Bright brass that stays bright
A blush micro-cement en suite with fluted glass and a burgundy door, finished in PVD brass handles and hinges that shrug off steam and limescale.
A small en suite squeezed into the corner of a Victorian bedroom, in a part of the country with very hard water. The owners wanted bright, traditional brass but knew ordinary polished brass would mark and dull within months in a steamy room. So every fitting is PVD brass: a hard, coloured coating that keeps its shine and wipes clean. The scroll lever bathroom handle and ball-bearing hinges sit on a deep burgundy door, against seamless blush micro-cement, fluted glass and a walnut vanity.
PVD brass for a hard-water en suite
More PVD and polished brass for bathrooms
Why PVD brass suits a steamy room
What PVD actually is
PVD stands for physical vapour deposition. A very thin, very hard layer is bonded to the metal in a vacuum, giving the colour of polished brass with far better resistance to scratches, tarnish and the cleaning products you need for limescale.
Traditional shapes, modern finish
Scroll levers and shaped backplates suit a Victorian house, and in PVD you get them without the polishing. The Oakley and Paris ranges both come with a bathroom version for the en suite and a latch version for the bedroom door.
Don't forget the hinges
On a painted door, hinges are surprisingly visible, especially on the en suite side. PVD brass ball-bearing hinges match the handle and carry a heavier door smoothly without squeaking.
Planning notes
Pick one plate shape
Oakley has rounded ends, Paris has clipped corners. Use the same range on the en suite and the bedroom door so the two match side by side.
Bathroom lock needed
Both bathroom handles have a turn on the plate and need a bathroom mortice lock with matching centres.
Cleaning PVD
Wipe with a soft damp cloth and mild soap. Skip abrasive pads and metal polish; the coating doesn't need them.
Hinge size
The 4x3in hinges suit standard 35mm and 44mm internal doors. Use three on heavy solid doors.
