06 / Journal

Guide to Cabinet Handle Finishes

There's a moment in most renovations where the big decisions are made and the smaller ones suddenly feel enormous. Cabinetry is locked in. Layout is sorted. And then comes cabinet handles and hardware — and with it, a finish selection that's deceptively involved. Brass or nickel? Matte black or bronze? And what exactly is the difference between aged brass and tumbled brass?

Finish is one of those details that sits quietly in the background of a well-designed space, doing a lot of work. It influences how light reads across a surface, how hardware ages over years of daily use, and how a kitchen or bathroom holds together as a considered whole. It's worth understanding before you commit.

This is a finish-by-finish guide to every option in the Lo & Co range — solid brass, bronze, nickel, matte black, matte white, marble, and travertine. For each, we've covered what it looks like in a space, which interior styles it suits, how it ages, and how to care for it. We've also included a practical pairing guide by cabinet colour and design style, and covered the living versus lacquered distinction that most finish guides gloss over.

Why Finish Matters More Than You Think

Hardware is one of the most tactile elements in a kitchen or bathroom — it's touched every day, noticed in every light condition, and it's among the last things installed in a space. The finish determines whether hardware reads as warm or cool, whether it ages gracefully or requires careful upkeep, and whether it contributes to the overall material story of the room.

It's a small decision with a long tail. Worth taking the time to get right.

Metal Cabinet Handle Finishes: From Brass to Black

Lo & Co's metal handles are crafted in solid brass, spanning unlacquered living finishes, lacquered options, and several variations within the brass family. 

Brass — Warm, Living, Timeless

Brass is the broadest finish in the Lo & Co range: aged brass, natural brass, live brass, tumbled brass, and polished brass. Each sits somewhere different on the spectrum — from bright and reflective to softly matte and already-warm — but all share the same underlying quality that has kept brass relevant through decades of changing interior trends: genuine warmth that no other metal finish quite replicates.

All Lo & Co brass is solid brass, not brass-plated over a base metal. That distinction matters because solid brass develops an authentic patina over time — the surface deepens and mellows with use, becoming something more characterful than when it was new. This is the living quality. It's not deterioration; it's the material expressing itself.

Brass works particularly well in Hamptons, coastal, Japandi, and warm-contemporary interiors. The Luna Pull and Kintore Pull are good starting points for exploring the range. Browse all brass handles.

Bronze and Oil Rubbed Bronze — Depth, Warmth, Character

Bronze and oil rubbed bronze sit darker and richer than brass — a warm brown-black tone with real depth. Oil rubbed bronze in particular has a handcrafted quality, with slight natural variation that gives each piece a sense of individuality. Like brass, it's a living finish that develops character with age. It tends to suit traditional, Mediterranean, and earthy contemporary interiors where materiality and a sense of history feel at home.

Browse all bronze handles.

Matte Black — Bold Contrast, Versatile Edge

Matte black is one of the most used finishes in contemporary Australian interiors, and it's not hard to see why — it creates clear, graphic contrast against almost any cabinet colour and reads as deliberately considered rather than decorative. It works in minimalist spaces as a focused accent and holds its own in more layered interiors too.

Worth noting: Lo & Co's black handles are a matte black lacquered finish over a solid brass base, not solid black metal. That's relevant for care purposes, which we've covered below. Browse all matte black handles.

Nickel — Cool, Refined, Architectural

Nickel is brass's cooler counterpart — silver-toned, refined, and with an architectural clarity that suits spaces where warmth isn't the brief. Lo & Co offers polished nickel (bright, warm-silver, reflective) and tumbled nickel (softer and more matte, with a subtle aged quality). Both are living finishes that develop character over time, though nickel ages differently to brass and has its own care requirements.

Nickel works well in contemporary, coastal, and transitional interiors — particularly where a clean, precise finish is needed without the golden warmth of brass.
Browse all nickel handles.

Matte White — Clean, Soft, Lacquered

Matte white is a quieter choice — hardware that integrates with the cabinetry rather than contrasting against it. The result is soft and cohesive, well suited to Hamptons, coastal, and bright contemporary kitchens where clarity and lightness are the goal. Like matte black, Lo & Co's white handles use a lacquered finish over a solid brass base. Browse all white handles.

Living Finishes vs Lacquered Finishes: A Key Distinction

This is one of the most useful things to understand before choosing hardware — and most finish guides either skip it or mention it in passing.

Living finishes are left unlacquered, meaning the metal surface is exposed to the air. Live Brass, Cast Natural Brass and Oil Rubbed Bronze fall into this category. Over time, through everyday contact with hands and exposure to light and air, the surface develops a natural patina. It deepens. It takes on warmth and character that a brand-new piece doesn't have. Many people find this the most appealing quality of these finishes: they age with the home rather than fighting it. Living finishes do require gentle maintenance (no harsh chemicals, no abrasives), but they're forgiving in the sense that surface variation reads as character rather than damage.

Lacquered brass finishes — Brass, Polished Brass, and Tumbled Brass — are solid brass sealed directly with a protective lacquer. This slows the natural ageing process and keeps the surface looking fresh for longer, but the lacquer isn't permanent. Over time it may gradually wear, allowing the brass beneath to develop the same warm patina seen in our living finishes. The pace of this depends on handling, exposure, and the environment. It's part of the character of owning genuine solid brass.

Protected finishes — Aged Brass, Bronze, matte black, matte white, and our nickel range — are electroplated or powder-coated, then sealed with a lacquer over that coating. This keeps the colour and appearance consistent, so what you install on day one looks the same after years of use. That predictability is part of the appeal.

The practical question to ask yourself: do I want hardware that changes and mellows over time, or hardware that holds a consistent appearance? Both are completely valid — they just suit different people and different spaces.

One thing worth noting: Lo & Co's brass is solid all the way through, not a brass plate applied over a cheaper base metal. The patina that develops is the real material — not a surface treatment wearing away to reveal something different underneath. Maintenance is minimal: a soft, damp cloth is all that's needed to keep these finishes looking their best, with no special care required to prevent ageing or colour change. For detailed care guidance, see the journal post on how to clean brass handles.

How to Match Your Handle Finish to Your Cabinet Colour

Finish decisions don't happen in isolation — they happen in the context of a specific cabinet colour, benchtop material, and overall room palette. Here's how to think about the pairing.

White and Cream Cabinets

The most flexible canvas. Brass adds warmth and prevents white cabinetry from reading as too clinical. Matte black creates graphic contrast — clean and contemporary, particularly effective in kitchens with strong architectural lines. Nickel offers a cooler, more refined contrast. Marble brings texture and material interest to white-on-white spaces where something tactile is needed. The decision here is really about mood: warm and inviting, bold and graphic, or quietly luxurious.

Dark and Charcoal Cabinets

Brass against deep charcoal or navy is one of the most resolved hardware pairings in contemporary interiors — warm gold on dark ground, rich and considered. Polished nickel offers a cooler brightness that pops cleanly against dark tones. Oil rubbed bronze works in a different register: depth on depth, moody and layered, particularly well suited to more dramatic spaces. Matte black on dark cabinetry is generally worth avoiding — it tends to disappear against the cabinet colour, losing its purpose.

Timber and Veneer Cabinets

Timber responds well to finishes that share its warmth and materiality. Aged brass and bronze sit naturally against timber grain, reinforcing rather than interrupting the organic quality of the cabinet. Tumbled nickel is a more understated option that complements without competing. Travertine handles are particularly well suited to timber — the stone-on-wood pairing has an inherent material logic that tends to look right without overthinking.

Cabinet Handle Finishes by Interior Design Style

Japandi and Contemporary

Japandi design values restraint, material honesty, and a certain quietness. Hardware should feel like it was always there. Natural brass — unlacquered, gradually softening with use — is the most tonally appropriate choice. Tumbled nickel is a subtler option for those drawn to silver tones. Matte black works in more contemporary interpretations where clean graphic lines are part of the brief.

In terms of form, the Linear collection and Carlisle collection are well suited to these spaces — minimal profiles that don't compete with the interior.

Hamptons and Coastal

Coastal-influenced interiors call for something crisp and relaxed — hardware that feels refined without effort. Polished or brushed nickel is the classic choice, delivering a clean silver tone with a lightness that suits the palette. Aged or natural brass sits equally well in warmer Hamptons interpretations. Matte white integrates quietly into white-dominant kitchens where the brief is simplicity.

The Carlisle collection and Luna collection are both natural fits for this aesthetic.

Statement and Maximalist

In more layered, expressive interiors, hardware has the opportunity to contribute to the material story rather than recede from it. Polished brass makes a confident, warm statement. Oil rubbed bronze adds richness and a sense of age. Marble handles are the most material-forward option in the range — genuinely sculptural, each one unique.

The Prism collection and the marble range are the most appropriate starting points for statement-oriented spaces.

Durability and Care: What to Expect From Each Finish

Caring for Solid Brass and Living Finishes

Solid brass and nickel respond well to gentle, consistent care. A soft damp cloth handles most day-to-day cleaning. Avoid harsh chemicals, acidic cleaners, or anything abrasive — these can disrupt the surface and interrupt the natural patina development. Patina is the finish working as intended, not a problem to correct. If you want to restore some brightness, a small amount of brass polish on a soft cloth is enough. For more detailed guidance, see the journal post on how to clean brass handles.

Caring for Lacquered Finishes (Black and White)

Lacquered finishes are durable in everyday use but benefit from careful cleaning. Avoid abrasive cloths, scouring pads, or chemical cleaners — they can damage the coating, and scratches are more visible on a sealed lacquered surface than on a living one. A soft damp cloth, wiped dry, is the right approach. The hardware is solid brass underneath, but it's the lacquer that's doing the surface work.

Caring for Natural Stone Handles

Stone is porous, which shapes how it should be maintained. Avoid acidic cleaners — citrus, vinegar — and anything abrasive. Wipe stone handles dry after water contact; prolonged moisture can affect both the stone surface and any metal components. The same care logic that applies to a stone benchtop applies here. Treated well, marble and travertine handles will last as long as the space they're in.