Honestly, I hear you on the matte black. I was lured in by those Pinterest-perfect kitchens, but after a few months it looked like a crime scene of fingerprints and water spots. Stainless is definitely more forgiving, but I’ve actually started looking at recycled brass or even unlacquered finishes. They age with character, and you don’t have to stress about every little smudge. Plus, it feels good knowing it’s a bit more eco-friendly. Still, nothing’s totally maintenance-free... unless we all switch to stone basins and just pour water from a jug, pioneer-style.
Still, nothing’s totally maintenance-free... unless we all switch to stone basins and just pour water from a jug, pioneer-style.
That actually made me laugh because I’ve seen a few “rustic” listings where the developer tried to sell that look—stone basin, exposed copper pipes, the whole nine yards. It looks cool in photos, but then you realize it’s a nightmare for actual daily use.
I went through a phase with unlacquered brass in one of my projects. At first, it looked amazing—like something out of an old hotel—but after six months, the patina was all over the place. Some folks loved the “character,” others thought it looked neglected. The cleaning crew hated it. Stainless is boring but predictable, and honestly, predictability is underrated when you’re dealing with dozens of units.
Matte black is gorgeous until you have kids or hard water. Then it’s just... constant touch-ups. I guess there’s no winning unless you’re okay with a little chaos on your fixtures.
Honestly, I just want something that doesn’t cost a fortune to install and won’t make me regret my life choices every time I clean the bathroom. All those “statement” fixtures look great on Instagram, but in real life? Water spots, fingerprints, weird stains… and then you’re buying special cleaners or spending half your Saturday scrubbing. Stainless might be boring, but at least it doesn’t make me nervous every time someone uses the sink. I’ll take practical over trendy any day—my wallet agrees.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I tried those matte black fixtures because they looked so cool online, but wow, every single water spot shows up. I swear I spent more time wiping them down than actually using them. Stainless might not be flashy, but at least I’m not stressing every time someone washes their hands.
Matte black looks great in photos but yeah, it’s a pain in real life. Have you tried fixtures with a textured finish, like brushed black or even oil-rubbed bronze? They tend to hide spots and fingerprints way better than the flat matte ones. Also, there are newer coatings out there that claim to repel water spots—did you happen to look into those? Stainless is definitely lower maintenance, but sometimes it just doesn’t fit the vibe people want. Curious what your priorities are—pure function or aesthetics?
