Ren-Olympics: The Ultimate Guide to Gold, Silver, and Bronze Finish Fixtures for Your Kitchen and Bath

August 7th, 2024

When it comes to choosing hardware during your home renovation, it can look a lot like the Olympics. While athletes aim to capture gold, silver, and bronze medals, you can add these same statement details to your home! Whether you’re looking to add warmth, timeless elegance, or rustic charm, our design team has you covered.

Which fits your personal style?

Going for Gold

Gold is the ultimate winner when it comes to adding a soft, comforting glow and a subtle sense of elegance to any room. With finishes ranging from polished and brushed to rubbed, gold fixtures add depth and tactile appeal.

Why Choose Gold?

Warmth and Texture: Gold knobs and pulls add a warm, inviting feel to any space, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Versatility: Gold fixtures contrast beautifully with neutral colors like white, gray, and wood, making spaces feel richer and fuller.
Modern Appeal: Gold hardware and lighting has made a strong comeback in modern homes and are a top design choice in 2024.

Silver: The Timeless Classic

Aged nickel, brushed nickel, polished chrome, and polished nickel take the silver medal for their ability to create a serene, industrial feel that is both classic and elegant.

Why Choose Silver?

Traditional Elegance: Nickel and Chrome are traditional finishes that never goes out of style.
Industrial Vibe: Nickel and Chrome hardware can give your space a sleek, modern edge.
Color Harmony: Pair nickel or chrome fixtures with cool hues for a cohesive look, or mix metals for a unique design.

In our remodeling projects, we often incorporate “silver” elements into kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms to add a touch of sophistication and polish. Whether you opt for brushed nickel lighting or a polished chrome Delta Shower System, these silver metals add a timeless charm to any room.

Bronze: The Rustic Charm

Burished Oil Rubbed Bronze, Satin Bronze, and Copper hardware all can add a rustic, charming feel to your home. Bronze hardware is not only beautiful but also durable, resistant to wear and corrosion, and can last for decades.

Why Choose Bronze?

Durability: Bronze fixtures are resistant to wear and corrosion, making it a long-lasting choice.
Rustic Appeal: Bronze hardware adds a warm, earthy touch to any space.
Versatility: Bronze finishes like oil-rubbed bronze complement warm gray, brown, and black kitchens, as well as copper fixtures and sinks

Mixing Metals: Creating Depth and Character

While Olympic athletes receive gold, silver, and bronze medals, so too is the trend of mixing metals in your home. Combining warm and cool tones and varying finishes can create a space with depth and character.

Once considered a cardinal sin of design, mixing metals is now perfectly acceptable. In fact, when done right, it helps create a space with depth and character, letting you bring together a greater variety of elements. To help you create a mixed metal space that captures your personal style and leaves you simply smitten each time you enter, we’ve compiled a few tips and tricks.

Tips for Mixing Metals

Choose a Dominant Metal: Select one metal to be the primary finish in the room and use other metals as accents. This helps create a cohesive look.
Balance Warm and Cool Tones: Combine warm metals like gold and bronze with cool metals like silver and chrome. This balance adds visual interest and depth.
Consider Texture and Finish: Mixing polished, brushed, and matte finishes can add layers of texture and sophistication to your space.
Unify with Color: Use a consistent color palette throughout the room to tie different metals together seamlessly. Neutral colors work well to ground the design.
Strategic Placement: Distribute metal elements evenly throughout the space to avoid clustering and create a harmonious look. For example, use gold drawer pulls with a silver light fixture and bronze decor pieces.

Ready to go for Gold?

While you may not be an Olympian, you too can feel accomplished knowing that you can’t go wrong with either gold, silver, or bronze hardware in your remodel. Our design team at McDrake Remodeling will help you find the best use of metals and hardware that reflect you and your home’s style.

See the McDrake Difference

Need inspiration for your next home improvement project? Visit our Virginia Beach showroom for the best selection of high quality flooring, cabinetry, hardware, and more.