I probably spent more time researching hardware than anything else in this kitchen. Brass/gold finishes are tricky to get right without looking cheap. I really wanted our appliance pulls, sink faucet and pot filler to match the hardware for consistency—especially since there's a lot of other colors/patterns in the space. I searched high and low for reasonably priced, matching fixtures and came up short. The beauty of raw brass is that they're all the same material, no matter which manufacturer you choose. I've always loved the look of UL brass and the charming patina it develops over time—the cost and maintenance was my only hesitation, but for this kitchen, I think it's worth it.