Mixing finishes used to bother me, but honestly, after seeing how quickly powder coat can wear in busy spots, I’m with you—function wins out. I’ve had solid brass knobs on my main doors for years and they just get a nice patina, no chipping or flaking. Curious if anyone’s tried the newer PVD coatings? Supposedly tougher than powder coat, but I haven’t tested them in a high-traffic area yet.
Curious if anyone’s tried the newer PVD coatings? Supposedly tougher than powder coat, but I haven’t tested them in a high-traffic area yet.
PVD is definitely a step up from powder coat, at least in theory. I’ve had PVD handles on my pantry doors for about two years—zero scratches, no weird discoloration, and they still look sharp. That said, nothing beats the feel of real brass, especially as it ages. The patina just adds character you can’t fake. If you’re after durability and don’t want to fuss with touch-ups, PVD’s probably your best bet, but it’ll never have that old-world charm. Sometimes mixing finishes just works, especially if you’re prioritizing longevity over matching everything perfectly.
Mixing finishes is something I’ve tried too, mostly because I’m always weighing cost against durability. I put PVD-coated pulls in my kitchen, and honestly, they’ve held up better than the powder-coated ones in the mudroom—no chips or scratches, even with kids slamming doors. Still, I get what you mean about brass. There’s just something about the way it ages that PVD can’t really replicate. For high-traffic spots, though, I’ll take the low maintenance over the look any day... especially when I’m the one cleaning fingerprints.
Totally get where you’re coming from—PVD’s pretty unbeatable for keeping things looking clean, especially with kids in the mix. I do love the look of aged brass too, but the fingerprints drive me nuts. Have you ever tried mixing both in one room? I’ve debated it but always worry it’ll feel too mismatched.
Have you ever tried mixing both in one room? I’ve debated it but always worry it’ll feel too mismatched.
Funny you mention that—I actually went for it in our last reno, mostly out of necessity. We had some aged brass pulls I really liked, but couldn’t find matching PVD levers for the doors. Ended up using both and honestly, once the room was all put together, it looked more intentional than I expected. The trick was repeating each finish at least once elsewhere—like a lamp base or picture frame—so nothing felt random. Still, fingerprints on the brass are a constant battle... but I guess that’s just part of the charm (or chaos) with kids running around.
