Mixed Metal Cabinet Hardware: Eastern Washington’s Hottest Kitchen Trend for 2025
Walk through any newly renovated home in Spokane, and you’ll quickly notice something different about today’s kitchens. The old rule of matching every piece of hardware to a single metal finish has gone out the window. Instead, homeowners across Eastern Washington—from Airway Heights to Colville—are embracing mixed metal cabinet hardware, creating spaces that feel both sophisticated and refreshingly modern.
This trend represents more than just a design fad. It reflects how we actually live in our kitchens today. Rather than viewing our kitchen as a sterile workspace where everything must match perfectly, we’re treating it as the heart of our home—a place that should feel layered, interesting, and genuinely lived-in.
At our Builders Supply & Home Center locations throughout Eastern Washington, we’ve seen this trend explode over the past year. Customers are moving away from the safe, matchy-matchy approach and asking for hardware combinations that tell a story and create visual interest throughout their space.
The Foundation: Choosing Your Metal Palette
The secret to successful mixed metal cabinet hardware isn’t throwing together random finishes and hoping for the best. The most stunning kitchens we see in Kettle Falls and Spokane follow a simple rule: stick to two or three complementary finishes that share similar undertones.
For Eastern Washington homes, we consistently see three winning combinations. The first pairs matte black with warm brass—perfect for the modern farmhouse style popular throughout our region. The black provides a strong, contemporary foundation while brass adds warmth that’s especially welcome during our gray winter months.
The second combination features oil-rubbed bronze with brushed nickel. This pairing works beautifully in transitional kitchens, offering enough contrast to create interest without feeling jarring. The bronze brings warmth while the nickel keeps things fresh and current.
Our third popular combination blends antique brass with black iron finishes. This creates a more dramatic, industrial feel that’s particularly striking in loft-style homes or kitchens with exposed beams—architectural elements we see frequently in converted spaces throughout Spokane.
The key is ensuring your chosen metals appear at least twice throughout the space. If you use brass on your island, echo it somewhere else—perhaps on a few upper cabinet knobs or your open shelving brackets. This repetition creates intentional design rather than random placement.
Strategic Placement for Maximum Impact
Where you place each finish matters just as much as which finishes you choose. We’ve learned from working with hundreds of Eastern Washington homeowners that certain placements simply work better than others.
Start with your lower cabinets and island. These get the most daily use, so choose a finish that’s both practical and visually grounding. Matte black excels here—it hides fingerprints better than lighter finishes and provides a strong foundation for your overall design. Oil-rubbed bronze works similarly well, offering warmth while maintaining that practical durability.
For upper cabinets, consider using your secondary finish. Brass or brushed nickel pulls on upper cabinets draw the eye upward and create vertical interest. This is especially effective in kitchens with standard 8-foot ceilings, common in many Airway Heights and Colville homes.
Your accent finish should appear in smaller doses—think specialty cabinet knobs, pantry hardware, or decorative elements. This might be where you introduce a third metal or use a more ornate version of one of your primary finishes.
Don’t forget to consider your existing fixtures when planning placement. Your faucet, lighting, and appliance finishes should harmonize with your cabinet hardware choices. If you’re keeping your stainless steel appliances, ensure at least one of your hardware finishes complements that cool-toned metal.
Making It Work in Your Budget
One concern we hear frequently at our Colville and Kettle Falls locations is cost. Quality cabinet hardware isn’t cheap, and using multiple finishes can seem like an expensive proposition. However, there are smart ways to achieve this look without breaking your renovation budget.
Consider a phased approach. Start with your most visible pieces—typically your island and the cabinets flanking your range or sink. These are the hardware pieces guests notice first. You can always update remaining cabinets later as budget allows.
Another strategy is mixing price points strategically. Invest in higher-end hardware for your island and main working areas where you’ll notice quality daily. Use well-made but more budget-friendly options for less prominent locations like pantry doors or upper cabinets you rarely access.
Focus on proportion over price. A simple, well-proportioned pull in the right finish will always look better than an ornate, expensive piece that overwhelms your cabinet doors. At Builders Supply & Home Center, we can show you options at various price points that maintain consistent quality and visual appeal.
Bringing Your Vision to Life
Ready to transform your Eastern Washington kitchen with mixed metal cabinet hardware? Visit us at any of our Builders Supply & Home Center locations in Airway Heights, Colville, or Kettle Falls. Our team can walk you through finish samples, help you visualize combinations, and ensure your hardware choices work beautifully with your existing kitchen elements.
We carry an extensive selection of cabinet hardware in all the popular mixed-metal finishes, and we’re always happy to order special pieces to complete your vision. You can also browse our selection online at bldrsupply.epicor-inet.com to get started planning your new look.
Mixed metal cabinet hardware isn’t just a trend—it’s a design approach that creates kitchens with genuine personality and lasting appeal. Let us help you create a space that truly reflects how you live and cook in Eastern Washington.