Another "mixed metal" thread - pendants and pulls

3 years ago

Still slogging through the lighting-fixture process. And still as color-blind as ever :) Supply chain being what it is, I am having trouble finding the pendants I would like over my kitchen island, in the finish I thought I wanted. I want just a basic schoolhouse pendant (well, two of them). The other metal things in the kitchen are all in the stainless/brushed nickel family, but it has been impossible to find a brushed-nickel schoolhouse pendant, in a reasonable size for my island, at a reasonable price (we are now close to 100% over budget - supply chain, labor costs, you all know the song). I've looked on all the sites you lovely people have recommended (Thanks to you I did find a sconce, though backordered till December...) All the companies seem to have the oil-rubbed bronze, or something similar, so now I'm trying to think out of the box.

Our island is a totally different color than the perimeter. It is brown, with a white marble top whereas the perimeter is white with soapstone counters. So now, I am thinking that the cabinet pulls do not all have to match, and I could do something different with the island pulls and pendants. Would the ORB-type color work well, do you think? Or is that too dark against the cabinets - maybe an actual brass-y color? What metal looks good with this color cabinet, and is likely to be in good supply in lighting fixtures? Floor is a neutral oak, currently covered with paper. For bonus points please recommend a size on the pendant globe - island is 9 x 4 feet. 12 inches? Bigger?

Island cabs:

Perimeter cabs:

The type of light I am looking for (not married to this brand at all, it's for example):

Featured Answer

rebunky

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Here are some kitchens I found that might help you visualize the dark metal on the schoolhouse pendants with the chrome or nickel hardware.

For this last one, just pretend the island is wood.

I think the the orb or black on the pendants would look better anyways because then something would relate to the dark soapstone.

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Comments (9)

chispa
3 years ago
That light would be easy to spray paint with Rustoleum to a "silver" finish. Pretty easy if you have some basic DIY skills.
gardengrl66 z5 thanked chispa
barncatz
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I think you could use ORB hardware on the island with ORB pendants and brushed nickel on the perimeter. I also think you could use brushed nickel cabinet hardware on both the perimeter and the island with ORB on the pendants.
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gardengrl66 z5
Original Author
3 years ago
@chispa you are more adventurous than I; also it would sort of gall me to overpaint an expensive light fixture:) @barncatz thanks for the vote of confidence. "regular" brass is also in the running. i should probably just get some sample pulls.
chispa
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
@gardengrl66 z5, you need to define expensive! I was going by the photo you posted. Minka has quite reasonable prices and good quality products. Lighting has gone up a crazy amount in the last few years. I would spray paint a $200 fixture if everything was perfect but the color, but if the fixture was $1000 then it should be perfect/amazing in every way and not need any tweaking!

I've also taken hardware to a metal plating company, but that is more expensive and requires that the item can be taken completely apart for the plating.
gardengrl66 z5 thanked chispa
gardengrl66 z5
Original Author
3 years ago
@rebunky I cannot believe you found all these kitchens with basically my color scheme! I think I found one in all of my planning-searching! I think you are right, pendants are "removed" enough from pulls that different finishes can work.

@chispa now I feel like a cheapskate :) but regardless of price, it just seems a waste to paint something brand new! Seriously though you are right, lighting is way up these days. That Minka was probably the cheapest thing I found that looked right, everything else is more...
nicoletouk
3 years ago
Have to tried Olde Brick Lighting? They have tons of different schoolhouse styles, and all are available in Brushed Nickel, I believe. Plus, made in the USA!

Olde Brick Lighting

Nicole
gardengrl66 z5 thanked nicoletouk
gardengrl66 z5
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you to everyone! @nicoletouk, the Olde Brick website is great. They don't come up for me on the general searches - obviously I'm not searching right.

This thread has really got me evaluating my options. I'm now strongly leaning toward doing a different metal theme for the island. Here's my reasoning: It already has a different cabinet color and countertop from the perimeter. Some on this forum say that's a no-no - too busy - but I think of it as a "setting apart." The island is a transition from the kitchen to the living room - there's no wall between them. The far side of the island is our seating and "office" space, as there is a shelf under the island for our devices. The end near the oven is dedicated to baking only - all the food prep is flowing along the perimeter. And the other short end, near the TV room - AKA the Man Cave - is for DH to do the refrigerator/microwave two-step!

So really the island is functioning as more than just another set of cabinets with counter over it. It's truly going to be the center of the great space we've created. I've just ordered some sample pulls in different metals. I really do think a light-colored brass might look good with the warmth of the wood cabinets. But I've got polished and brushed nickel coming too. Stopped short of chrome, as nothing in there is quite that "shiny". Wish me luck!
RL Relocation LLC
3 years ago
Whats the budget, for the scale you want and the glass size, I think 200 is fair? The problem is if you go 12-14 inch globes they will get $$ https://www.homedepot.com/p/Light-Society-Portola-1-Light-Modern-Bronze-Schoolhouse-Pendant-with-White-Glass-Shade-LS-C251-BZ-WH/313593345

this is called modern bronze which might be a nice go between for brushed nickel.