We have antique brass pulls and knobs in our kitchen and they look great. Every piece of antique furniture that we have from a George III bookcase to a Biedermeier secretary, has brass hardware. We live in an old house and all of the door and window hardware and lighting fixtures are brass as well so I don't think it's a passing fad. I like the top pull the best.

Brass is back. Take a look at the shelter magazines.

It is being shown in a finish that is a little less "gold" and bright than when it was before. Of course, because as usual, trends change in order for the consumer to buy [or want] something new. But it can't go completely back to the brass we had, so it is reinvented and is slightly different.

What you are describing is a beautiful patina that looks great, especially since it is original to your home.

Have you seen Shanghaimom's beautiful kitchen with a soft brass finish on the cabinet hardware?

Here is a link that might be useful: Shanghaimom's kitchen

Yep, brass is totally back. If you don't want to go all 70's with the shiny brass (I certainly didn't though it certainly looks cool in some of the shelter blog/mag pics), definitely stay with the antique/aged brass, which sounds like it will go great with your existing hardware. We just chose new interior & exterior door hardware for some new doors & some existing doors w/tarnished shiny brass, and I chose the French Antique finish from Emtek, which I think looks great.

I've always liked antique brass, since it looks old (love antiques) and is not the shiny (dare I say brassy?) brass from the 80s.

Not everything has to match, but if you like the antique brass, maybe look for a faucet in that finish. I also like that antique brass looks great with wrought iron, IMHO. Have fun with your kitchen :)

I agree with others-the antique brass will not look like a fad if YOUR home is already filled with aged brass.

You said "I see the antique brass much more."

Do you mean you see it (in your mind's eye) in your home or that you see it in the design magazines/blogs? If the former, then I think you can just go with your gut and if the latter hopefully what we're all saying just serves to reassure you.

RE: faucets. I'm not sure I'd do polished chrome, but I'm anal retentive about coordinating things. You didn't mention your appliances...if you have anything stainless, I think brushed/satin nickel or stainless faucet might relate nicely.

If you don't mind the higher maintenance of those aged bronze finishes...I absolutely heart the Tuscan Brass faucet linked below. A local showroom showed this faucet with the extra raised deck union fittings-not sure if I have the right terminology-and I coveted in desperately. (Back when there was a prep sink in our plan, this was my faucet, along with the Waterstone Gantry faucet at the clean up sink. sigh.) But I have an unnatural attraction to sexy faucets. :)

Actually, I was channel surfing at the height of my TKO last year and saw Kirstie Alley's kitchen (or set?) where I spotted the same Rohl faucet, froze the tv on tivo, and snapped a still photo to show my husband. Clearly, I'm sick.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rohl Country Faucet in Tuscan Brass

Thanks everyone for helping me sort this out.. not 100% sure which direction I'll go, but...

lazydaisy, oh my.. i recall Shanghaimom's kitchen... stunning!

littlesmokie, thanks for the link.. I really need to start thinking about what faucet to get! Yes, yes.. I do see your point in regards to going with brushed nickel vs the chrome! The only appliance showing will be the range, which is directly across from the sink!

sweetandrew, I have always loved Emtek products, and the French Antique finish does look perfect!

thanks everyone!

I am currently enlarging a 1938 home. I put antique brass on all my new doors and windows. I am using stainless faucets with stainless steel sinks and applicances.

I have a mixture of metals in the house already, but it seems like the antique brass pulls it together. Expecially since the antique brass I chose has several tones in it.

All of the light fixtures, door knobs, hinges in my LR, DR and entry are antique brass. The newer fixtures I have purchased in that color to match the old pulls and knobs on the built ins that have gracefully aged to that finish over the years. Personally, I love it.

I think it's a timeless finish that isn't harsh or obtrusive to the eye. However, I have all unpainted wood in my home, and I like that it complements the wood nicely. I think the chrome/nickel finishes on wood are too 'brassy' of a look. However, the chrome/nickel finishes look great to me on painted surfaces. Just my opinion. Although for the older home, I think the chrome faucet is period appropriate no matter what finish your cabinet hardware is.

I purchase almost all of my house 'bling' from Rejuvenation and I love how their antique brass finishes wear. For an old home or a home being made to look likes it been there for years, it's a comfortable and period appropriate look.

Our house has antique brass window hardware and door knob escutcheons and the original kitchen had antique brass latches that we are re using. We purchased new antique brass pulls from Restoration Hardware -- where they have just been reduced for clearance -- just as they are supposedly making a big comeback.