I know-painting fixtures is definitely risky, but I made sure to follow the golden rules of good painting: I stopped in at the big box store and picked up Rust-oleum all metal paint and primer in several bronzy-golden finishes. Why not give spray paint a try? I mean, as long as I'm okay with replacing it later, why not try spray painting it, see how the finish matches, and whether it lasts? The drinking faucet doesn't see much wear and tear actually-only the handle gets touched a lot, and that part is removable with a little elbow wrench, so conceivably I could touch it up as needed. But driving by Home Depot that night I had an idea.

With time closing in and appliance day hookup imminent, I'd pretty well resigned myself to just letting the guys install it-figuring that I could always replace it later as a DIY. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the polished gold finish of the drinking faucet would stand out like a sore thumb. But these two faucets will be standing right under custom brass lighting pendants and wall shelf that are natural brass, which will patina over time and look lovely against the backdrop of the dramatic navy-veined Paonazzo slab marble backsplashes. And there's brass throughout the house in the original brass doorknobs-one of the few remaining original details the previous owners left us. While most of the appliances are hidden behind panels, there's a bit of chrome trim on the wall ovens and a bit more in the adjoining rooms, like in the dining chair legs and light-switch plates. I'm mixing metal finishes in this kitchen-mainly chrome and brass.

But the longer I sat with the clash of the metals, the more it bothered me.

I have to confess that I kept putting off dealing with it for a time, because-well, other tiny emergencies, such as the electrical panel nightmare, kept getting in the way.

Stainless steel rod home depot