DESIGN: METAL CHOICES
But how the mixing and matching is achieved can change most naysayers and greatly impact most designs. Done well, it projects a “design-forward” feeling. Remember, for most investment properties your design goal should be to make the house feel new or up to date. Large bathrooms and open spaces that are connected—even kitchens and dining rooms—all lend themselves to mixing and matching metals.
mixing and matching metals in larger spaces often creates an interior that drives you to look around the space. On the other hand, small rooms (e.g., powder rooms) are often more appealing when metals match and give the area a more harmonious look and feel. The metal finishes you use will ultimately make a statement in any design. They will set the tone for the interior and help to achieve either a formal or casual feeling. The choice you make about metals may very well be the driving force behind the sale of your next big investment! •
Here’s how to start:
C hoose a “feature metal,” or the metal that will dominate the finished look. Use the dominant finish on the object that is the focal point of the room (e.g., the kitchen island with the sink and faucet). U se the same focal point finish on the sink faucet as on the cabinet hardware because both are “high-touch” elements. C hoose a complementary metal finish for the lighting.
MICHELE VAN DER VEEN
Michele Van Der Veen is host of Good Day segments, including Flip It, Decorate Like a Designer, and Stage to Sell. She started her career in real estate investing more than 30 years ago. A published author, Van Der Veen has been recognized and featured in international magazines for her unique approach to interior design. Acquiring a formal education from the Interior Designers Institute of California, her experience stems from building custom homes to flipping more than 100 homes and working in commercial real estate development alongside her father at a young age. Not afraid to push the limit on her own designs and investments, Van Der Veen will often be heard reassuring her team about her decisions by saying “Don’t worry, we are the comps!” For more on Van Der Veen’s work or to contact her, visit iHeartHomescorp.com.
K eep in mind that the metal finishes you select should all be the same sheens.
A lso pay attention to the undertones of the metals. Keep warm undertones with warm colors, and cool undertones with cool. Following these tips will give the room a more balanced feel and create rhythm and a better sense of flow even though all the metals don’t match. It’s always important to remember that mixing and matching metals works best in larger spaces. Because larger rooms give your eyes a bigger space to look at,
42 | think realty magazine :: july - august 2024
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter