Choosing finishes that age well

Every remodel starts with a wave of inspiration photos, and almost all of them feature whatever finish is having a moment. The trouble is that a finish has to live in your house for a decade or more, through daily use and changing tastes. We steer clients toward materials that earn their keep: honest woods, stone with movement, metals that develop a patina instead of a scratch. They cost a little more up front and a lot less over time, because you are not redoing them in five years. The test we use is simple. Imagine the surface with a few years of real life on it. If it looks better worn in, it belongs in your home. If it only looks good on day one, keep shopping.