I don't like shiny brass unless it's on a musical instrument. My circa 1990's house has it EVERYWHERE. Imagine my husband's surprise when I bought a bunch of shiny brass knobs and cup pulls from my local hardware store. They had filled a huge bathtub with all their discontinued knobs. This thing was almost overflowing. But the price was 2 knobs/pulls for a buck. So I did it. I was searching for a looooong time. I didn't dare check the clock, but several people came by and offered to help, So, my plan was to get solid brass, remove the lacquer and age/darken them. I've found the instructions online. Admittedly, I don't know if all the pieces I bought are solid. So, it's one great big experiment, we'll see how it turns out. I told my husband, if the color doesn't quite turn out, I'll just spray paint them with ORB spray paint and save up for the really good stuff. carrie_eileen I'm so disappointed to hear about Restoration Hardware and their lack of hardware. The store near me closed a little over a year ago. When I got their re-vamped catalog, I assumed it was the furniture and decor style they were changing and nothing else. I didn't realize they were changing everything.

JuniperSt, The link doesn't say what the pull is made of, and whether the finish is applied (a coating), plated (a chemical process), and/or a patina chemical applied to solid brass. From the looks, I'm guessing not the last, but it's hard to tell from pictures. If it's one of the former two it's probably lacquered, and solid brass can be as well. They have new ways of doing it that doesn't have that clear nail polish 80's look. Clean lacquer with a soft cloth. Use a little soapy water now and then. Try not to scratch it, because anywhere you break the lacquer, the elements can cause changes. That pretty much holds for unlacquered plate or solid, but in addition, if it's not lacquered, air, moisture and handling will change the appearance over time. Always dry completely if it gets wet to help keep it from going black. Try not to handle the outside much, to keep finger oils off. If it's solid brass and it starts to look bad, you can polish it, but that will affect the burnished finish. You can reburnish it, which is laborious, but not hard, though it'll never look like factory done. Polishing plate is never a good idea. Solid brass, if you don't polish it, will develop its own living burnish over time.

LOL Francy, "It never ever occured to me...that I would hire someone who would lie abou his skill" etc. Gad that killed me...after three tile guys, two GCs, redoing the floors twice, the stairs twice...oh and the three painters...It sure as heck occurs to me now LOL (You too I bet!) I have hidden hinges on my inset doors. The reason being, I live in an earthquake zone, and I'm on pilings verses a foundation. My house moves like Michael Jackson once did :oP Insets aren't used as much here because of the earth quake and frost heave movement of our ground. So where you live should come into the factoring at some point (and might be why the cabinet maker hasn't done many with exposed hinges?) I do however find it very frustrating when a KD inserts their own opinions into the mix, either with or without knowledge. FOr instance, one KD here told me that inset cabinets don't work in Alaska and that I'd hate them so because she didn't want to see me back complaining, she wouldn't price them for me (and priced a more expensive european brand instead). She was fortunate I guess...since she didn't have to see me again after that :OP Then I went to the top place in town and chatted with them about it. The KD (very experienced, highly awarded) laughed and said "With adjustable hinges it's no biggie...I do them quite often". And she was right...it's not hard to adjust the hidden hinges at all. I also have an exposed hinge at the end of the island because the space isn't deep enough for any other type of hinge. I ordered it in pewter and the balance of my knobs, handles, squirrels are in antique pewter. You really don't notice the difference in the colors (there is a little) because there is so little exposed. But with some of the fancier hinges (ie that H hinge up above) you might notice it more because they're more of a feature of the design astetic. Had I been making an attempt at a period look, I'd have gone with exposed hinges, and I think I probably would on white cabs as well, just because I love the look of a Chistopher Peacock kitchen. But of course, that kitchen in my dreams has silver...real silver...knobs and hinges...and the maid of my dreams says she won't clean them :o(

I think it depends on the brass. I was in a new theater in town last weekend that has a sort of steampunk/industrial/hipster vibe. The fixtures in the bathroom were what looked like raw brass -- no lacquer, no applied satin/brushed finish. I really liked them in the setting. I think it's that type of solid, unlacquered brass that is making a comeback, and in forms that are either contemporary or reference the past. Like krisim said, the builder-grade, under designed brass of the 70s-80s doesn't seem (to me) to be eligible for a new lease on life.