FAQ

Although we offer Polished Chrome on many of our products, among our exclusives we favor Polished or Brushed Nickel because nickel was the standard hardware and lighting finish for period kitchens and bathrooms from the mid-1800s until the early 1930s. Polished Chrome became popular later, after the automobile industry began using it on grilles, bumpers and engine parts.

Both finishes are durable, and protect solid brass from the pitting it would otherwise endure with constant exposure to humidity and heat.

If historical authenticity is your guide, nickel effectively resembles antique lighting and hardware finishes. Nickel has faint, warm amber undertones, while chrome has cooler, more contemporary blue undertones.

Tip: Mixing both chrome and nickel finishes in your bathroom or kitchen isn't cause for alarm, and may be somewhat unavoidable unless you're installing all new lighting and hardware. While the differences between the two finishes are detectable to the experienced eye, they aren't dramatic, and they can blend together in one room.