We are getting ready to sell our home next year and need some advice on fixtures for the bathroom. The home was built in 1991 and has the gold faucets and gold metal on the shower enclosure to prove it. Needless to say, it is out of date. I'm planning on replacing all the faucets in the double sink, bathtub and shower but can't afford to replace the shower stall itself because it is a special order, $1,700 configuration.

The bathtub and countertops are a cultured marble in cream, and the cabinets are oak. I can paint the cabinets an espresso and work with the countertops, but the mixture of the gold metal with other faucet finishes has me stumped.

Can the metal exterior on the shower doors remain gold and can I add an oil-rubbed bronze to other fixtures without it looking strange? Do you have any other suggestions? — M.P., St. Louis

A: Mixing finishes is not completely out of the question.

There are many types of oil-rubbed bronze finishes out there. Some have a very obvious yellow/gold undertone that would mix well with what you have. You can also try Kohler's Brushed Bronze, it looks almost like a matte gold and is very popular. Try pulling it all together with a warm paint color on the walls in the gold family. Don't forget to change your handles or knobs out on the cabinet also.

Good luck on the house sale!

Jenny Rausch is a certified kitchen designer and president of Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath.