Brass taps, two ways

Thanks to all readers who joined in on the big brass taps blether that I stared when trying to find some affordable brass taps for my kitchen. Although the kitchen isn’t quite ready for a real reveal yet, a comment from another reader made me think I should show you what my solution looked like. I eventually, at the suggestion of my electrician (a self-confessed Scottish Socialist adrift in Kent, and obviously a firm believer in the democratic principal of good design for all), bought £15 garden taps. Here they are, finally in situ.

open kitchen shelves

Don’t they look great? Excuse the bits of dirt – think that’s on my camera lens – ahem. The taps are teamed with my Edwardian drainage rack, new butler sink and Jill’s brick tiles (cheers!). The alcove here is only 43cm deep, much shallower than a standard kitchen unit. The old sink unit just stuck out a whole metre into the room – space-wasting madness. Instead I pushed it all back, and bought the same Ikea units we’ve used elsewhere in the kitchen, but in the 37cm depth that is meant to be for creating sideboards and stuff. Works a charm.

brass garden taps kitchen

Anyway, this post is called ‘Two Ways’ because I’ve just had photographic evidence in from Rachel, the above-mentioned reader, reporting back on the results of her solution to the brass taps conundrum. She bought chic, minimalist chrome taps and had them dipped in brass. An idea Jill suggested might work if either of us was brave enough.

brass kitchen taps

Rachel’s fantastic pictures show that it clearly does work – although she says the finish doesn’t stand up to too-close scrutiny, from here they look gorgeous. As does the whole kitchen – love those brass handles too. What a space.

brass kitchen taps

brass kitchen taps

So there you go – two ways to get brass kitchen taps on a budget – one I would characterise as ‘Tom Dixon’, the other ‘Percy Thrower’ – readers, take your pick. Thanks Rachel for sending the pictures – they really do look splendid. And my own kitchen will be revealed very shortly – just waiting for a last bit of plastering to go off….

4 Responses to “Brass taps, two ways”

  1. Fiona Duke
    February 21, 2016 at 2:48 pm #

    both look fab.
    the garden taps make me feel less nervous but if I do get the urge to ‘dip’ in brass how is this done exactly ? maybe a basic question but i’m imagining literally a bucket of brass that you dip said tap in……where would you get this done? would love to dip loads of stuff in brass !!!

  2. Piaggi
    February 26, 2016 at 4:06 pm #

    That’s surprising! Rachel’s really does look fantastic, a whole lot of room. Looking forward to see the photos of your kitchen, when it’ll be finished, here. Cheers.

  3. Sarah
    March 10, 2016 at 10:19 pm #

    Oooh I love both but especially the garden taps! I say that even thought the tap I have chosen for my kitchen is more like Rachel’s: http://www.olif.co.uk/products/alveus-monarch-slim-copper-kitchen-mixer-tap

    Mine is copper but there are some more brass-effect taps there too.

  4. Reshma
    June 3, 2016 at 7:21 pm #

    Love Rachel’s tap!

    Can I ask where you got the plating done for the taps? I have been trying to contact shops near me without success.

Leave a Reply

Leave your opinion here. Please be nice. Your email address will be kept private.