Didn't you hear? Shiny brass is coming back in. :):):)

It's not trendy right now but I'm sure it will be back, it's a classic look. If you like it, keep it.

I have lots of antique brass and some shiny brass, too. I like it.

I have a lot of classic brass in my house too. I'm not really a fan of silver (jewellery too), so the trendy brushed nickel and stainless steel show up very little here. :)

I've just completed building my new home and I have brass fixtures, door knobs,cabinet pulls, lamps and accessories. I love the warmth of brass. I have very traditional taste and don't really care what the designers say.

why do so many people & designers hate shiny brass

My guess is that it is because many good solid brass pieces are not overly shiny and a lot of shiny brass isn't real brass.

With the color gray still on the ascent, I think it will be a while before brass predominates again.

I have an antique brass bed that I am holding on to in wait of the return of brass.

Seriously, I read on another thread that someone saw in a designer magazine that brass was coming back into fashion. It may have been the thread about painting the brass chandeliers bronze.

Nothing...it's classic...always has been always will be.
It's the cheap shiny laquered brass that's out...but then for some it never has been "in".
Look at pictures of the homes of the rich and famous. Believe me they don't go around painting their brass chandelieres because the shiny brass is suddenly "out". if it was fine quality to begin with, it's still beautiful today.
I have a shiny brass kitchen light fixture that's 100 years old. It's an old pool table light...and is as good today as it was 20 years ago when I bought it...as it was 100 years ago when it lit the pool table.
Linda C

As Linda said, good quality brass is always classic. It's the bright yellowy-colored plasticky-looking crap that is out and hopefully will stay that way forever because it just looks cheap and chintzy and does not age gracefully. On doorknobs and pulls the clearcoat and then the plating wears off which just looks sad. Our previous house had ceiling fans and light fixtures with this sort of "brass finish" and it was peeling off at the edges when we took them down, they weren't even 15 years old. Real solid brass has a lovely warmth that is completely different and only gets better with age. I have a heavy solid brass chandelier in my dining room, the only original fixture in my 108yo house. I leave it unpolished because I like the patina but I know if I polished it up bright and waxed it to prevent the patina from redeveloping it would look just as good as it did when it was installed over 100 years ago. Ditto for the engraved brass bed from the 1880s that I have in storage until we can move a heating vent in the bedroom.

IMHO designers say something is out so they can get you to buy something new.

It's never been "out" at my house. Almost every light and lamp fixture in my house is regular shiny brass because I love the way the light catches it and it makes me happy and it's my house, not a designer. If I could get a designer to start paying the mortgage I might consider switching although it's unlikely.

AMEN Blue Velvet Elvis!!! Who cares what a designer says? It's your house and if you like it - go for it. What YOU like is what should be in your home.

I don't give a rat's patootie what someone else says is in or out for my home. Hubby and I are the ones that live there, so we are the only ones that are allowed a vote on the subject.

tina

Do you mean like this fixture? YUCK!!! It will either be replaced, or painted. This type is all over the house. Builders grade, and ugly. Lots of painting to do. LOL

{{!gwi}}

Gold tones are on their way back in. Home Goods are now displaying a vast array of gold finished lamps in more contemporary (meaning updated) finishes. Also, last week Candice did a room with gold accents that was spectacular.

Personally, I am not a fan of brass and never have been. Way too traditional for my tastes but I do love traditional gold tone finshes used as accents and trims.

I agree, who cares what the designers say!! The brass that is bad is what all the builders put in the 80's spec houses - cheap & awful looking!! I really think builders should be required to take some design courses before they get their contractors license!!

I like old patinaed(not a word!!) brass & have antique chandeliers of old brass.

Do what you love:)

Smiles:)

We have the cheap and awful looking bright brass all over this 80s house.

Can't afford to change it out. Period. So I live with it -- and guess what -- sometimes it just works for me. And sometimes I hate the sight of it ..... welcome to reality!

And IF I get the chance I will repaint some of it into dark bronze. And we'll see how that works ......

But frankly -- those designers (remember uber-rich designers are ALWAYS trying to get you to buy new stuff -- thats their REAL job -- so that they can sell their NAME) can feel the cold dose of reality that is sweeping across many countries right now! Many people are "clearing out the clutter" and "downsizing their stuff" so the design world is frantically searching for the latest "must-have" trends .......

Jan

So true!

johnatemp - The builder of the house above, must have had fixtures left over from the 80's, because the house is only 7 years old...built in 2000. LOL