool and warm tones, this is the best bathroom to do your mixed metals in. In my opinion brass fixtures can tend to make a place feel dated sooner than later. I would stick with nickel faucets for the sink and shower/bath and leave your cute brass lighting. Then I would purchase some warm wood baskets and fill them with grey handtowels to repeat the mixed metal, when the warm wood is reminscent of the gold tones and the grey of the silver tones. Keep the process going throughout the space and it will still feel expensive, without dating it, and setting you up to have to replace them in the future.

This will be more of a timeless design! ♥
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Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Vanessa,,,we aren't talking brass from the 70's and 80's. we are talking about a champagne or soft gold. picking a decent looking faucet also helps the gold tone from looking dated.

you think this looks dated?

i've seen many silver metal faucets that look dated. it's all about the style and what you have with it.

Hutch,,i found a pic w/a mixture of gold and the nickel/chrome so you can see. personally I don't like these two together, but it's your bathroom!

honestly don't know what happened here. it's like they got to the faucets and said, "oh screw it. get anything". even the style doesn't work, never mind the color.

see how much better it looks w/the right color?

similar colored vanity to yours. black would work
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Vanessa! we do have open shelving to the right as well so I know I could incorporate some more depth there as well with mirror finish and small tray on the counter, waste basket, etc.

Beth- I checked our local home depot's and they only have one brass fixture in stock and it's not very attractive IMO. They have some better brushed nickel options though so I might check those out in the morning.

I agree the brass and chrome inspo pics fall flat. I do love this first picture below, looks like the faucet is polished nickel though. 2nd picture, I think the faucet is chrome but I don't think it works as well as the nickel.
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Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
the first one isn't bad, but the sconces aren't in your face brass either. and they have the silver mirrors.

the 2nd one,,,everything is gold except the faucet. I don't understand why they went w/silver. if they did a silver mirror, or silver sconces, then I could see it tying it together, but to me, it just looks 'off'.

some of those faucets from HD may have to be ordered. a lot of ones you see online aren't always stocked in the store.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
I would ditch those horrible edison bulb sconces first they will never provide anything but ugly yellow light at best. Then choose the faucet you love and don’t force mixing metals.
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
Any suggestions on style of light you'd choose for this bathroom?
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Beth H. :
5 years ago
hutch, you can get an LED bulb that resembles the edison bulb look. they put out regular light. go to an actual lighting store. they won't have that filament, but it will still look ok. just make sure the temp is above 3500 and wattage is above 4, or it will be yellow. I have the warm bulbs and the brighter white bulb in my bathroom. I seldom use my sconce lighting anyway.
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Beth! I always appreciate your insight. the plumbers got to the house bright and early this morning (7am) by the time I got over there they had already installed the faucet. i think the brushed nickel actually goes pretty well with the room and glad we didn't go with the chrome (plus I don't think the reach would have been far enough).
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Beth H. :
5 years ago
nice hutch. yes, i do like that. honestly, I think if you did diff sconces in the nickel (or nickel and black), it would really look better than the gold. I do like the gold ones, just not for what you have here.
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
do you think an upward facing light would work or too formal? could I do an antique nickel or polished nickel finish or should I stick with brushed nickel to match faucet?
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Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
since they are so close to the faucet, I'd try and match them as best as you can. The first one is ok, don't like the second one. I'm not big on the shade sconces, but that's me. I think they belong in more of a traditional looking set-up.

I like the ones w/glass better. but it's your bathroom!

but maybe if you do the same like they've done here, with the shiplap and the mirror, it could work. but I could do brushed nickel

or like this. this looks good. I like the mirror too, but you could do it with chrome or nickel corner access. I like these sconces a bit better than the one you showed

are you tiling the wall? are you doing a 4" backsplash? anything?
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
I actually think I have that 2nd picture light fixture saved somewhere, let me see if I can find it....

I don't know what to do with the back wall yet. it comes with marble backsplash (I think?). I figured I'd get to that eventually once we move in, but suggestions are welcome. I also saw this unspoken picture with black mixed in
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
also wanted to add I do like glass fixtures as well. I'll have to look into both and then tell my husband I want to return the other ones.
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Beth H. :
5 years ago
the marble splash will work.

maybe a nickel w/a darker pewter color or a splash of black would work. there are so many to choose from. do you have your mirror?
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
ugh no but I'm glad I waited now as it would be one more thing I would probably need to return. I have some saved though. I do like the one with black corners you showed in the picture.
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
the glass scones you posted earlier, are those brushed nickel or polished? I'm having a hard time finding brushed nickel fixtures. I also saw these in black which I like.
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
if you can't find brushed, then go w/the regular nickel or brushed.

the PB sconces are nice, but look more for a bedroom. remember, you need light in your bathroom. those aren't going to put off any light for you.
PRO
Designer Drains
5 years ago
If you are doing the aged brass sconces, the best complimentary option would be the brushed nickel finish.
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm still looking, nothing seems quite right. I was trying to find a black and nickel options but they all seem like they are too modern.

I still like that PB scones, they do have a picture of it in a bathroom.
Kitch4me
5 years ago
These come in different finishes...
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Beth H. :
5 years ago
that one Kitch posted is nice. and I like this one too
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Kitchen & Bath Galleria
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
You might have to choose one or the other. Either something nickel to go with the faucet or dark to tie in with the knobs.

CLEAR CLOCHE GLASS SCONCE

Wall Sconce 1-Light · More Info
liz_fb
5 years ago
I love the tile and your choice of cabinet. My choice would be the two tone brass & pewter. faucet.
Kelly Henson
5 years ago
Love the tile. I like the brass fixtures however, depending on the area you live in BRASS can pit. Choose wisely.
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm hoping to get some more input on the backsplash. Honestly I don't love the remnant backsplashes unless there is wall mount faucet.

Our tiler said he would do a counter to ceiling tile backsplash and mount the mirror and scones over it. I am worried about getting a line effect since it would be the width of the vanity vs wall to wall. I also don't want it to be too busy with the floor tile. Thoughts on this? I was thinking I could get a simple tile that matched the wall color/background tile color which would give the wall some texture.