Choosing finishes for the fixtures in your Louisville custom home helps define the look and feel of the overall appearance and theme of your design. Stainless steel, brushed nickel, and brass are the three most popular finishes that homeowners are choosing from today. From faucets to shower heads, focus on the overall look you hope to achieve and the amount of maintenance you want to assume. Then weigh the pros and cons of each finish to determine which one best fits into your room plan. Here are some of the basics to help you make an objective decision and a final choice.
Stainless Steel – Since the 1930s stainless steel appliances and objects have been around and are continuing to grow in popularity as choices for household sinks, faucets, handles, and fixtures. Technically, stainless steel is a finish and not a pure material. It originates as brass or steel and is then coated with an electroplating process. The end result is an object with a metallic exterior finish and a smooth shiny surface called stainless steel.
Stainless steel is durable, versatile, and easy to maintain. Unlike chrome and nickel, it doesn’t display spots as easily and keeps its shiny appearance. Daily maintenance can be as simple as cleaning the surfaces with a sponge and water, and drying with paper towels or a cloth. Special cleaning products are not necessary for stainless steel in order to restore luster and shine. With a small amount of hand pressure applied to the surface, buffing and polishing is complete.
Brushed Nickel – With its warm, brown tone, some homeowners are drawn to the appearance of brushed nickel. Some consider it more appealing for faucets and fixtures in kitchens and baths. The contrast of brushed nickel looks nice against a stark-white sink and coordinates nicely with a Tuscan, French country, or vintage room décor. The brownish hue also looks nice against a tiled backsplash or stone countertops like marble, granite, and slate. This warm and earthy look is a huge contrast to the shiny finish of stainless steel.
The finish of brushed nickel is far from shiny, but matte or semigloss. While stainless steel blends well with other stainless steel appliances, brushed nickel is more difficult to match and coordinate with other appliances Generally, the goal of a brushed nickel faucet or fixture is not to blend or coordinate but to stand out as a pop of color.
Brass Faucets – Brass fixtures are a bit less common, but they have certainly earned a loyal following and have been used in bathrooms for a very long time. Unlike stainless steel and brushed nickel faucets, brass faucets are made up of a single metal, no plating or metal blends involved. Expect to pay a bit more for a brass fixture, and to have fewer models to choose from.
The choice is yours. Let your fixtures reflect your personality and combine to create a palette of creativity throughout your home. At PL Lyons we can help you with choosing the right combinations for your new custom home. Call us and schedule a free consultation.
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