Picking hardware finishes

When selecting hardware the possibilities are endless. Like choosing trim, you want to make sure the hardware reflects the architectural period or style you're after. For a current project we decided that the Asbury line from Restoration Hardware was appropriate for the period in which the row house was built (c1904).

With respect to the finish, there are so many finish options now that more metals other than chrome are on trend. Upon doing our due diligence we decided to choose a satin nickel finish. The decision was partly rooted in the period the home was designed (presumably by famous Detroit architect Albert Kahn), but also due to the low-maintenance appeal of this particular finish. Unlike chrome, water spots are less visible on satin nickel. You can literally wipe off water deposits with a clean cloth without using a cleaning solvent, and the results are good as new.

Often times one element in a washroom leads to selecting another. In this case, the shape of the fixture helped drive the selection of the actuator plate for this hanging toilet. Picking up on the round details, we found this round-button actuator plate from Geberit to complement the fixtures. Rather than choosing a satin nickel finish for the actuator plate, we opted for a white finish to blend seamlessly with the white subway tile.