| Whether you are building a new house, remolding | | | | especially popular for kick plates and other |
| or just looking to replace the older and worn | | | | outdoor hardware because it also provides higher |
| existing home hardware on cabinets and furniture, | | | | resistance to scratching. |
| the type of hardware you select and finish can | | | | “Distressed” or antique finishes are an |
| play an important role in the overall look and | | | | extremely popular choice when looking for |
| design of your home. Solid brass is a wonderful | | | | hardware to match already existing hardware in a |
| choice for most home hardware because of its | | | | home or create an antique appearance. This is |
| durability and wide variety of designs and | | | | also popular in restorations of older homes when |
| functions. Whether you are looking for highly | | | | only some of the original hardware is being |
| ornate pieces or traditional patterns, solid brass | | | | replaced because of damage or disrepair. These |
| hardware offers a wide selection in a variety of | | | | finishes are darker in appearance and typically |
| different finishes. | | | | more matte. Antique brass and Oil Rubbed Bronze |
| | | | are both examples of distressed finishes. Other |
| The finish you select is almost as important as | | | | choices include antique copper, weathered copper |
| the design and function of any home hardware. | | | | and antique bronze, antique nickel, etc. which are |
| Depending on your decorating style, the color of | | | | hardware pieces that have been chemically |
| finish can go a long way to creating or enhancing | | | | treated to darken the original finish. |
| an exiting theme in your home. The finishing | | | | Brushed nickel finishes were widely used until the |
| process also helps to protect hardware from | | | | 1880’s because of nickel’s resistance to |
| corrosion and tarnishing over time. Popular brass | | | | tarnish. Nickel finishes have remained a very |
| finishes include Polished Brass, Antique Brass, | | | | popular however because the matte finish of |
| Polished Chrome, Brushed Nickel and Oil Rubbed | | | | nickel is relatively low maintenance and can easily |
| Bronze. The popularity of individual finishes has | | | | conceal minor scratches that may occur over |
| varied over time and decorating trends but these | | | | time due to natural wear and tear over time. |
| finishes have remained very popular in home and | | | | Solid brass home hardware is readily available |
| office construction today. | | | | online as well as in many home decorating |
| Shiny finishes such as polished brass and polished | | | | catalogs. Search for solid brass (not plated) |
| chrome have been especially popular since the | | | | construction and be sure to ask questions. When |
| early nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They | | | | you work with solid brass hardware you can be |
| have an extremely shiny (almost mirror like) finish | | | | sure that different designs and pieces will tie |
| but is can be prone to tarnishing over time so | | | | themselves together if the same finish is used |
| they may require additional maintenance to | | | | throughout each room. These solid brass pieces |
| prevent this. Lacquers or Physical Vapor | | | | are available online through LookInTheAttic & |
| Deposition (PVD) can be applied to resist tarnish | | | | Company and they offer free design assistance |
| and corrosion to polished brass finishes. PVD is | | | | and help. |