The lacquer's held up better than I expected, but I do see a bit of wear around the handles where we grab the most. Nothing dramatic, just a little patina sneaking through.
I get the appeal of patina, but in my experience, that “character” can start to look uneven or even sloppy after a while, especially in higher-traffic kitchens. I’ve seen a few projects where what started as a nice aged look just turned patchy and inconsistent. Honestly, I lean toward fixtures with physical vapor deposition (PVD) finishes. They cost more upfront but really do hold up—no weird spots or flaking, even after years of heavy use. Microfiber’s solid advice though... harsh cleaners are brutal on any finish.
I hear you on the PVD finishes—they really are tough as nails. Still, I think there’s something to be said for a bit of honest wear, especially if the rest of the kitchen has some age to it.
That’s fair, but I’ve found that with regular (gentle) cleaning, the patina can develop pretty evenly. Maybe it depends on the brand or even just luck. I’ve had one faucet where the lacquer wore beautifully, and another where it looked tired in six months.“that ‘character’ can start to look uneven or even sloppy after a while, especially in higher-traffic kitchens.”
Honestly, I get the appeal of a lived-in look, but from a durability standpoint, PVD is just hard to beat. The thing with patina is, it’s unpredictable—sometimes it looks great, sometimes it just looks like neglect. I’ve seen faucets in older homes where the “character” ends up being a patchy mess, especially if water quality isn’t great or if folks use harsh cleaners without realizing it.
One thing that doesn’t get mentioned enough is how some finishes can actually leach metals over time as they wear down. Not a huge risk with most modern fixtures, but something to think about if you’re aiming for a healthier kitchen environment. I’d rather have something that stays consistent and low-maintenance, even if it means sacrificing a bit of that vintage vibe. Maybe not as charming, but definitely less hassle in the long run.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve tried chasing that “aged brass” look before and ended up with something that just looked dirty, not vintage. PVD’s not the most exciting, but it’s solid—less stress, especially if you’ve got hard water like I do. Sometimes boring is just... easier.
Definitely hear you on the “aged brass” struggle. I tried a cheap DIY patina kit once and, yeah, it just looked like I hadn’t cleaned the faucet in months. Honestly, PVD isn’t flashy but it holds up—especially if you’re not looking to replace fixtures every couple years. Sometimes “boring” means you can actually stick to your budget and not stress over water spots or weird discoloration. It’s not glamorous, but it works.