But I did find this faucet from Kingston Brass on eBay for only $60. It's pretty right? I like the knobs and the bridge a lot. I know it will be shinier than I want it to be (and cheaper looking), but I want to do concrete counters, which are really matte so I think the contrast might be just fine, at least for now.
A reader asked if I was going to mix all my finishes in the kitchen. YES! There's going to be a little of everything in this kitchen - brass mixed with stainless, and some black thrown in there too. Fingers crossed it doesn't look cheesy all together. :)
Did you mix the finishes in your house? The faucet in my inspiration kitchen is polished nickel and I think it looks great with the brass pulls.
Would antiquing the faucet be a no-no? I remember Janell from House of Fifty using a lot of Rub-N-Buff to turn new into old.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.houseoffifty.com/2011/08/more-rub-n-buff-happiness.html
You and Erin Gates are both renovating at the same time- are you two in touch?!
I am living vicariously and rooting you two on! Thanks for the daily play by play!
I love that tap! Sorry, faucet...! You can remove the lacquer from brass by using paint stripper. I did this on our letterbox so that it would age gracefully.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you reaffirmed that this mixing is allowed. We were just given a really nice brushed nickel faucet (part of a focus group study) and I really want to add brass pulls on our cabinets. I trust your style...so I'm glad you approve:)
ReplyDeleteI was seriously just thinking this morning about how I like mixing finishes. How funny. I think this faucet will look terrific.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea about concrete counters. I just had some made for my kitchen and I couldn't be happier with them. Although I'm having a hard time finding a wax to treat them with that doesn't feel sticky to the touch. If you find a good one, I'd love to know what it is.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt your kitchen is going to look gorgeous. I love the brass touches.
I LOVE it! Mixing metals is a must in my house. I think it keeps spaces from looking too flat.
ReplyDeleteMy kitchen has copper, chrome, and brushed nickel--love the mix. It works with our wood, gray-green slate, and forested lot. Looking forward to seeing all the changes emerge in the brownstone (while sympathizing with the work involved).
ReplyDeleteI'm working on my hubby to let me mix some finishes in our kitchen-it's a battle though. We had our lower cabinets painted an inky navy-black and I think antiqued brass would be awesome with our stainless appliances!
ReplyDeleteYay. I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes mixed metals. And I like brass. Not the cheap shiny brass that abounds in my 20 year old house but lovely vintage brass that you can polish. Or I'm guessing what you're calling unlaquered brass. I have many vintage lamps with brass so I didn't want all my fixtures and such to be brushed nickel. Its too cold. Anyway, thanks for being an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYay. I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes mixed metals. And I like brass. Not the cheap shiny brass that abounds in my 20 year old house but lovely vintage brass that you can polish. Or I'm guessing what you're calling unlaquered brass. I have many vintage lamps with brass so I didn't want all my fixtures and such to be brushed nickel. Its too cold. Anyway, thanks for being an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYou can take any lacquered brass to a salvage yard or similar place and they'll strip it for you for a few dollars. I've done it many times.
ReplyDeleteYour landlord sounds like an angel paying for counter tops, painting with farrow and ball etc. Sounds like a keeper.
Love mixed finishes for sure!!! I'm dying to mix in some copper and swap out pulls out for brass. I'm sure you could find a way to make it less shiny if you decide you don't like it.
ReplyDeletexx. Patience
whitelacquer.blogspot.com
That's a great steal! Definitely worth the fabulous price.
ReplyDeleteWe just redid three bathrooms in our house and the faucets about did me in!!! I would go put your hands on some Kingston Brass products. They really just felt cheap to me. Have you been to faucetdirect.com? That is where I bought a lot of mine as well as Amazon!!!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely strip it, as is it looks cheesy 80s brass. The raw brass looks much better.
ReplyDeleteCan you please bring me up to speed - perhaps I missed a blog post or two over the past few months - however, I'm confused because I thought you all were renting this place. If that's the case, is the owner paying for all the repairs and renovations?
ReplyDeleteI've been staring at that top picture all day. It really is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'm reluctant to get a faucet with 2 handles since I've become to used to a single lever.
Even if the land lord is not paying I totally get it!!! This is your home and somewhat part of your livley hood!!! I would be doing all the same upgrades and did for years and years!!! Some people without the absolute need to create and hone your skills may not see the sense in it all, but believe me there are plenty of us who are with you 100%!!! Girl you are amazing!!!! By the way good choice on faucet! May take some of the great addvice and strip it! I have never done it but worth the try, for sure!!
ReplyDeleteA little oven cleaner can "age" real brass. I did it to some campaign dresser hardware on accident (thinking it was fake brass finish and hoping to get silver) but it turned out really pretty, much like your top choice. Obviously I wouldn't advise this without testing.
ReplyDeleteYour inspiration faucet is gorgeous! Hate to be a downer but we bought Kingston faucets once for a bathroom and they were the worst we've ever had! Leaky and not working well after only about 6 months. Great deal on the front end but we wound up replacing them. Hope you have a better experience with yours!
ReplyDeleteThe first photo you showed of the unlaquered brass faucet was also one of my favorites. I purchased an antique brass gooseneck faucet with porcelain handles that is breathtaking. It used to belong to an old clawfoot bathtub, and is wall mounted. I'm just waiting until I renovate my kitchen as I too was planning on doing a concrete counter. I have antique brass and copper apothecary hardware that is incredible. Sounds like we're going for a similar look. Personally I don't love the newness and shine of the second faucet photo. I prefer the patina of the first.
ReplyDeleteI love love love mixed finished in spaces. I think it adds that extra little layer that helps makes things seem truly custom and oh so personal. Cant wait to see your vision come together!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see how the brass will look on the matte concrete. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteooohh can you imagine a brass dishwasher? I think some mixing is to be expected..and preferred...i love your knobs and your faucet is beautiful...how are the cabinets coming along?
ReplyDeleteUmmm I am totally thinking of the same thing as you. Mixed finished FOR SURE. We did our bedroom all in one finish of antique brass and it looks great, but its almost too matchy-matchy for my taste.
ReplyDeleteHere are some of my kitchen inspiration photos, all mixed metals:
http://www.livecreatingyourself.com/2010/11/kitchen-porn.html
http://www.mydesignchic.com/2011/09/things-we-love-barrel-ceilings.html
http://houseandhome.com/design/photo-gallery-beautiful-homes-gorgeous-floors?page=15
^ not sure if that will link to the correct kitchen, but it should be coppery!
Good luck!!!
Sure you can! Strip that baby.
ReplyDeleteI just re-did my kitchen with stainless & copper with dark dusty purple painted cabinets - I simply adore it.
ReplyDeleteI love mixing it up, too much matching is not good for us. Our homes are an expression of what we like and for those of us the love to create and decorate it is ever-changing. Mix away!
ReplyDeletexoxo, Tanya
Love the brass! It baffles me why unlaquered brass is so much more expensive than shiney laquered brass. I have been looking too so I know you are right about this.
ReplyDeleteI think mixing metals is great...can't wait to see you makeover on your beautiful new place.
I think you will really end up liking the shiny brass faucet against the poured concrete counter. I think it will make a nice contrast.
ReplyDeleteI have that exact faucet in chrome in my boy's bathroom. I love how they look. We have had some issues with parts and pieces breaking, but Kingston brass has been great about sending us new pieces.
ReplyDeletegood find - I like the $60 faucet!
ReplyDeleteWe remodeled our master bathroom one year ago. I mixed antique brass Sandy Chapman Boston Functional lighting, antique brass cabinet hardware, towel bars and robe hooks with chrome Hansgrohe faucets (similar to yours) and it looks beautiful! I agonized over the decision to mix metals and spent hours on the Internet trying to find some examples where it was being done. I only found,maybe, two kitchens with the look I wanted. What a difference a year makes because now I see mixed metals and antiqued brass and gold tones everywhere.
ReplyDeleteIt's classic and timeless.
Wonderful interior designs.It does seem that everybody is into this kind of stuff lately. Don’t really understand it though, but thanks for trying to explain it. Appreciate you shedding light into this matter. Keep it up
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You may have seen this post already, but she did a wonderful job stripping this brass faucet...
ReplyDeleteForgot to attach the link!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.urbanorchardinteriors.com/kitchen-sinkplant-hospital/
On sale at Joss & Main, several similar styles! https://www.jossandmain.com/Moen-Waterhill-Kitchen-Faucet-in-Classic-Stainless~MOE5168~E1900.html
ReplyDeleteOoh I'm really keen to see how your kitchen turns out! Ours is going to be all brushed silver. More by blind luck to begin with, than by design. I do love the neck shape of the tap you've chosen.
ReplyDeletehttp://theretrosmith.blogspot.com.au/