"Has anyone tried brass or bronze finishes? Curious if those patina gracefully or just end up looking worn out..."
We've had unlacquered brass fixtures in our powder room for about two years now, and here's my quick take:
- Initially, they're stunning—warm, inviting, and a bit vintage-y.
- After a few months, the patina started kicking in. Honestly, at first I panicked thinking I'd ruined them somehow (rookie mistake 😂).
- But once you embrace the patina as part of the charm, it's actually pretty cool. They age gracefully rather than looking shabby.
- Maintenance-wise, they're pretty forgiving. A quick polish every couple of weeks if you prefer them shiny, or just let them do their thing for that lived-in look.
Bronze seems similar from what I've seen at friends' places—just darker tones overall. If you're into that evolving character vibe rather than pristine showroom shine, brass or bronze could be a great choice.
We went with bronze fixtures in our kitchen about a year ago, and honestly, I'm still on the fence. At first, I loved the deep, rich look—felt classy without being too flashy. But over time, the patina has been a bit uneven. Some spots look beautifully aged, while others just seem... patchy? Maybe it's because of how often we use the sink or something in our water.
I get what you're saying about embracing the character, but for me personally, it sometimes feels more worn-out than gracefully aged. I've tried polishing occasionally to even things out, but it hasn't really helped much. Could just be my particular fixtures or maybe bronze behaves differently from brass.
If you're someone who likes consistency or a cleaner look overall, you might find yourself frustrated after a while. Just something to keep in mind before committing to it long-term.
"Maybe it's because of how often we use the sink or something in our water."
Could definitely be your water chemistry... I've seen similar uneven patina issues with bronze fixtures in areas with harder water. Installing a simple water softener helped a client of mine even things out noticeably. Might be worth a shot?
Could definitely be onto something with the water chemistry angle... I've noticed similar issues myself, especially in older homes or places with mineral-heavy water. A water softener made a noticeable difference in our kitchen fixtures—might help yours too. Worth considering, at least?
Had a similar issue in an older cottage I worked on last year—fixtures kept getting crusty no matter how often they cleaned. Swapping to a water softener helped, but honestly, choosing fixtures with a matte or brushed finish hid the buildup way better... something to think about maybe?
