Hey there! Thinking of sprucing up your Los Angeles home with a new bathroom or kitchen? I feel you. As an LA resident myself, I know how a tired, outdated space can make your house feel blah.

But here’s the thing – a makeover in your bathroom or kitchen does more than just improve aesthetics. It can upgrade your whole lifestyle! Who wouldn’t want to host friends in a Pinterest-worthy kitchen? And doesn’t everyone deserve a spa-like bath to retreat to after battling the 405 freeway?

When revamping these vital rooms, we obsess over counters, cabinets, and finding just the right tile…but the plumbing fixtures? Not so much. But here’s a little secret from the reno pros – those little details make a HUGE impact.

Choosing that perfect finish for faucets, handles, shower systems may seem insignificant, but it brings the whole design together! Not only does it elevate aesthetics, but it improves functionality too.

So if you’re renovating your LA bathroom or kitchen, use this guide to discover how to select the ideal finishes. We’ll stroll through all the options so you can make informed choices that work with your style. Let’s dive in!

Decide Your Vibe ✨

I know, I know – you probably want to race out and select those oh-so-trendy matte black fixtures. Before falling in love with any specific product though, decide what overall look you’re going for. Different finishes set distinct moods from sleek modern to homey traditional.

Some vibes worth considering for your LA home:

Coastal Chic
Having the ocean in our backyard inspires this light, casual aesthetic for bathrooms and kitchens. Think sandy tans, sky blues, and lots of natural materials like wood, stone, linen and rope. Perfect for that laidback SoCal lifestyle!

Coastal finish suggestions:
• Oil rubbed bronze
• Driftwood stain

California Contemporary

We’re all drawn to the understated glam vibe that defines LA. For a fresh modern take that still feels warm and livable, crisp white cabinets paired with minimalist fixtures in gleaming metallics does the trick!

California contemporary finish ideas:
• Polished chrome
• Satin brass
• Stainless steel

Spanish Revival
Romantic red tile roofs, stucco arches, and ornate details dominate LA’s beloved Spanish architecture. Embrace the look with powder rooms or kitchens punctuated by hand-painted tiles, carved wood details, and various metal finishes.

Spanish style finishes:
• Aged bronze
• Brushed gold
• Wrought iron

Narrow down the look you’re going for – that guides the finishes that will work!

Match Existing Elements ⚡️

Creating harmony is key for a pulled-together room. Before even venturing out to showrooms, take stock of elements you plan to keep. What’s the cabinet color? Countertop material? Backsplash tile? Consider how potential finishes will complement these existing pieces.

Some easy matchy-matchy combos:

• White cabinets + chrome hardware
  • Wood counters + bronze fixtures
  • Marble tile + satin nickel taps

If you prefer contrast over coordinating, just ensure selections still make visual sense together. For example, avoid placing traditional details like wrought iron fixtures next to modern marble counters – it would just look jarring!

Tip: Bring home physical finish samples to see pairings in your actual space before purchasing. Lighting conditions can alter appearances, so test in both natural and artificial light.

Assess Durability Needs 💪

Being highly-used spaces prone to spills, splatters, and steam, our kitchens and bathrooms demand durability. Make finishes last by assessing:

– Location – Will fixtures undergo temperature changes or moisture exposure? For items like exterior hose bibs or steam shower heads, opt for durable brushed nickel or solid brass.

– Traffic – Higher use baths or busy family kitchens call for sturdy finishes that resist scratches, corrosion and pitting. enameled cast iron or stainless steel.

– User Lifestyle – Household dynamics should guide choices too. For example, chrome shows every fingerprint smudge while active families may prefer low-maintenance porcelain.

No need to sacrifice style for durability though! Many surface treatments help even elegant finishes withstand bumps and bangs. Technological coatings from companies like Surfside Builder’s Group’s Hydrofinity© line resist corrosion, minerals, and dirt so choices like polished brass stay beautiful for years.

Ask product experts what high-performing finishes work best for the unique needs of YOUR home and lifestyle.

Mind the Lighting 💡

Ever notice how your lipstick color transforms from day to night? Lighting alters how finishes appear too. A warm brass faucet can morph almost black under cool LED bulbs.

During finish selection, scrutinize options under ALL lighting conditions present from natural sunlight to track lighting to ambient glows. This helps avoid surprises after installation.

You spend HOURS deciding on perfect paint colors factored to time of day and lighting. Take the same care when selecting plumbing finishes. Sample fittings under electrical stores vast fluorescent beams and also in your home putting them through morning, noon and night lighting scenarios.

Doing homework now prevents regret over suddenly flashy, tarnished or color-skewed choices!

Think Whole Home Cohesion ✨

While focusing on your bathroom and kitchen refresh, remember these spaces don’t exist in isolation! Custom building company Surfside Group urges clients to think of the dwelling as a complete ecosystem. Finishes should flow from room to room.

Tour your home identifying current finishes in living rooms, bedrooms and common areas. Request special samples showing your existing paint or metals alongside potential plumbing parts. You want continuity so guests view spaces as coordinated vignettes not disjointed fragments!

If you already adore oil-rubbed bronze lanterns outside and aged bronze sconces in the entry, stay consistent selecting similar bathroom fittings. Or maybe you want to subtly introduce a new finish like champagne bronze to elegantly blend with existing warm metallics. Just ensure any transitions seem intentional not haphazard!

This holistic home perspective allows you to leverage Mid-Century furnishings and African mahogany accents present in other rooms RIGHT into your updated kitchen or bath scheme!

Consider Care Efforts ✅

Like choosing low-maintenance houseplants, opt for fixtures with easy upkeep needs matching your habits and skills. Consider:

– Surface material – Porcelain resists hard water buildup better than metallic finishes. Enamel stands up to cleaning products that might mar polished gold.

– Patinas – Living finishes change appearance over time which appeals to some. But oiled metals darken and scratch requiring careful handling for pristine longevity.

– Specialized care – Some glam finishes like polished brass or nickel call for special cleaners and lacquered sealants to avoid spotting and water marks.

While chrome and stainless steel remain popular for durability and no-fuss cleaning, improved tech makes even high-end surfaces easier to maintain. Surfside Group’s cool new Living Brass finish features a pioneering self-healing top-coat eliminating need to polish or seal. Dirt and grime simply rinse away!

Select a finish matching your ability and willingness to properly care for it over years of use.

Weigh Trends Against Timelessness ⏳

Pinterest and Instagram constantly reveal of-the-moment metal and color trends. Tempting, yes…but will it date your design? Timelessness should be considered alongside trends when picking finishes.

Think vintage clawfoot tubs or sculptural brass lighting thriving through decades of shifting looks by fusing good bones with touch of uniqueness – their intriguing shapes and patinas adapt across times.

While oil-rubbed bronze recently rides high popularity, its earthy richness suits traditional, modern, industrial and eclectic spaces. Its color mimics aged bronze artifacts enduring centuries making it a sound long-range gamble as finishes come and go.

So YES, embrace cutting-edge Matte Black Steel or trending Living Gold finishes if you love the modern statement they make today. Just be ready to switch fixtures out down-road once its 15 minutes of trendiness fades. OR opt for flexible classics like brushed brass, polished nickel or textural concrete able to flex as styles evolve around them.

See and Feel Finishes Live ✨

Digital images only reveal so much about how metal finishes and surface treatments actually look and FEEL in reality. When available visit showrooms like Surfside Builders Group’s Los Angeles design center showcasing all the most exciting plumbing advancements.

Here creative vignettes display fixtures by leading manufacturers allowing side-by-side comparisons under accurate lighting. During my recent bathroom reno I was stunned realizing from samples how certain finishes appeared flashy and cheap in person vs their sophisticated web presence!

Boutique lighting showrooms also offer many intriguing finishes on lamps and pendants indicative of how faucets will pick up surrounding glows. Notice if brass, aged bronze or iron options skew yellow, green or ashy under electrical stores vast fluorescent beams.

And nothing substitutes for physically handling items, noting variations between soft brushed, ultra-smooth polished or antiqued artisan textures. Solid weighty fixtures DO feel more luxurious! When installed in your home, such high-quality flourishes elevate users experience each day. This tactile test drive prevents disappointment over flimsy purchases only looking gorgeous digitally through strategic lighting and photography tricks!

While choosing stunning finishes seems complex, the pros at Surfside simplify the job providing tailored guidance and samples galore. They become your project allies eliminating missteps and maximizing budget for ON-POINT style!

Closing Thoughts on Finishing Touches 🏖️

With endless decisions demanded during bathroom and kitchen overhauls, investors often overlook plumbing finishes as inconsequential details. But these metallic, porcelain, glass and stone pieces literally touch users daily…and shouldn’t their beauty and appeal be optimized too?

Luckily various durable and easy-care options suit any design requiring just thoughtful selection aligned with your unique needs and style. By heeding this finish advice, your once-tired space transforms into a polished oasis for restoring calm and energy at home.

When embarking on bathroom and kitchen remodels, rely on Los Angeles top design/build team Surfside Builders Group guiding clients to perfect fixture finishes for 25+ years. Call today at 424-581-7150 to begin creating your dream space!