Warm metals in the bathroom: AXOR FinishPlus in three hotels

Chrome is still the standard, but luxury hotels increasingly choose warm metals. Three real projects show how the fitting colour becomes part of the interior.

Il Sereno, Lake Como

Designed by Patricia Urquiola. Bathrooms are clad in hand-finished silver-brown limestone with walnut ceilings. AXOR Urquiola mixers come in Brushed Nickel and Brushed Red Gold, matched to the stone and wood. According to the owner, the coloured fittings blended with the other materials into one whole.

The Fontenay, Hamburg

Aukett + Heese chose AXOR Citterio E, and through AXOR FinishPlus every mixer and shower got a durable Brushed Nickel PVD finish — which then became the running metal tone across rooms and public areas.

Rosewood Munich

Tara Bernerd & Partners combined several AXOR collections in Brushed Gold Optic and Brushed Bronze, from guest bathrooms to the spa and bar washrooms.

How to choose

• Red gold and bronze go with warm stone (travertine, limestone) and wood.
• Brushed nickel suits pale sandstone and cool palettes; it is softer than chrome.
• One metal tone across the hotel sets a signature style, carried on by door handles and lighting.
• PVD finishes stand up to hotel use better than decorative plating.