Mixing silver and gold fittings, mirrors, picture frames

[Purplturpl]

Is it ok to do this. I have a 1930s home and it has various light fittings, window fixtures , taps , door handles etc. a lot are gold. Some are brass. Some are silver. Do I need to try to unify everything? Or it’s it sometimes ok to have a mix?

a lot of our own mirrors and picture frames are silver. And probably the majority of the fittings are more gold/brass so I am struggling if I need to replace a lot of our stuff?

I think it does look best unified in one tone. You could put some gilt paint on picture frames.

Gold and brass looks so much nicer.

What about in kitchens? Al the fittings there are silver, I think that’s more normal? All our previous houses have been more modern with brushed steel. So I am a bit confused by the brass/gold everywhere. But I do like it. It is warmer

It can look OK, depending on the tone and the mix. I'd take photos of every room and really assess how much of a problem it is, or maybe walk round the house with a friend whose eye you trust. Remember that you don't HAVE to have it all matching, it's up to you to decide whether you can live with it or not!

If you can't, there are always cheaper fixes. For example, you can paint your frames black, or gold leaf them, or use bronze rubbing paste.

Thanks. It is driving me mad a bit just now. The kitchen and bathroom installed by the previous owners have all stainless steel more modern look. But the hallways lounge dining room are more traditional with gold everywhere. I could switch everything to silver but A lot of the living areas are very creamy which I think is better with gold/brass?

it feels like a monumental task to unify it. Maybe I just need to learn to live with it

@Purplturpl What about in kitchens? Al the fittings there are silver, I think that’s more normal?

I also like brass and gold tones. Not sure what you mean by "more normal" - I had my kitchen done with gold and brass toned hardware and taps. It would be a bit of a nuisance and of course it would be an expense, but you could probably replace the handles and taps if you wanted.

@Purplturpl A lot of our own mirrors and picture frames are silver.

As a PP said, frames can be gilded. Also, mirrors can be re-framed.

Of course, you can just decide to live with it all! Or live with it and replace things gradually.

I think by more normal. I am just more used to living in new builds where everything is stainless steel (or the ones I have seen).

I always thought of gold as being more dated. But now I see that it’s probably more classy/timeless. A lot of our sofas are grey, which is clashing with the beige carpet and creamy wallpaper.

probably I need to choose to slowly convert to one or the other

@Purplturpl Probably I need to choose to slowly convert to one or the other

I agree. Great project!

I think silver and chrome looks cheaper. However bathrooms and kitchens can be different to the living spaces, they are meant to be more utility areas. If you do not want gold light switches change them, not a huge expense. As for your grey sofas, how about some tasselled blankets? It would protect from spills and wear too.

I would go for the gold look though, it’s warmer and more opulent. It is the same with jewellery, gold vs silver. Gold wins hands down.

Ah ok. I hadn’t really considered that the kitchen and bathroom were ok tk be different. Though I needed to try to unify the whole house

I think it might depend on the quality of the fittings as well as the colour. When we moved into our current house, all the doors had cheap brass effect handles and upstairs had cheap brass light switches. I switched all the handles to a better quality plain black handle and upstairs switches and sockets to white. Much cleaner.

Chrome is good in a bathroom, especially if you have grey marble tone floor or wall tiles. Also more durable than brass.