We redid our kitchen about 7 years ago and went with brushed nickel fixtures—nothing fancy, just mid-range stuff from a big-box store. Honestly, they've held up surprisingly well. No weird discoloration or peeling, and they don't scream "dated" yet either. I did try matte black in the guest bath later on... looked amazing at first, but water spots drove me nuts. Anyone else notice matte finishes being a pain to maintain?
Had the same issue with matte black fixtures in our powder room—looked fantastic initially, but those water spots were relentless. Ended up switching back to brushed nickel; way easier upkeep and still looks fresh years later. Lesson learned, I guess...
We faced something similar in our master bath. Initially went with matte black fixtures because the aesthetic matched our overall design concept perfectly, but maintenance quickly became a headache. Between water spots and fingerprints, it felt like constant upkeep. Switched to chrome eventually—it wasn't my first choice style-wise, but practicality won out. Now, months later, I'm actually glad we did; it's saved us a lot of unnecessary frustration. Sometimes function has to trump form, I suppose...
Chrome's definitely easier upkeep-wise, but have you considered brushed nickel or stainless steel? They strike a nice balance—less glare than chrome, fewer fingerprints than matte black. Curious if anyone else found them a good middle ground...
Chrome's definitely a breeze to maintain, no argument there, but honestly, brushed nickel has become my go-to recommendation for most clients lately. Stainless steel is solid too, but brushed nickel just hits that sweet spot—less glare, fewer smudges, and it blends seamlessly with a wider range of finishes.
Funny story: I had a client last year who was dead-set on matte black fixtures throughout their entire kitchen and bathrooms. Looked stunning in the showroom, but man, once installed, they were constantly wiping down faucets and handles. Fingerprints galore. After about two months, they called me back asking if swapping out everything for brushed nickel would be a huge hassle (spoiler alert: it was). Lesson learned the hard way, I guess...
From a purely technical standpoint, brushed nickel also tends to hide minor scratches and wear better than chrome or polished stainless. Chrome looks fantastic when it's brand new, but even tiny scratches stand out like crazy under bright lighting. Stainless steel is durable, sure, but depending on the finish quality, it can sometimes look a bit industrial or cold in certain spaces. Brushed nickel has that warmer undertone that complements both modern and traditional designs without feeling overly clinical.
Cost-wise, brushed nickel fixtures are usually comparable to chrome—maybe slightly pricier depending on brand—but the reduced maintenance and longer-lasting appearance more than make up for it. Plus, clients appreciate not having to constantly polish or wipe down every surface. Anything that saves them time and headaches down the road is a win in my book.
Of course, personal preference plays a big role here, and some folks just love the shiny look of chrome or the bold statement of matte black. But if you're looking for that practical middle ground that's easy on upkeep and versatile enough to match changing trends, brushed nickel is pretty tough to beat.
