IÂm trying to choose hardware (hinges, D handle/towel bar combo, brackets or maybe u-channel) for my STEAM shower that is being built, fixtures are Oil Rubbed Bronze. IÂm hearing that some manufacturers make powder coated aluminum for their oil rubbed bronze (Agalite being one of them - IÂm told the powder coating wonÂt hold up over the long run), others anodized bronze, others some other treatment over brass ??? IÂm totally confused. The worst part is the only shade of Oil Rubbed Bronze IÂve seen that reasonably matches the Oil Rubbed Bronze hardware in my bathroom (shower fixtures, door knob, towel hangers, lamps, faucets, etc.) are the powder coated surfaces IÂve seen. Anything other than powder coated IÂve seen essentially looks black itÂs such a very dark bronze that itÂs hard to tell from black and definitely wonÂt match anything I have (IÂve seen CR LaurenceÂs oil rubbed bronze and whatever hardware Holcam uses for their anodized bronze both of which essentially look black). So can someone illuminate me if using powder coated hinges, brackets (or u-channel) and D handle/towel bar combos is a BAD idea for a steam shower? Or does anyone know of a manufacturer that makes non-powder coated hinges/brackets/u-channel/handles in an Oil Rubbed Bronze that doesnÂt look black? Thanks in advance!

Ditto what GreenDesigns said. I am in the process of remodeling the master bath in a house we bought three years ago. The master was in much worse shape than yours when we bought it, but I am glad the previous owners didn't update it, because I didn't care for their taste in materials and I would have felt bad ripping out a perfectly serviceable but ugly-to-me bathroom. Since mine was both ugly AND in need of repair, we planned our offer on the house accordingly and are now redoing it to our taste. Paint it and be done with it.

Yes, no one can look at both and take the time to be picky about it lol. You will be the ones who notice things more than anyone. And after the dust settles most of the time you wont even think about it anymore. Side note I dont think you need contrast on your cabinet pulls, a brushed brass would be really pretty with bronze..just a thought.

I agree that it is more a question of "style" rather than one clashing with gray flooring. FWIW I have oil rubbed bronze and when I was looking I found that the actual finish varied somewhat with some basically looking very dark brown/almost black and some looking more "antique" looking with some coppery highlights peeking through. Phyrich has a variety of finishes and you can take a look at what the faucets look like in various finishes on their site. They differentiate between Antique Bronze, Oil Rubbed Bronze and they have an Matte Black Finish I got my bathroom fixtures from them with an Oil Rubbed Finish. Since I have copper accents and a traditional bathroom I asked them to do a finish that had slightly more copper peeking through. They are a smaller company located in Los Angeles and were easy to deal with. Phyrich Faucets