Poll: Which do you like better?

11 years ago

Okay, let me preface this by saying all of the door knobs on the main floor look like this:

Now, we've recently painted out kitchen cabinets. The cabinets had brass plates on them that we couldn't remove for painting without damaging the cabinets themselves. This was okay because we had originally planned on having crystal knobs on the brass plates to match the door knobs in the rest of the house. When we were painting, it was easier for us to paint right over the brass plates than it was to get into all of those pesky corners and we were simply going to remove the paint from the brass plates afterwards (it peels off pretty easily).

However, once we got the cabinet doors back up and were testing out some knobs, we kind of liked the crystal knob on the painted white plate. At this point we are undecided, so we are appealing to the experts. Which look to you like better? Our kitchen will eventually have white quartz countertops with very subtle gray veining in it.

The problem is, if we go for white, the paint on the brass plate will not be very durable and we will constantly be having to touch them up. I think I would like the brass plate look better if the brass looked a little more "aged" like it does in the photo of the door knob. Does anyone have any tricks to give brass that aged look?

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Comments (18)

graywings123
11 years ago
My vote is for the brass plate. The painted over version reminds me of all the cheap, lazy paint jobs I have seen over the years (which I know yours is not).
nini804
11 years ago
Oh, I totally like the brass plate! It looks so different and appropriate. I really, really like it. Can we see more of your kitchen? I think I am going really, really like it as well! :)
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cat_mom
11 years ago
I vote for the brass, too. I agree that if it can be aged or "patina'd" it would "match" your door knob trim nicely.

(FWIW, a more faceted crystal knob might play along with the door knobs even better)
Jess TKA
11 years ago
Oooohhh, pretty! I also vote for the brass.
3bebe
11 years ago
Very pretty! I definitely vote for the brass. Can't wait to see more of your kitchen!
SunnyCottage
11 years ago
Definitely the brass plate. It's lovely!
lizbeth-gardener
11 years ago
Very nice! Another vote for the brass plate, but also would love to see a more faceted knob to add more life/sparkle.
amykath
11 years ago
I love the brass plate!

Your doorknobs are amazing. I am drooling over them!
dedtired
11 years ago
Yes, the brass. It brings out the crystal.
caminnc
11 years ago
I vote for brass or paint it black.
Fun2BHere
11 years ago
I like the brass and I've read that you can use Palmolive dishwashing liquid to darken it once any protective coating is removed. Look for an ingredient in the dishwashing liquid that sounds like some form of sulphur as that's what darkens the brass. I have no personal experience with this method and you might want to Google it to see if it would work for you.
bronwynsmom
11 years ago
I like the brass, too, all by itself...

BUT - I would think carefully about how it will look when you have a whole lot of them all around the kitchen...every cabinet, every drawer...horizontal on all the drawers, vertical on all the doors.

I also agree that the white plate looks like you just painted over them.

So a better option might be to paint the escutcheon plates just a bit deeper in tone, perhaps matching the vein in your marble, so that you see the profile and the reference to your lovely door knobs, it looks intentional, but it doesn't clutter up your pale palette so much.
User
11 years ago
Brass! Both the door and cabinet hardware are very sharp.
slflaherty
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you! I am so glad that everyone is choosing the brass! I liked it, but I was worried that it would make our kitchen look "dated", and in an bad way, not a good way.

Bronwynsmom, I totally know what you are saying, and that's one of my big worries too. Yes, it looks pretty when it's on one drawer, but what is it going to look like when there are 23 of them throughout the kitchen. We will definitely keep your suggestion in mind when we have our countertop installed if we are finding that the brass is just too much.

In the meantime, I think I'm going to look up how to age brass (I do think it would look better if the brass plates were at least more uniform), and keep my eye out for more faceted knobs!
secondhalf
11 years ago
I've never used this, but I know many DIY bloggers (House of Fifty) use it to get that aged look quickly

Here is a link that might be useful: Rub and buff
Elraes Miller
11 years ago
Link below is a company that ells aging solution for all metals. Before using it, boil all of your back plates to get rid of any paint, grime, ect. I think they will look great finished and with the glass knobs. It also looks like you did a great job on the cabinets.

Here is a link that might be useful: age metals
Fori
11 years ago
Brass. Dated, but dated like your door. You know, in a good way!
patty_cakes
11 years ago
Since I don't care for painted hardware, I guess it's the obvious. I wouldn't consider the kitchen hardware dated, but more consistent with other hardware you have.

If you can pry the hardware off, soaking it in paint remover or the old fashion way with kerosene will remove it. ;o)

Poll: Which do you like better?

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