Thanks - that's helpful to know that the nickel is a warmer tone. You can kind of see that the tone is slightly different in the pictures. I wonder if the patina thing happens with all or if that's a brand specific situation. I don't really want to get a patina like the ORB stuff I bought years back. My new faucet is chrome. I will never again buy any faucet that isn't classic chrome as I'm so tired of the trendy finishes that go out of style. I don't particularly like silver hardware on a medium/light cabinet but I also don't want trendy bronze that will also go out of style. So I will probably go with some combo of chrome/polished nickel and brushed nickel so at least it's all the same color. This isn't a high end remodel, just a minor update of a small guest bathroom that isn't used that often. It all started with ancient wallpaper removal and then I decided to replace the cheap, ugly vanity and medicine cabinet and then the hanging brass light fixture had to go. On and the door that swings out into the hall will be changed to swing into the bathroom. What were they thinking......

the faucets are perrin and rowe. no special "easy care" finish. just polished nickel. i use the towelettes once a month, otherwise just wipe them down. it's really no big deal unless you want it to be. faucets have been in use for over a year. we have well water -don't know if that makes a difference. i imagine the quality of the finish must vary depending on manufacturer, as i have a friend with a polished nickel faucet in her master bath that she is not happy with. i don't know what brand she used, but i have rohl (pn) faucets all over the house and they've been wonderful. in general i prefer "living" finishes. the coated finishes don't appeal to me at all as they look like they are encased in plastic. the finish on our oil robbed bronze doorknobs are changing depending on use. there's nothing i can do about it, and i would't want to.

My master bathroom has white cabinets , Carrara marble floors and counters all fixtures are polished nickel …i think they are a little ore upkeep than the chrome, but love the color. I need to change out my shower head…any opinions on using a chrome or satin nickel shower head even though the shower trim is polished nickel? I never wipe off my showerhead except when i clean the bathroom…lol

I'd match the faucet because that's what's more visible to match against the medicine cabinet. (The light will either be too dark to see if it matches or too bright to look at and see if it matches, depending on if it's on or off.) It's quite possible that the differences would never be noticed because the finishes are pretty close and the medicine cabinet has so little metal visible.