In this post – looking at polished nickel and unpolished brass hardware
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I have to pick out my kitchen hardware soon and I am having a hard time deciding between polished nickel and unpolished brass hardware! I like them both!
Polished Nickel
Pros – matches my sink faucet, classic and seemingly timeless
Cons – with an all white kitchen it can be seen as a little “cold”, but it is warmer than polished chrome. Also, it is quite common (does that matter? nah.)
Unpolished Brass
Pros – has a nice warmth to it, and is something different then what I am used to
Cons – possibly too trendy, difficult to match the exact finish unless all hardware is from the same company
Below is kind of how it would look in my kitchen – I have the exact faucet with an apron sink and marble counters… although it looks like the hardware is gold to me and not brass!
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| Jean Stoffer Design |
So, which would YOU choose?
I think I know what I am leaning to now. I think.
http://peoniesandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com/
I absolutely love the brass! It looks fresh to me. When we were deciding, I asked at the lighting and hardware stores about brass…they said it wasn't selling in our area. We mixed nickel in the kitchen but bronze everywhere else. You really can't go wrong. 😉
I have been having a hard time deciding but I think I am leaning towards towards polished nickel in the kitchen. There is a large variety of brass that I have noticed too – polished, unpolished, unpolished antiqued, etc etc!
What a beautiful home. Either are fine with me I just like them all the same.
Thank you for the compliment. They are both pretty finishes!
Angela,
Polished nickel gets my vote. I had brass hardware in my kitchen when it was first built, but after a few years, I did not like how it tarnished.
Judith
oh interesting, that is true… I don't know if I would like how the brass tarnishes. I think I am going to go with polished nickel.
I don't think you would ever tire of the nickel. I would go with it.
I think you are right – I am worried I would tire of the brass!
The nickel will never go out of style and it doesnt break up the look of those beautiful cabinets.
you are right, it is much less likely to go out of style compared to the brass!
It's me again, from Be Colorful Coastal. 😀 I love both finishes as well and we JUST did a complete kitchen remodel in our home this winter and spring. I ultimately went with the polished nickel because I was having a hard time convincing my husband that the unpolished brass was making a comeback. I think all he could see was all of the dated brass that we saw when were house hunting. I do love what we went with but I'm a fan of the brass too.
yes it can be hard to see past the brass of the old days!! I think that we will likely choose the polished nickel too.
Beautiful pictures… I personally like the polished nickel best… we have been moving most of the brass from our home and just like the nickel better.
I am leaning towards the polished nickel.
Brass. Timeless. Looks more expensive.
oh interesting. I think it looks more expensive because it kind of looks like gold.
Nickel – it will always be in fashion + timeless. Also the brass stands out too much and detracts from the features of the kitchen..too busy…just my opinion..good luck.
The real question is this- Do you wear more gold or silver jewelry? That can usually help guide people in selecting home fixtures and decor but not always. We're inclined as humans to decorate using the things we're drawn to wearing everyday.
But…. Here's a big BUT….. I don't wear gold jewelry at all. I do have a pair of cute shimmery gold flip-flops that I adore wearing, especially with dark colored dresses. They act kind of like jewelry in that case. Back in the day, I used to wear gold jewelry until it became more tasteless and gaudy and was plastered all over clothes with big lettering. I also cringed at the old school brass fixtures too. However, the look of it now is much prettier and less brassy looking.
I have nothing to write home about bronze knobs in my kitchen and bronze faceplates. Now, I dislike them but they look fabulous in certain styles of decor like Tuscan and warm earth toned designs. Definitely not my style now. ha ha.
Brushed nickel is classic and I believe the gold hardware is likely to be a classic too. I know you said you're leaning towards nickel but I think for your style (our style) you'll likely want something with gold. Where in France is silver used? Hmm.. Good question. Ha ha. You'll know the answer to that one since you've been there.
If you worry about the gold being too much, go for a simple, clean lined, minimal type hardware that's more like wearing a nice pair of diamond earrings. It's just enough sparkle without being terribly ostentatious or something that sticks out so badly that it becomes the only thing you see when walking in the kitchen.
Brushed gold is a very nice happy medium. Not to gold, bronze or nickel looking but it does have tones of silver throughout it and is warming towards white cabinetry. Kitchens with a lot of natural light look beautiful with gold but also as pretty with nickel.
Maybe all this rambling will help. Ha ha
Thank you for the input! I prefer silver colored jewelry as opposed to yellow gold! I am leaning towards a polished nickel… it has a warm undertone too. But I still have time to decide!