Should kitchen faucet match cabinet hardware in terms of the type of metal? For example, if my faucet is polished nickel should I select kitchen pulls in polished nickel as well? Or should I use mixed metals?
Well, I am risking to be not in vogue, but I would still say, “Yes! Most of the time the kitchen faucet should match cabinet hardware!”
But, sometimes strategically placing different metals next to each other can work for you, add interest or even make a statement.
When should the kitchen faucet match and when is it okay to mix metals?
- In a bohemian-inspired kitchen, you can have many different elements mixed up together including metals finishes. Because the Bohemian style of decorating is all about happy co-existence of different cultures it is perfectly okay to mix stainless steel with a gold finish, for example.
If you are not sure about the color of the faucet and how it’s going to match I have a different solution:
Two-toned metals for your cabinets’ hardware or crystals.
Who says that kitchen pulls have to have just one finish? I found some great cabinet pulls and knobs that don’t have to match the faucet. For example, if your faucet is chrome, you can pick a two-tone chrome and gold color cabinet pulls. If you prefer crystal to dress up the kitchen, go for it and don’t worry about matching at all. Below are some more options that you can buy by clicking on them. Is there anyone of them that you fell in love with? Tell me what is your favorite pull or knob.
I constantly keep on adding more images of options for you, guys, together with my comments here below. Please post your questions. I’ll be happy to help you!
Classic Pulls and Knobs
Modern Farmhouse Style
A Bit of Glamour
Sleek and Modern
Hello Marina,
I am so happy I found this site. We replaced the old chrome and gold cabinet knobs with oil rubbed bronze knobs a while ago and now I want to replace the old chrome and gold faucet with an old rubbed bronze faucet. I think it would be a nice match, but my wife thinks we should go with something else, not sure what she wants… what do you think would be a good match? Thanks!
Hi Erick,
Umm, it’s hard to say without seeing the pictures. But, honestly, old rubbed bronze faucet you can’t go wrong with.
Hello, My entire home is oil rubbed bronze faucets and such but I really got tired of the look so I changed my knobs in the kitchen from oil rubbed bronze to nickel and then my cabinets went from drab to interesting. Here is my problem, do I continue to use nickel in my bathroom and kitchen with pulls although my faucets are bronze? I don’t want it to look wonky especially since there is just so much wood in my home. I am really wanting to change things up. Please help! Oh, and I don’t prefer golds- I actually prefer silvers and colors. Thank you for any help and advice you can give.
Hello, doing a complete remodel of our kitchen. So far I have my floor tile in and island will be stained and the rest of the cupboards white. I’m currently looking at countertops, which has literally driven me crazy, but I think I be settled on typhoon Bordeaux! The plumbing supply recommended champagne bronze handle even though I am planning brushed nickel/chrome to match my stainless steel appliances, I’m very concerned that will be a mistake. Should I change all my handles to the champagne?
Good morning! I’m having such a hard time choosing the pulls and knobs for my white kitchen cabinets. My countertops are mystery white marble and I have a traditional polished nickel bridge faucet. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!!
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Can I ask you for more pictures of your kitchen? Also, lighting if you chose it already. Thanks
Thank you for following up with your request.
Barbara
Barbara,
Thanks for sharing your photos. I spent some time thinking and looking at the pictures and researching. I created my recommendations here right after the article under Classic Pulls and Knobs.
A couple of things: it is not clear from the pictures if your faucet polished chrome or nickel. I would match the finish to the pulls or knobs.
Second, you can definitely mix clear knobs with metal base + metal pulls of different sizes. For example, for a pantry, you can use and should use longer pulls. I am not sure about your budget. I showed you some less expensive and some more expensive. I hope this helps, and of course, you can ask me more questions. Good luck! 🙂
Thank you, Marina!
We just did all white, flat slab cabinets for our very small kitchen. Countertops will be mostly white with with some gray and gold veins. Our appliances are stainless steel. We want a minimalist look and plan to warm up the open shelving with a plant and add color with dishes but what kinds of pulls and faucet would you suggest and what color? This is what we have narrowed down but open to anything!
The other photo
Sure. You can do stainless steel sink here. White will also work. You can do a combination stainless steel with gold two metals pulls or stainless steel. But the ones you chose are too industrial looking, like for a doctor’s office, optical shop or pharmacy. I woul think about more rounded forms to balance linear shapes of the cabinets. In your case the pulls are really important. Faucet stainless steel. Let ne know what you think and post more pics, so that we can figure it out.
Could you please show me an example of what you think would work best??
Jeannie,
I just took my time and created the whole section here below under Shop Modern Kitchen Hardware for your selections. I hope it helps and please, by all means, don’t hesitate to ask again.
Thanks for taking the time! It was very helpful!!!!
Hi Marina!
Planning my kitchen Reno. Plan is all appliances are stainless steel, faucet and sink in stainless steel, white to gray shaker cabinets with a walnut island and my secondary metal will be brass (island lighting and wall sconces) to match my home’s original hardware. All of the pulls and knobs in stainless steel tend toward uber industrial looking or those s/s bar pulls (not again!). What do you suggest as a pull and knob color? Satin or brushed nickel, maybe? Thanks for your help.
Hi Theresa,
It’s about the style more than finish color. You can do brass or stainless steel. Walnut island! Umm … do you want to swirl in some warmth? Then brass. Stainless steel will make it colder looking but if they are ornate somewhat, then they won’t look cold. You can post pics if it all so that I can see what you’re working with.
I found this picture on the internet on another blog that synthesizes many of the features that my kitchen will have: wood floors, walnut island, shaker cabinets although not such a dark gray. Range hood will be stainless steel not built in. Faucet will be stainless steel because that finish has a lifetime guarantee. In a lot of forums they talk about the 70/30 two metal ratio and how the stainless steel appliances don’t count as one of the metals BUT the faucets is always part of the 70%! See the dilemma. I agree stainless steel in walnut seems cold and detached. It doesn’t help that the s/s options have very little personality either.
I would go with stainless steel pulls mostly because of the faucet. You don’t want to mix more here. It will be good.
Need advice for our remodeled Great Room in Northern Wisconsin.
Custom cherry wood cabinetry, leathered Taj Mahal countertops and island. Tile samples for splash lay next to wood samples for butcher block that will be above the dishwasher. We decided on the walnut.
What kitchen faucet material do you recommend? I am leaning toward an oil rubbed bronze to match the pulls. The sink will be a Kohler Vault. Appliances will trend black/steel. Bosch and GE Profile.
Hi Carole,
I would definitely go with rubbed bronze faucet for what you have.
We already had decided on a Kohler Vault stainless steel sink. And our appliances are stainless steel or black. Would it still work to go with an oil rubbed bronze faucet or should we change the sink or could we stick with original choice of stainless steel faucet? Our counters are scheduled for install in 2 weeks and I am concerned that we may be unnecessarily complicating our project.
You can go with stainless steel faucet.
So you are saying that it is okay to go with oil rubbed bronze and stainless steel vault sink? We don’t have to go with SS faucet?
If you choose RB faucet it will blend with warm wood tones making the space cohesive.
If you go with SS it will pop more.
We went with the Kohler Oil Rubbed Bronze Faucet. The pressure switch is temporary until the ORB switch comes in. I will send another picture once the kitchen is complete, but for now, you can see, the ORB faucet was the perfect choice. Thanks for your help.
We are thinking Kohler Artifacts oil rubbed bronze and keep the stainless steel Kohler vault. Thoughts?
My project is a new and beautiful laundry/ mud/dog wash room. The sink is stainless steel. The bench is a jade green and gold carved Asian Seahorse Dragon motif and by default, my focal point. Cabinets are a greige (SW mindful gray) and the walls are a light gray green blue- SW Sea Salt. What shape and color of cabinet hardware should I use… I was thinking I want timeless -antique brass or ? I’m open to mixed metal look. Maybe a chinoiserie-look of “rolling clouds” aka Greek Key…..right angled pulls? Thoughts?
Hi Kay,
Oh, how pretty! I would like to see the pictures of the fabric if possible before I can tell. Greek Key hardware comes in all different variations. Also, what is the style of the cabinets? Traditional, modern? The more pictures the better. You can also send them to marinaklima@mydecoratingtips.com
love your way of thinking and your personality! just purchased the TRESA faucet and matching potfiller from brizzo and am lost in choosing kitchen cabinet handles. the faucet is polished chrome and my cabinets are shaker white and would like a combination of matte and polished chrome handles [to avoid fingerprints]. can you reccommend anything please for this kinda retro faucet ? please and thank you very very much!
Hi Sarah,
Umm, that’s pretty. Check out OUTWATER here http://www.outwatercatalogs.com/lg_display.cfm/catalog/Sugatsune/page/1
they have many options for polished chrome (matte finish)
Hello! I’m remodeling my kitchen with cream cabinets, honed black mist granite counters, shiny white glass subway tiles for backsplash with stainless appliances. Since the granite is more of a dark gray I was thinking of a black composite sink, ORB faucet, ORB cabinet pulls, and pot filler. Is that too much black? I also love champagne bronze so I’m torn! Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Julie,
I did some thinking and research and also looked at your pictures. I do like champagne bronze as well but with stainless steel appliances, you won’t have enough contrast between the colors and it will look like a mistake with champagne. You are better off with ORB. Your sink can also be stainless steel if you want. The black composite sink will show everything? Ask them at the store. Good luck! BTW, wall color should be warm colors not stark white. It can be white but with warm undertones.
Thank you. I do love ORB but I’m wondering if it will disappear in the area above the sink and lose its pizazz! I looked yesterday at a beautiful “statuary bronze” baluster pull by KraftMaid. I’m thinking if I can find a bronze to match it would be a nice contrast to the appliances and to that sink area. Statuary bronze has black undertones but isn’t as dark as the ORB… finding a faucet seems to be the challenge now. Thank you for your advice. I definitely see your point with the champagne bronze with the stainless appliances. AND I’ll look further into my sink/paint options!
That pull is handsome. Now what will you do with lighting? Its hard to find lighting in that finish. Did you think about dual finish for pulls? Like stainless steel and bronze? Then you can do faucet stainless steel
I’m still leaning towards the pictured (included pics) for the champagne bronze pulls, faucet, and pot filler. Against the honed black mist counters it feels so rich. I would do an ORB pendant lighting over the counter since I had the ORB chandelier over my kitchen table.
You think I’m way off base with the stainless appliances?
Hi,
I need your help. We are doing kitchen remodel now. Installed calacutta quartz in kitchen and bathroom. Going to paint my kitchen with SW pure white and wall color is SW gossamer and I have stainless steel appliances including faucet. What cabinets pull and light fixtures should I go with? fyl, door knobs are in flat black.
Please help me out.
TIA.
Sara
Hi Sara,
Sounds like a very pretty kitchen. Is it a modern farmhouse style? Youe pulls will look pretty in either stainless steel or flat black. Your lighting can have the two metals combined- chrome and black. It can also be all chrome (there is rarely stainless steel lighting fixtures). If you choose all black it can look too stark or graphic against pure white cabinets. If this is the look you are after that’s fine. If you want a softer look, I’d recommend either chrome or chrome/black combo. Good luck! BTW, cabinet pulls can also be stainless steel/black combo. Good luck! Can’t wait to see it!
Thanks a lot. Yes, modern farmhouse style. Sure, I’ll going chrome pulls for kitchen cabinets and chrome and black combo for the light fixtures.
Yey! Sara! It will be beautiful! I can’t wait to see the pics! Thanks for letting me know. If anything you know where to find me 🙂
I bought a new house that did not have backsplash or hardware in the kitchen. The appliances are stainless steel handles are brushed silver. The sink faucet is polished silver. I haven’t done anything yet because I do not know what to do. Please help.
Hey Connie,
Congrats on a new house! Could you make a picture Nd post it? Do you mean “nickel” when you say “silver”? Do you want to use tiles for the backsplash?
I am repainting the kitchen cabinets to white color. My white doors are having matte black color door knobs and I have a stainless steel appliances and faucets in the kitchen. Should I go with black color cabinets pulls or stainless pulls?
Thanks in advance.
Sara
I have a new kitchen remodel going in our new house. We have off white (cream) cabinets and satin nickel pulls. The counter top is oyster pearl granite. Our sink is white quartz and the faucet is brushed nickel. All appliances are stainless steel. My question is what difference does it make for backsplash should we go with subway tile off white or grey? Oyster pearl granite has black. grey and white pearl in the granite
Hi Susy,
Thanks for your question, it’s an interesting one. All you have to think about is granite and cabinets. If you use off white subway tile the cabinets might look more creamy, depending on the shade of cream- I have to see the picture. If you use gray subway tile, the cabinets might look wrong because of cold gray color of the subway tile might bring the cabinets to an “off” shade. Bottom line, please post a large picture of the tile and the cabinet color. Thanks
Hi!
Redoing kitchen and stuck on if I should do stainless steel or a black faucet? White cabinets, black hardware, island is the dark color and sink is stainless steel.
Thanks for the help!
Hi Meighan,
Umm, looks like you are into a more modern look. If this is the case, use stainless steel faucet to make the place look more sleek and polished. But if you want to pull off modern farmhouse look it could be interesting to choose a black faucet. Then be brave and have your lighting fixture more industrial looking, if you didn’t buy the one that I see here. But even with this one, it will work. LMK if you want me to look at more pictures. Good luck!
I am renovating my kitchen and I am overwhelmed by all of the choices I have to make. Very much stuck on hardware. I like the look of the honey/ champagne bronze but I am finding it much more expensive than the ORB. I would like to know if the ORB will work. And do I also get an ORB faucet? I do not have any light fixtures. All appliances are stainless steel and the counter and island will be giallo ornamental granite. Thank you for any guidance you can provide!
Hi Kate,
If you are going for a more traditional look, which it looks you do, use ORB for both-faucet and pulls. If you are going for a more transitional look, you can use stainless steel for the faucet and ORB for the pulls, for sure. Then I recommend stainless steel or nickel finish on the light fixture. Hope it helps.
What do you think of this combo for the bathroom? I’m being told pulls need to match all fixtures, including the door handle
Marlo,
I am totally fine with this combo. Nothing is matchy, matchy anymore. Both designers and homeowners mix all the metals.
Building a new home. Have changed my mind 3 times on my kitchen selections. Finally selected colors. Switched to flat black handles and pulls. What color faucets and appliances would you recommend? Trying for modern farmhouse/industrial feel. Attached photos of the cabinet colors, quartz countertops, and flooring.backsplash is lighter grey stone with square accents unable to upload another pic
Hi Kim,
This is so pretty and has so much character! You can go with a black faucet or polished chrome. I would not go for a stainless steel faucet. The appliance is a different thing… What are the options? You are likely going through what the builder is offering. So, your refrigerator is likely not provided by them. In that case, I would choose matte gray instead of stainless steel if possible. The cooktop, dishwasher, and hood …is it possible to go with gray as well? See I don’t know your options. If it is possible to go with matte gray, chrome or others, that would be great. You can write back to me telling me more about your options. It’s beautiful no matter what.
Hi. I was wondering if you could help. I have antique white cabinets with brown accents, a copper sink and a copper faucet. My back splash is white carerra marble with gold metal accents. Does the potgiller have to match the faucet or can I put a brass color to match back splash?
Hi Maria,
It all sounds so pretty! Could you please attach the pictures so that I could see it all? Thanks.
We are redoing a kitchen and bathroom. Kitchen has black lowers and white uppers. Bathroom white vanity. Want to use brushed brass harware in both rooms. Is it ok to have polished chrome faucets? Want to keep a bit of a modern look.This is a high end rental but not sure we want to spend the money on brass faucets. Also, with chrome faucets and brushed brass hardware in the bathroom what finish should the vanity light be? Thank You!
Hi Barb,
Ye, I would go with polished chrone faucet. Brass hardware is cool with what you described. Is it long pulls or small knobs? If it is long pulls you can have lighting chrone and brass combo. If it is small knobs I would go with either brass and chrome combo or all chrome. All Brass lighting is not necessary and it is quickly going out of style. How about white glass spheres? You can always make pics of what you currently have and show me.
We have white cabinets, with sain nickel pulls. We are putting in new soapstone counter tops with white sink. My husband wants rohl polished chrome faucet but I think we should get polished nickel. Do you think polished chrome would be a mistake?
Thanks
I think you are better off with polished nickel faucet.
Hello,
My kitchen is white cabinets-simply white by BM, with a white granite countertop, farmhouse sink, black cabinet hardware and stainless steel appliances. I’m a bit nervous to do a black faucet and leaning more towards a stainless faucet. What do you think would look best?
Hi Michelle,
I think black faucet would be very sharp- and really make a statement. Don’t be nervous! Then you can add splashes of color with accents and accessories if you want.
Bullding a new home kitchen white cabinets with brush nickel faucet stainless steel sink and appliances can I go with oil rubbed bronze hardware or do I need to stay with brush nickel hardware? Thanks
Hi Denise,
I think it would be totally cool to go with oil rubbed bronze hardware- you mean knobs and pulls, right? It would break up the “steelness” of it. If you incorporate oil rubbed bronze lighting fixtures, then it will look even more interesting and intentional (and warm it up). You can also use a combo of stainless steel or nickel lighting fixtures and bronze. Hope it helps. Please share when you’re done, I really want to see.
I am remodeling my kitchen and I am stuck on the hardware. I will have a stainless steel sink and appliances. The color of my cabinets will be Sherwin Williams stain – Chelsea. I like the oil rubbed bronze, but will a faucet in that color be ok with a stainless steel sink? Would a better choice be silver or brushed sliver?
Hi Barb,
How about the cabinet pulls? what color are they? If they are oil rubbed bronze – the answer is, yes, you can do a faucet in oil rubbed bronze. Also, lighting? Are your lamps silver color or bronze? What I am saying is- if you pick oil rubbed bronze for the faucet it has to look intentional and go with something else. Otherwise, I’d stick with silver colors.
Hello. I need help. We are doing our kitchen now. White cabinets. Quartz countertops with gray lines across it. Island will be blue. Faucet is stainless steel with a white farmhouse sink. Backsplash a light gray. Will oil brush pulls work?
Mariela,
I need more pictures of all the components. I like the one that you show but what are other choices? You can also email all you have marina@mydecoratingtips.com
I’m so happy I came across your blog. We are finishing our basement and I’m totally lost on the hardware for the kitchen. We have dark brown cabinets, white (little gray) quartz counters with a gray subway title backsplash. The sink is a bar sink so the standard stainless.
Our upstairs is all brushed nickel but we have dark counter tops and brown backsplash. In the basement we are doing more grays vs brown.
Could we do a brushed nickel for the basement hardware and faucet? Or should we stick with bronze? If we switch to nickel should the doorknobs remain bronze?
Thanks for your advice.
Hi Lindsey,
I looked at your pictures and I see that you also include glass mosaics in the basement, right? Brushed nickel for the basement hardware and faucet would be the right choice. I would not do bronze doorknobs but you are not just limited to nickel doorknobs. Did you consider glass doorknobs to bring in some variety and a bit of sparkle? If you do glass mosaic accents it would work perfectly. I can see clear glass doorknobs here. I hope this helps. Good luck! please show me the picture when it is done.
Would polished nickel faucet and oil rubbed bronze pulls work or should it all be polished nickel? Cabinets are shaker and going to be painted white upper and medium gray bottom with Quartz Calcutta counter with grey and a medium warm/ gold hue running through. Your thoughts? Thank you for your advice
Hi Gigi,
Could you post some pictures of the finishes? My initial instinct is that oil rubbed bronze pulls will warm it all up. It will be really pretty.
Hi! We are renovating our kitchen now. All appliances are stainless steel. Our cabinets will be an ivory color (french country-ish style) and we will have a dark chestnut colored island. Granite will be dark with off white, golds, and browns. I wanted to do a brushed stainless steel apron farmhouse sink to tie in the stainless steel appliances, so I assumed I should have a brushed stainless steel faucet. Can the hardware on my cabinets still be dark? I was thinking a bronze color. I wasn’t crazy about stainless steel caninet pulls on the ivory or chestnut colored cabinets. Any help is so appreciated! Thank you!
Jaclyn,
You don’t need to match appliances stainless steel at all. Your faucet can be bronze and then pulls on the cabinets as well, and the faucet can be off white or stainless steel.
I have white cabinets, white farmhouse sink, black drawer pulls, stainless appliances. Will a matte black faucet be ok?
Hi Lesley,
Yes, the matte black faucet will be chic because stainless steel is expected. Very good!
Hello Marina,
We are in the process of finishing our kitchen
I would love to incorporate light gold pull hamdles on our Cabinetsthr countertop is by Wilsonart “Lucca”
Appliances are stain steels
2 faucets are chrome polished
Can I still go with gold pull handles ?
Thank you in advance
Hi Ruthie,
I think I know why you want gold handles- to warm up the look, right? yes, I would do it if I had mixed metals on the light fixture, for example, chrome and gold. Good luck with your kitchen!
I love the light fixtures in the first kitchen pictured, the bohemian inspired one with the black and gold cage pendants. Do you have any information on those fixtures?
If you like the pendants I can get them. They are $200 each.
I’m excited about my new kitchen but am so worried will it all match. I’m having navy blue cabinets on the bottom and white cabinets on the walls. One wall will not have cabinets just butcher bloack shelving and fridge with the navy frame around. The base cabinets along the walls will also have butcher block countertops. But the island will have white granite. I will have white backsplash on the walls.
Now my concern. I want gold accents: gold light fixtures above the island and gold cabinet door knobs. Should the faucet be gold too then??? All my appliances are stainless steel. But I already have so much going on. Please help!
Hi Zori,
A new kitchen is a big deal, so I am excited for you as well. I will send you an email privately hoping that you can reply with several pictures of your kitchen or the components you are referring to. It is really important for me to see all of it to better serve you. Thanks
I really want to only replace my kitchen faucet. I love the matte black look. My counters and cabinets are white with shiny silver pulls ( and stainless steel sink), will this look all kinds of wrong!?! ????
Hey, Dan,
I think you totally can do black faucet here. Stainless sink and pulls are unnoticeable and expected so they won’t look like “color.” It will be great if you could add black or dark grey accents in the kitchen, such as vases, candle holders or anything black or very dark. If they are on a vertical plane, they will work with your faucet. Good luck! Thank you very much for the comment. Keep on asking questions. We all do.
I have stainless steel appliances and commercial stainless steel faucet and 1 large stainless steel . sink. My cabinets are walnut more of a natural warm color with white gold calcutta marble countertops.
Not sure if I should use a brushed nickel or a dark brown the color of the Josh & Main that you have up there for my hardware for the cabinets???? HELP.
The other issue is I just ordered island stools that are silver bottoms with white leather that matches my marble.
I have a gold mettalic glass backsplash that has the feeling of a gold leaf mirror look.
Any advice…
I could randomly advise you and get it over with, but that’s not what I do. I need to SEE the pictures of all to serve you well 🙂 Please post whatever you have and I will reply right away. Thanks
I’m doing minor updates on an old kitchen. The cabinet pull size is a hard to find size with extremely limited options. I chose one in brushed nickel because it was the only design I really liked in that size. The faucet has to be able to have a portable dishwasher connected to it. I’m having trouble finding faucets that will allow this, so I think I will have to go with my current chrome faucet which is still fairly new and put in by a plumber without an option of designs on my part. My sink will be stainless steel. I with I had more options to match the faucet with the pulls, but with the restrictions of what I can choose, it just doesn’t look possible.
Hey Marci,
Thanks for the comment! Could you post pictures or give me more details about the dilemma? Thanks
I am thinking of using stainless as I find it really clean. Technically, stainless steel is a finish, right? and not a pure or raw material. Or…. any suggestion? I would really appreciate your help.
Stainless steel is finish. What are you using it for? Faucet, hardware? Please let me know so that I could help you better. Thanks
Hello Marina,
Thank you! It’s for the faucets
Sure, Christine! Any time!
the other day , I went for some eye shopping . This is really cool because it’s amazing the huge impact that hardware can make in a kitchen or bathroom. Door and cabinet knobs, drawer handles, faucets, and lighting all work together. I am still planning, but the image you have here I might use as inspiration.
Sure, I am glad it inspired you.
Oh! That is why my girlfriend have already decided on handles and pulls for the rest of the kitchen to match an overall look, and she really want our faucet to match. Now I understand her. LOL. Well, I don’t know anything about designs that is why I leave it up to her.
I am sure she is doing a great job!
I like this post. This should be a breeze because there are so many faucet styles and finishes available, you just have to play with your creativeness and imagination.
Well, I think kitchen should be visually pleasing as possible to enable a more comfortable living experience. I’ve been bugging my wife to make reconsideration on our kithen design. I will make sure she will see this article.
Thank you!
fun elements for planning your kitchen cabinet hardware ideas. A very minor fixtures can in fact add a ton of style to your kitchen designs.