How to age unlacquered brass hardware

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The kitchen remodel is wrapping up and one area I didn’t want to be an afterthought was the cabinet hardware. I had this vision of an aged brass look for the cabinet pulls and knobs but after scouring the internet for days, I could not find exactly what I had envisioned that had both the knobs and pulls in the style/size I needed and the same finish! That’s when I decided I was going to go the long route on this project–is anyone surprised?!

For anyone else wanting to do something similar, I wanted to share the process. It’s really very simple!

Supplies needed:

Unlaquered brass hardware (you have to get unlaquered brass, if its polished it will not work the same — if at all)

Brass aging solution (I bought 2 bottles)

Steel wool

Rubber gloves

Paper towels

I found these unlacquered brass pulls and knobs on Etsy and they were the exactly what I had in mind for the style for the kitchen! Once they arrived, the fun began! I found the tallest and skinniest bottle I could find because I knew I would need the height to dip the long pulls in. I cut the top off so I could easily reach my hand and the hardware in it. I poured both bottles of aging solution in the bottle. Then I just dipped the hardware in for about 20 seconds each and dried with a paper towel then sat on a towel to dry. If one got a little too dark, I just buffed it out with steel wool to bring a little bit of the brass back.

And that’s pretty much it! I just installed them on the cabinet doors as normal. I didn’t use any sealer because I want these to continue to patina with time and use. Our house is over 120 years old and we love all the character that comes with an old house. We didn’t want to remodel this kitchen and not replace some of the charm that fits so well in the home and real brass hardware is one way to easily add character to a space!!