Unlacquered brass is still dominant. Matte black is maturing. And a new wave of mixed-metal interiors is rewriting the old rules about matching everything.
Every year we field the same question from designers, builders, and homeowners: what is everyone specifying right now? After seeing hundreds of projects come through our Oakville showroom and shipping hardware across Canada, here is an honest read on what is actually happening in 2026 — not what trade publications say should be happening.
1. Unlacquered brass is still the dominant premium finish
Unlacquered brass peaked in trend coverage around 2022–2023, but unlike most trends it has not retreated. Instead it has settled into a permanent place in the premium residential market. Architects and interior designers who specify it now understand what they are getting: a living finish that patinas over time, develops character in the areas touched most, and cannot be replicated by any lacquered or PVD-coated alternative. It requires a client who understands that change is the point. That client base is growing.
What has changed is the context it appears in. Early unlacquered brass was paired almost exclusively with marble and white cabinetry. Now it shows up against dark oak, painted black millwork, and raw concrete — often as the warmest element in an otherwise cool or industrial palette.
2. Matte black is maturing
Matte black had its peak moment and is now past the "trendy" phase — which is actually good news. Finishes that outlast their trend moment become classics. Matte black is now specified the way chrome was in the 1990s: as a neutral, a background finish, something that coordinates rather than competes. It works in almost every style context, it hides fingerprints better than polished finishes, and it is available across every price point.
The shift we are seeing: matte black on door hardware and satin brass or unlacquered brass on cabinet hardware, used together intentionally. The contrast reads as designed rather than mismatched when the two finishes are anchored by a common material language in the space.
3. Mixed metals — done with intention
The old rule was pick one finish and commit. That rule has been officially retired. The new standard is two to three finishes used deliberately: one dominant, one secondary, one accent. The most common combination we see right now is matte black (dominant, door hardware and plumbing fixtures) + satin brass or aged brass (secondary, cabinet pulls and lighting) + a neutral like satin nickel or brushed chrome for bath accessories.
The key word is intentional. Random mixing still looks accidental. Planned mixing looks curated.
4. Longer pulls on everything
The bar pull — long, linear, minimal — has been standard in contemporary kitchens for years. What is new is the length. Pulls that used to max out at 12" centre-to-centre are now being specified at 18", 24", and even full-width on large drawers. This is partly a proportion response to the trend toward larger cabinet faces in open-plan kitchens, and partly an aesthetic statement: the pull as a horizontal line that runs across an entire run of cabinetry.
5. Concealed hinges gaining ground in residential
Fully concealed hinges used to be specified almost exclusively in commercial and high-end European interiors. They are now appearing regularly in custom Canadian homes, particularly in flush-face cabinetry and interior doors where the design intent is to let the millwork speak without visible hardware. When a concealed hinge is done correctly, the door appears to float. That effect is increasingly requested.
6. Solid brass over zinc die-cast
There is a growing awareness among specifiers — designers, architects, and builders — of the material difference between solid brass hardware and zinc die-cast hardware. Solid brass is heavier, machines more precisely, and holds its finish far longer. Zinc die-cast is lighter, cheaper to produce, and more prone to finish failure (chipping, peeling, or fading) over time. As clients become more educated about what they are buying, they are increasingly asking specifically for solid brass construction — which is standard at Emtek, Colombo Design, and PullCast.
7. Hardware as the final layer of a curated home
Perhaps the most meaningful shift is not about any specific finish or style. It is about where hardware sits in the design process. Five years ago, it was typically the last decision, made under budget pressure after the tile and cabinetry had consumed the contingency. Today, in the projects we see from designers and custom builders, hardware is spec'd early — sometimes before cabinetry is ordered — because the finish direction anchors decisions downstream.
That is the trend we are most encouraged by.
Visit our Oakville showroom to see the current finish landscape in person, or shop all hardware online.
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