Brass is Back (… And Here to Stay)

This post is sponsored by Lowe’s.

Brass is back, folks. Although it’s had a few rough patches (lookin at you, shiny yellow doorknobs), it’s been around forever and I’d argue that it’s one of the most classic metals.  It adds warmth to any space and looks great against practically every color and texture.  It’s been my metal of choice for 5 years and isn’t going anywhere!

Image Links: Pot Filler

Image Links: Faucet | Knobs

Image Link: Sconces

Image Link: Faucet | Knobs

Brass FINISHES

Brass comes in several different finishes, each with a different look.

• Unlacquered brass has no finish and will patina over time (my favorite).
• Polished brass has a shiny, bright finish and won’t patina.
• Satin brass has a brushed finish.  It’s not shiny, so it won’t show fingerprints.
• Antique brass has a brushed finish that’s made to appear old.  It’s darker than satin brass and usually has more brown tones.

Delta also makes a pretty brass finish called Champagne Bronze, which is like a cross between antique brass and satin brass. We’ve used it in client projects and have it in our own kitchen, too.

I don’t mind mixing different brass finishes from different brands.  The one rule of thumb I stick to is keeping the tone of the brass consistent throughout a space.  In our kitchen, we have shiny brass latches and a satin brass faucet, but the tone is the same so they work well together.

our brass PICKS

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite faucets, pot fillers, hardware and lighting below.  Keep scrolling to see our picks for the White Cape Cottage kitchen, too!

Faucet Links: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

A well designed brass faucet can make such a statement in a kitchen.  We ordered #4 for the White Cape Cottage kitchen, have #3 in our kitchen at home, and have used #7 in a few past kitchen renovations (it’s a great deal). I’m also LOVING the unique handle detail in #6, and have #8 on my splurge list (can you blame me?).

HARDWARE Links: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

We used #5 in our most recent Airbnb renovation — it’s almost an exact match to Delta’s Champagne Bronze finish (faucet #7 and pot filler #3 above).  For White Cape Cottage, we’re eyeing #6, #3 and #7. I sense a good brassy mix in our future.

LIGHTING Links: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Ahh, brass lighting.  My favorite.  We’re installing three #4 flush mount lights down the center of the White Cape Cottage kitchen instead of recessed lighting and I’m so excited for them to arrive!  We also installed #3 in the bathroom (stay tuned for the reveal sooooon).

What do you think about brass? Are you a fan?