I love brass accents in a home. From lighting to hardware, to mirrors and framed art – I think it adds such beauty and warmth to any space.
When our home was under construction, I knew I’d do brass hardware in our kitchen. I loved our polished chrome hardware in our previous home, but I thought brass would better complement our warmer white oak floors and had always wanted to do brass in a future kitchen.
I know brass isn’t for everyone, but I truly believe in designing your home for your needs and tastes. Plus, hardware is easy to swap out for a new buyer if they decide to go in a different direction.
I loved the shape and style of hexagonal bin pull hardware in our last home so much, that I ended up ordering the same hardware in unlacquered brass for our new kitchen (our pulls are the 4 inch size). Unlacquered brass is a living finish, meaning it changes or patinas over time. Chris Loves Julia used it in their last kitchen too if you’d like to see it on darker cabinetry.
I have Rejuvenation’s aged brass (which has a satin finish) in our master bathroom and between the two, I prefer the unlacquered brass. It just has such a beautiful and rich tonality. It truly looks like jewelry on cabinets.
Unlacquered brass vs. aged brass (please note these are Rejuvenation’s versions of unlacquered and aged brass- every company will have different finishes).
Some people are bothered by the unique and uneven patina that unlaquered brass can have (for example, we touch the hardware on some of our cabinets such as the garbage pull-out many times a day compared to some knobs and pulls that are touched less often). The pulls that are touched more often patina more quickly – but that doesn’t bother us at all. You can’t really tell unless you’re looking closely. You can also polish the brass back to its shinier original form if you’d like!
Here you can see the unlacquered brass pulls that we rarely touch:
And here you can see the patina on our trash can pulls- we touch these everyday, many times per day.
Brass is definitely a trend in kitchens right now, especially satin brass, which reads a little more modern. What I love about unlacquered brass is how timeless it feels. Much like polished nickel, it has a classic quality to it.
One question I get a lot is about mixing metals – whether it be for lighting, hardware, artwork frames, etc. I am very pro mixing metals – I think it createds depth and interest in a space – but I know it makes some people very nervous because it wasn’t done as much even a decade ago. Studio McGee has a great post on this topic and here and here are a couple more.
In our last home, we had polished chrome cabinet hardware and plumbing fixtures with stain gold lighting. In this home we have unlaquered brass hardware, brass lights over the island and polished chrome plumbing fixtures. We also have matte black on our door handles. I think matchy-matchy hardware everywhere can work in select spaces (for example I’ve seen homes where polished nickel is used everywhere and it’s very traditional), but for the most part, mixing metals gives spaces more interest and personality. I have rarely seen an interior designer do all of the same metal finishes in one space.
What kind of cabinet hardware do you have?
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Veronika, the house is beautiful. You have such a talented eye for design. Where are those pendant lights from over the island?
Hi! Thank you 🙂 they are like here: https://www.liketoknow.it/ltk/5WGtwtGzoRKcH0RZONT3h0
Hello Veronika,
May I ask what size pendants you used above the kitchen island? I love them. Also, wondering the size of your island. The proportion of the lights above the island look great and trying to determine what will work for mine. So challenging.
They are 18 inches! The island slab is 99 inches long.
I have lucite and satin brass in my kitchen. I love it. Even people who were skeptical of my choice when I showed them my picks really liked it once they saw it in my kitchen.
Hi Veronica , your house is beautiful. May I ask what color paint you used on walls in your kitchen and living rooms and where did you get the backsplash from ? TIA
Thank you! https://www.veronikasblushing.com/2019/12/how-we-customized-our-new-build-home.html
Above is the info you need! Backlash is subway tile 3 x 12 floor and decor.
You have a beautiful kitchen. I thought unlaquered brass was suppose to turn a brown/bronz-ish color? I’m debating between the aged and unlaquered brass at Rejuvenation, but I’m looking for the deeper color in the end and from the pictures yours look very light and silvery. How long have you had it and has it changed from when this post was done? Thank you.
Our hardware is not at all silvery – it’s a true brass color – more of a warm gold. I love it! If you want a deeper color, perhaps look at antique brass?
Your kitchen is beautiful. Can you tell me what floors you have? Is it red or white oak or a pre-fab? Thanks!
Hello Veronika,
Your kitchen looks beautiful!
I am trying to decide between Rejuvenation Hardware’s unlacquered brass vs aged brass for our kitchen reno.
You mentioned that you have the aged brass in your bathroom. Has the patina on the aged brass hardware in your bathroom changed over time? In other words, is the aged brass also a “living” finish similar to the unlacquered finish? Or is the aged brass finish similar to a lacquered finish in that the patina will not change over time? I cannot seem to find the answer that I am looking for on RH’s website, or anywhere else for that matter!
I love the look of the patina on the unlacquered brass, but prefer the aged brass look at the beginning. I’m hoping that the aged brass will continue to age over time.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Nicole
I prefer the unlacquered. The aged is like a satin brass- I have it in my bathroom and don’t love it as much.
Can you link the actual knobs that you have on kitchen cabs?
Thanks!
Here you go https://rstyle.me/cz-n/dssmrngj6w
Thanks so much for the photos that compare the two types of brass. You helped me made up my mind, finally! Unlacquered brass it is!
Your kitchen is so beautiful by the way! Love it!
So lovely! What kitchen faucet did you go with?
It is polished chrome, I believe by Moen.
Hi Veronica,
This post was very helpful! Does Rejuvenation’s aged brass also change in color over time or does it remain the same?
Janet
I believe the aged brass stays the same as it’s not a “living finish” like unlacquered brass.