I bought nearly everything through a local kitchen/bath showroom. they gave me contractor pricing so every last knob, hinge and lever came from there. I was seriously considering the brushed nickel, but was advised for my style home and age that ORB was the better choice. I tend to agree. You see brushed nickel very often now in the newer homes, even though they are basically a traditional style. I think you can go either way. Once they all match (and be prepared to plane some doors and fix chipped paint) and the doors are in good shape you'll love the look. I do have bathrooms with other finishes like polished nickel and brushed nickel, so having the bronze light fixtures should be fine. There's a lot of mixing and matching going on these days, best if there's a rhyme or reason to it. I put privacy levers on most bathrooms, the master bedroom, but not the kids' bedrooms. I also put dummy levers on the closet doors which needed them. We have a tax-free weekend in my state so I was able to plan ahead and place the order for the motherload during the tax free weekend.

Keep in mind that any living finish (brass or bronze) will wear or tarnish over time. Some are lacquered coated but that lasts until there a scratch, sunlight or chemicals (household cleaners) that remove or breakdown the coating. Oil Rubbed Bronze is one of the most complained about because the finish comes off. Actually it wears where it is is touched and highlights which it is supposed to do. There is a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) finishes which is a plating tinted to a color like Bright Brass as an example. It is a hard finish that wears like chrome and should wear well if you don't like the high lights to tarnishing. PVD is also used on jewelry and other products.

i sell doors and hardware. My opinion is, Must get a feel of all knobs of interest, before you go any farther. Then look at your purchase. Amortize your purchase, this long term or short term. Then look at your budget, but you spent $20k to $100k on a remodel or over $500k plus to build a house and you decided to save money on your locksets? You spent $1,000 plus on an entry door and your going to put a $100.00 lock on it? really? Our sales here are 90/95% Emtek. No one offers what they do. - Randy

Yes, I now know. Not because the salesman advised me of this or that I was given any literature that would have told me this. It was only after I spent $5,000 on handles and had the finish wearing off after 6 months did Emtek advise me and the store where I bought the handles that this is the way they are. I have had ORB from Schlage on another house in the mountains and the only wear any of the handles have shown after 6 years was on the front door with direct sun exposure. When I called Schlage customer service they asked for a picture and then sent out a brand new handle assembly. Customer service and standing behind your products is important.