Choosing the right finish for your taps and brassware is one of the most important decisions you will make when designing a bathroom or kitchen. A finish is not just a colour. It affects how the tap looks, how it behaves over time, how it responds to water, and how much cleaning it requires. Some finishes stay bright, while others change gradually. Some are cool in tone, and others bring warmth to a room.
In this guide, we'll walk through some of the major finish types that we offer at Francone Bespoke Taps.
We'll discuss how they're made and what differentiates them from each other. Our goal is to make it easy for you to figure out which finish will suit your space the best and help you to achieve your ideal end look.
How Are Different Finishes Created
To understand the difference between finishes, it helps to know how they are made in the first place. Creating a finish isn't a single process, though it's actually the result of multiple steps, including preparation, texturing, polishing, and sometimes plating.
A polished finish is created by smoothing the brass until it reflects light clearly, and it produces a surface that is bright and clean. A brushed or satin finish has more of a textured appearance, which is created by brushing the metal in one direction. This softens reflections and gives the tap a more relaxed look.
Some finishes age quickly and others age more gently, but at Francone every finish is unlacquered. Nothing is sealed with lacquer or clear coat. This means every tap will develop a natural patina over time as the brass reacts with air, moisture, and regular use. Each surface changes at its own pace, so two taps in different homes will never age in exactly the same way.
Polished finishes, such as bright unlacquered brass or polished nickel, start with a clear shine and begin to show tonal shifts sooner because the surface is smooth and reflective. Textured finishes, such as satin or tumbled brass, also patinate but the brushed or softened surface spreads the change more evenly. The colour may deepen and the texture may become more pronounced, but the ageing appears gradual and calm.
Even our plated finishes, including chrome and gunmetal, are applied over solid brass and left unsealed. They will still change, although their patina forms differently from bare brass. Chrome may dull slightly in low-touch areas over time, while gunmetal can pick up soft highlights on edges and handles. Because none of our finishes are lacquered, every piece settles into its surroundings and develops character that reflects how it is used.
Each method affects how the finish ages, how it handles fingerprints, and how much care it needs. Knowing this can help you pick a finish that suits your expectations, not just your colour palette.
Chrome vs Unlacquered Polished Nickel
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Appearance
Chrome and Unlacquered Polished Nickel are often grouped together because both sit within the silver-toned family, but they have very different characters. Chrome has a crisp, mirror-like surface that looks bright under most lighting. It suits bathrooms and kitchens that can lean towards a clean and modern look.
Unlacquered Polished Nickel, on the other hand, looks much warmer. It reflects light softly and looks closer to natural metal, which makes it just right for interiors that need a more gentle & more classic finish.
Durability and Maintenance
Chrome is extremely hard. It is one of the most durable plated finishes and holds up very well in humid rooms. Unlacquered Polished Nickel is also strong, though it has a more muted appearance that can make water spots less noticeable.
Both finishes are relatively easy to maintain. A soft cloth and mild soap are usually enough to keep them looking good.
When to Choose Each
Choose Chrome if you want a bright and modern feel or if your space relies on white or cool tones. Choose Unlacquered Polished Nickel if you prefer a warmer look, especially in rooms with warmer paint colours or natural materials.
Unlacquered Brass vs Unlacquered Satin Brass
Appearance and Ageing
Both finishes are Unlacquered Brass, meaning they will develop a natural patina over time. The difference lies in the surface treatment. Unlacquered Brass has a bright, reflective surface. It starts with a clear tone and gradually darkens as it reacts with air and water. Areas that are handled often may stay lighter, while untouched areas deepen.
Unlacquered Satin Brass has a brushed texture that softens reflections. Because it is also unlacquered, it will age in the same general way, but the texture gives the patina a more even and gentle look. The brushed surface tends to show changes in a more subtle pattern than the polished version.
Maintenance
Unlacquered Brass is fairly unique in that the amount of maintenance you perform will change its appearance. In general, it requires occasional light cleaning to protect the material. If you want to restore the brightness of the tap, you can polish it as desired. Many people choose to let their taps darken naturally over time, giving them a unique character.
When to Choose Each
Our recommendation is to choose Unlacquered Brass if you like finishes that develop character and tell a story over time. Brass develops patina quickly and can begin to change colour in a matter of weeks or even days, depending on its use. The patina may be less noticeable on satin brass, due to the
When to Choose Each
Our recommendation is to choose Unlacquered Brass if you like finishes that develop character and tell a story over time. Alternatively, choose satin brass if you want a stable and contemporary look with a gentle texture.
Unlacquered Brushed Nickel vs Stainless Steel
Visual Differences
Unlacquered Brushed Nickel has a soft, warm tone and a fine texture that is created by brushing the surface. Stainless Steel is on the cooler side, closer to grey, and often looks more industrial.
Because of this, brushed nickel tends to sit comfortably in classic or transitional interiors, while stainless steel suits modern or utilitarian spaces.
Material Differences
Unlacquered Brushed Nickel is created by applying a nickel finish over brass or by brushing solid brass directly, depending on the maker. Stainless Steel is a different alloy that contains iron, chromium, and other metals. This difference affects both the appearance and weight.
Cleaning and Durability
A big advantage of Unlacquered Brushed Nickel is that it hides fingerprints well and usually shows fewer water spots. High-quality Stainless Steel is very durable, but the colour is not as warm as brushed nickel.
Where Each Works Best
Unlacquered Brushed Nickel is a good choice for most bathrooms because it adapts easily to different styles. Stainless Steel can be ideal in kitchens or in homes that prefer a cooler and more modern look.
Gunmetal vs Old Bronze
Colour
Gunmetal has a deep charcoal colour that looks smooth and contemporary. It has a quiet presence that works well with both light and dark interiors.
Old Bronze has a rich brown-black tone with warmer undertones. It feels more traditional and has a sense of age to it, even when it is newly made.
Ageing
Our Gunmetal and Old Bronze taps are unlacquered, meaning that their appearance will shift slightly over time. Old Bronze often develops more variation as it ages, particularly around areas of frequent use.
When Each Works Best
Our opinion is that Gunmetal finishes are suited to more modern interiors, and rooms that will benefit from a darker finish without needing to go all the way to black.
Old Bronze is a really great addition to most spaces, but works especially well in heritage homes and settings where a traditional finish will add character.
How to Choose the Best Finish
When you come to choose a finish, the first thing to consider is the overall style of the room you're working with. Cooler finishes tend to match clean and modern interiors, while warmer finishes are a better fit with natural materials such as timber or stone.
Next, consider how much change you are comfortable with. The finish of our unlacquered taps changes with time, developing a patina that is unique to their environment. Different finishes will age over different lengths of time, however. For example, brass quickly develops a noticeable patina, whereas Chrome and Nickel finishes age more subtly over longer periods.
The water hardness in your area can also make a difference. For example, homes with very hard water may prefer brushed or satin textures because they show fewer watermarks.
Lighting is another factor, as warm lighting brings out the natural colour of brass, while cooler lighting can make chrome or steel look brighter.
Finally, consider how the finish works with nearby items such as handles, hinges, and lighting. Remember that matching is not always necessary.
Coordination between different elements often looks more cohesive and lived-in compared to perfect alignment.
The Francone Bespoke Taps Approach
At Francone Bespoke Taps, every finish starts with solid brass, with the exception of those made from stainless steel.
This gives each piece weight, durability, and the ability to be repaired or refinished when needed. We hand-finish each tap so the surface feels considered and consistent.
Our range includes finishes that stay bright, finishes that soften, and finishes that change gently with age. Whether you prefer Unlacquered Brass, Satin Brass, Nickel, Chrome, Gunmetal, or Bronze, each one is made with the same level of care.
We help customers choose finishes based on real homes and real use, not just samples. Water type, room style, lighting, and cleaning preferences all matter.
With the right information, the finish becomes a long-lasting part of the room rather than a detail to worry about later.
Conclusion
There is no single finish that suits every home. Each one has strengths and a character of its own. By understanding how finishes are created and how they behave over time, you can choose with confidence.
A good finish should fit your life as well as your room. Whether you want something bright and stable or something that develops a lived-in look, the right finish will stay with you for many years.
PHOTO CREDIT:
Andre Ricci
Torn and Cotton Int. / Sarah Griggs
Beech Tree Cottage Cornwall
Debeauvoir Renovation
