apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If your wedding ring is yellow gold and diamonds - Do you only wear yellow gold and diamond jewelry? Do you take off your wedding ring when you want to wear the emerald earrings set in platinum that you received from your DH for your 10th wedding anniversary?

Of course not! You happily wear your wedding ring with the Emeralds or Pearls or whatever other jewelry you like.

Same with your Kitchen.

Personally, I think the brushed finish would look better with your stainless steel appliances. But, if you want to go with a polished chrome faucet, then definitely use polished chrome cabinet hardware. In a loft space, it would add just enough sparkle to catch your eye from other living areas and would make your appliances more background than focal point.

I'm with bepst & trader -- I don't think mixing chrome with brushed is a problem.

I like matched cabinet and sink hardware.

Finish is not as important as metal - nickel and chrome reflect slightly different colour casts (as do all the 'white' metals: steel, silver, gold, platinum...). Polished nickel looks fine with brushed nickel, but polished chrome tends to look bluish and somewhat cheap next to the warmer tone of any nickel or stainless steel, which has a high nickel content. To be on the safe side, why not take a sample of your cabinet hardware to the showroom to look at next to the demo model of your faucet? If the colour difference doesn't bother you, then go with your first choice.

It isn't a problem in my kitchen where I have stainless appliances, brushed hardware and a really cool chrome faucet. I also have white cabinets and a black granite counter. The faucet is really like an art piece. The only problem with the chrome is that it spots more than a brushed finish. I am always wiping to keep it shiny, I am obsessed...

Dang is that your kitchen? If so it looks fantastic.

Mixing finished is not a big deal although I would not want chrome- it is impossible to keep clean with the water spots, finger prints and other things always present around the sink.

i came across the same dilemma when picking my faucet. the salesperson pushed the brushed/satin faucet so i got that initially but exchanged it for chrome. the chrome is a nice contrast when everything else is brushed (including a stainless steel sink), and the chrome in my opinion is easier to keep clean.

I think the brushed finish would compliment the kitchen's style better than chrome. However, I don't think it would be terrible to have a chrome faucet and everything else brushed.

I have brushed stainless steel appliances and sink, with chrome faucet and handles in my mid-century modern house and it looks fantastic.

Thanks for the thoughts, everybody. The kitchen in the photo is not mine, but it is my inspiration photo and captures the look I'm going for. I think I will take the advice to bring hardware samples home and look at them with my new cabinet doors. Hopefully seeing everything in the space will bring some clarity.