STORIES
Why we don't sell chrome (and what we do instead)
Most brassware companies make a chrome finish. Even our competitors of the highest quality. Such as Vola, Gessi, Waterworks and Samuel Heath. They all offer it as part of their wide ranges of finishes. Which is great. Chrome works for many interiors. We don't sell chrome. And that's because we believe there isn't much to see underneath when it eventually scratches. Chrome is usually covering a cheaper metal, making it seem like something better than it is.
This is why we work with brass. Simple, real, honest with you. Everything we make is brass throughout.
Our alternative: nickel
Nickel is our forever alternative to chrome. It still offers that reflective look, but it’s softer. Looks and feels warmer. More forgiving. It’s still solid brass, all the way through. We make it by lowering pieces into a warm chemical bath, where a current draws copper ions from the solution and onto the metal’s surface. A copper foundation forms, invisible in the finished piece, but core to its quality. Then we dip again, but with nickel. It’s like a second skin. The surface is chemically transformed.
Polished & brushed nickel
We make both. And we love both. All of our products are available in these finishes. Polished nickel is buffed to a gentle shine after plating. Brushed nickel is given a fine directional grain. It’s the same texture as our brushed brass finish. But hand-applied over the new nickel layer. It’s satin-like. Both, left unlacquered, are living finishes. And both age slightly differently from our other living finishes.
How does nickel age?
It’s a natural process. Nickel takes its time when it ages. It won’t develop a patina as quickly or as boldly as unlacquered polished brass. Over time, it gains a quiet warmth. Subtle, but still real. It happens as the surface reacts to air and moisture. It oxidises. This can cause the colour to shift slightly, becoming more muted. It adds a depth and lived-in look that simply can’t be achieved with chrome. Nickel only improves with age. Looking better with time and touch.
Caring for nickel
Similar to all our other living finishes, with a soft cloth, warm water, and a pH-neutral soap. Every so often, to prevent any buildup. For polished nickel only, you can use a quality metal polish if you ever want to bring back its original shine. Taking it back to day one. We enjoy embracing the ageing process. A sign of honesty. Revealing the story of your home. Solid brass fittings with a nickel finish are an investment in quality.
