STORIES
What is the best finish for bathroom taps?
Bathroom fittings are what we see and touch the most. So the chosen finish needs to be practical. But it also needs to feel right. Think about how you want it to look in 10 years. Do you want it to develop character? To age gracefully? Or do you want its original look to hold?
Our living and lacquered finishes are durable in their own ways. So it mainly depends on what sort of look you want. The finish you choose has a big impact on the complete design.
Living finishes: the beauty of brass that ages
A living finish is unlacquered. Brass pieces that embrace change rather than resist it. Responding to use. Over time, unlacquered brass develops a patina. It's what we like most about living finishes. Each piece will become unique to the home it's in.
It's also versatile. Everything we make starts as polished brass. But then we hand-dip components to alter the tone, suiting the design. It's a chemical process. And it's how we make our darker-toned finishes. The brass doesn't go anywhere. It stays underneath. And gradually starts to show through on the parts touched most.
Unlacquered brass patinates because it reacts with moisture in the air. And in a bathroom, there's plenty. It also ages depending on atmospheric conditions local to the project. It'll patinate faster in a home near the sea, slower in the mountains. That's the beauty of a living finish. No two pieces will age the same.
The patina that develops acts as a protective layer. Sealing the surface underneath.
Add a lacquer for a look that holds
You can specify our brushed brass, bronze, and aged iron finishes with a lacquer if you want the look to hold. It won't patinate. Won't change.
Lacquered finishes are equally as hardwearing. Just in a different way. It's a protective coating, carefully applied to the surface. A transparent layer forms, matt or a gloss, sealing the metal beneath. It's a finish ideal for a busy bathroom.
Nickel is our alternative to chrome
It still offers that reflective look, but it's warmer. And great for bathrooms.
We leave our nickel finishes unlacquered. They age over time, but slower than our other living finishes. Nickel develops a soft patina. We make it by dipping brass components in a warm chemical bath, where a current draws copper ions from the solution onto the metal's surface. A copper foundation forms.
Then we dip again, but with nickel. It becomes a second skin. The surface is transformed. After plating, polished nickel is buffed to a soft shine. Brushed nickel is given a fine directional grain. Just like brushed brass.
The choice is yours
There isn't one answer to the right bathroom finish. If you want your fittings to develop character over time, unique to the project, choose a living finish. Unlacquered brass responds to the room and the way it's used.
If you want the look to stay the same, opt for a lacquer. It protects the surface and keeps it consistent.
Choose the finish you want to live with.
Caring for brass fittings
Our living and lacquered finishes are durable. But they still require some care.
Never use abrasive cloths when cleaning, and never use harsh chemicals. All you need is a soft cloth, warm water, and a pH-neutral soap. Wiping regularly helps prevent limescale buildup. See more on how to care for brass fittings here.
