Is the cabinet finish going to be that painterly?

If the cabinet finish is going to be super smooth and monolithic, I might do the black or the brass.

If the cabinetfinish is going to be painterly I would do the raw brass. You could speed the darkening a little bit by soaking them in vinegar. But...if you are going to be touching them a lot they will stay pretty shiny. When I lived in the 1838 house the untouched brasses were dark brown to black but the knobs were still fairly yellow and satin brass looking because they got touched every day.

Oh my gosh. FB Hague Blue and brass?!?! My dream kitchen right there. All that to say I would definitely go brass. It will look gorgeous.

We are going painterly finish. We sprayed the white cabinets at our last house, thought the painted look fit a bit better with this kitchen. I’m leaning towards brass, but thanks for the advice about the raw brass staying pretty yellow. That is my only hang up with brass I think.

If it makes a difference the windows will be black interior and lighting will be modern, black and brass. The counter on the hutch will be black too. I don’t *think* I will use these pulls on the hutch.

brass

but I'm not objective, I love untreated brass.

(btw first time I thought-painterly look might fit better my kitchen too. I just never knew you can ask for it unless you do it yourself or something. I also didn't know it's called "painterly")

will be gorgeous. black interior windows? gorgeous

I do hope you'll show us the result..some time..

Yes, I do, and it's not favorable. I almost had my pulls lacquered by my local brass polishing place, but was encouraged to leave it a "living finish" (where do the come up with these pretentious terms!). In just a little over a year, the pulls on my top cabinets gave tarnished and darkened to the point of being unrecognizable as "polished brass". The lower cabinets still look okay. I will start taking off a few at a time, a d gave them polished and lacquered.

I like my brass, copper, and silver polished and gleaming!

I do , with a faucet. I like it but then my whole look is rustic. I vote brass, to me the black disappears and I wouldn't want that.

I think I need to see what untreated brass looks like after a year or so. Anglo, it is the shine of the brass that puts me off somewhat, I’m hoping they would tarnish relatively quickly but I obviously don’t want them looking terrible either. I might try putting my sample in vinegar as Pal suggests.

Thanks mtn. The polished brass seems to stand out a bit too much, and the black I agree with you, not quite enough. I’m hoping the tarnished brass will be “just right” as Goldilocks would say.

You could also get it patinated and then lacquer it at the particular shade of dull that you wanted to keep it. I had some craftsman fixtures at one time that were "burnished antique" --sort of a dull butterscotch color with shine at the edges? But I think you could get it tarnished to whatever level you wanted and then just lacquer it.

So pretty. What cabinet maker are you using?

(that's the color I wanted my upper kitchen cabinets to be..now you all can see why:) so uplifting, so pretty)

Hjk73 they will be custom cabinets. I’m lucky enough to have a talented brother in law cabinet maker. :)

I’ve ordered the I lacquered brass, btw. Will share pics when installed.

That's going to be stunning. Can't wait to see the pictures.