Antique Tapware Finishes Bring a New Warmth to Luxury Interiors

Not so long ago, choosing tapware was a relatively predictable part of interior design due to a complete lack of choice. The options were chrome, chrome and more chrome, with perhaps a brushed variation if you were lucky. Today, tapware has become far more expressive, with antique tapware finishes, brushed metals and a range of all sorts of colour tones now available that have the ability to completely change the feeling of a kitchen, bathroom or laundry.

It is this shift towards more characterful, design-led finishes that sits behind ABI Interiors’ new Antique Collection, a range of tapware, showers, hardware, accessories, wastes and mirrors designed to bring a more tactile quality to contemporary interiors.

The Australian brand’s latest launch introduces four new finishes: Antique Aurum, Antique Bronze, Antique Slate and Antique Steel. Each has been created to capture the warmth and character of aged metal, while retaining the durability required for modern homes. For ABI Interiors Co-Founder and Creative Director Luli Farrell, the collection represents a move away from the perfectly polished surface and towards something more organic.

“The Antique Collection is really special,” says Luli. “It was inspired by naturally aged metals and the imperfect beauty of time-worn surfaces often seen throughout European architecture and vintage design pieces. We wanted to create something that felt more organic and tactile than traditional smooth or polished finishes.”

 

 

 

A New Direction in Tapware Finishes

In luxury interiors, tapware is no longer treated as a purely functional detail. The finish selected for a basin mixer, kitchen mixer, shower, cabinet pull or mirror frame can influence the entire material palette of a room. Against stone, timber, handmade tiles or textured surfaces, a softer metal finish can add warmth and depth in a way that bright chrome rarely can.

ABI Interiors’ Antique Collection taps into this broader movement towards homes that feel more layered and personal. Rather than offering a uniform surface, each finish has a more irregular, time-worn quality, giving the pieces a sense of texture and individuality.

That aged effect is not simply a visual treatment. Each piece in the collection is made from 304 and 316 stainless steel and undergoes ABI Interiors’ first three-step vibrational tumbling technique. The process gives the surface its subtle distressing and naturally irregular markings, creating an antique finish that feels more individual than standard brushed or polished metal.

“It was conceived by our Head of Research and Development, who began experimenting with new ways of evolving our existing metals and surface treatments,” Luli explains. “What emerged was our proprietary three-step tumbling process, where each piece undergoes a specialised finishing technique that introduces subtle texture and naturally irregular markings across the surface. No two pieces are exactly the same, which gives the collection a far more authentic and individual character.”

 

 

The Four Antique Finishes

The collection includes four distinct finishes, each offering a different interpretation of aged metal. Antique Aurum has a warm golden tone that suits classic, coastal, farmhouse and Mediterranean-inspired interiors. Antique Bronze introduces a deeper, earthier note, pairing well with natural stone, timber cabinetry and warmer interior palettes.

Antique Slate has a darker charcoal quality, making it a strong alternative for those who want contrast without the sharpness of black. Antique Steel has a rawer, more industrial character, bringing a pared-back quality to spaces where texture and restraint are part of the design.

Together, the four finishes offer a broader way to approach kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. Rather than selecting tapware as a separate element, homeowners and designers can use these finishes to connect with surrounding materials, from stone benchtops and timber veneer to handmade tiles, rendered walls and aged brass accents.

 

 

Why Antique Tapware Works in Luxury Interiors

For homeowners building or renovating a luxury home, antique tapware finishes can help soften a newly completed space. New homes can sometimes feel too crisp or too perfect, particularly when every surface is highly polished or uniform. A finish with subtle variation can make a room feel warmer, more grounded and less manufactured.

This is especially relevant in bathrooms and kitchens, where the same materials often repeat across larger surfaces. Stone, porcelain, timber, cabinetry and tiles all benefit from contrast. A softly aged metal finish can break up those surfaces without demanding too much attention.

The appeal also lies in the way antique finishes sit across different interior styles. They can feel refined in a classic bathroom, relaxed in a coastal home, architectural in a minimal kitchen, or richly textured in a more European-inspired interior. The key is that they do not feel overly new or overly shiny.

“Personally, the four new Antique finishes are my favourite within our entire offering,” says Luli. “A great deal of love, creativity, and investment went into bringing the collection to life, and that comes through in every piece. It feels grounded, timeless, and incredibly aligned with where interiors are heading, toward spaces that feel warmer, more layered, and more personal.”

 

 

Texture, Durability and Everyday Use

While the collection has an aged appearance, its construction has been developed for everyday use. ABI Interiors has applied its PVD HeatShield protection to the engineered finishes, supporting long-term resistance to tarnishing, corrosion and wear. Antique Steel is offered as a raw finish for those drawn to a more industrial expression, where the material’s character is part of its appeal.

For Luli, the beauty of the collection is found in its rawness and imperfection. Each piece carries its own markings, giving the finish a crafted quality that is difficult to replicate through more conventional production methods.

 

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“What I love most is its rawness and imperfections,” she says. “Every single piece is different; no two share the same tumble mark, making each genuinely unique. There is a beauty in that. The collection is not bright or shiny; it’s grounding and earthy, and very much aligned with where design trends are heading in our industry. I think that gives tapware an exciting new dimension.”

While Luli says she would not single out one favourite piece from the range, she is especially drawn to the Slate and Steel finishes, which she says best capture the mood and intention of the collection.

For ABI Interiors, the Antique Collection expands the way tapware and hardware can contribute to the overall feeling of a home. More than a finishing touch, these pieces bring texture, warmth and individuality into rooms where every material choice matters.

 

Discover the range at abiinteriors.com.au