"Installed it in a client's high-traffic powder room expecting complaints, but they've actually found it easier to maintain than their brass fixtures."
Interesting observation—I’ve noticed chrome can vary quite a bit depending on the brand. Some cheaper ones seem to show water spots faster. Wonder if anyone's tried polished nickel as an alternative... thoughts?
Polished nickel can be great, but a couple things to keep in mind:
- Slightly warmer tone than chrome, which can be nice if you're aiming for a softer look.
- Tends to hide water spots better than chrome (big plus), but fingerprints can still show up pretty easily.
- Quality matters—cheaper polished nickel finishes can tarnish or dull faster.
I've used it in a few projects and clients generally like it, but it's not exactly maintenance-free...still beats brass though, imo.
Went with polished nickel in our bathroom remodel last year—mostly happy, but yeah, fingerprints are a thing. Couple quick thoughts from my experience:
- Definitely warmer and softer visually, which worked great with our natural stone countertop.
- Water spots aren't too noticeable, but I find myself wiping down handles more often than I'd like.
- Agree on quality—our pricier fixtures still look good, but the cheaper towel bar started dulling after just a few months.
Still prefer it over chrome or brass overall, but it's not exactly set-it-and-forget-it...
We went with brushed nickel fixtures thinking they'd be lower maintenance, but honestly, they're not exactly hassle-free either. Sure, fingerprints aren't as obvious, but water spots? They're everywhere. I find myself constantly wiping down the faucet and handles after every use. On the plus side, brushed nickel does hide minor scratches pretty well, and it pairs nicely with our quartz countertop. Still, if I had to do it again, I'd probably spend a bit more on higher-quality fixtures—lesson learned the hard way...
Totally feel your pain on this one. We went with brushed nickel too, thinking it would be the sweet spot between looks and low-maintenance. But man, those water spots are sneaky. I swear, sometimes it feels like the faucet is mocking me—wipe it down, turn around for two seconds, and boom... spots again.
Funny enough, my brother-in-law went with matte black fixtures and he complains about fingerprints nonstop. Seems like there's no perfect solution unless you wanna spend half your day polishing things up. On the bright side, like you said, brushed nickel does hide scratches pretty decently. Ours survived a dropped wrench incident (don't ask!) without looking too beat up.
Hang in there—it might not be perfect, but at least your countertop combo sounds fantastic. And hey, every DIY project comes with some sort of "lesson learned," right?
