How MasterChef's Nicolette Stathopoulos Uses Brushed Brass to Tie Her Kitchen and Bathroom Together

When renovating your home, it's easy to focus on each room individually. You might find the perfect kitchen mixer, choose a bathroom vanity you love and then start looking at shower fittings months later. But thinking about how these finishes work together can make a big difference to the overall look of your home.

It's something we often discuss with customers at Buildmat, particularly those renovating multiple rooms or looking to create a more cohesive interior.

For former MasterChef contestant Nicolette, the answer was brushed brass. With original 1960s features and warm golden tones throughout her apartment, she wanted to choose fixtures that complemented the character of her home while giving her kitchen and bathroom a more contemporary feel.

As part of our At Home with Nicolette series, we visited her apartment to see how she's used Buildmat tapware and fixtures to bring everything together.

Why Nicolette Chose Brushed Brass Throughout Her Home

For Nicolette, choosing brushed brass tapware wasn't simply about following a design trend. She wanted a finish that would complement the existing features of her apartment.

"I wanted to keep the brushed brass gold throughout the whole house. I've got my kitchen mixer and then I wanted to make sure that the bathroom matched."

One of the features she particularly wanted to preserve was the apartment's original golden-toned parquetry flooring from the 1960s.

"I wanted to keep those golden warm tones throughout the whole apartment."

Rather than introducing contrasting finishes in each room, Nicolette chose brushed brass gold to complement the flooring and create a consistent colour palette.

It's an approach we often recommend when customers are renovating older homes. Existing features, whether that's timber flooring, original tiles or architectural details, can be a great starting point for choosing new fixtures.

Brushed brass works particularly well with warm materials and neutral colour schemes. Its softer gold appearance can complement timber, natural stone and earthy tones without feeling too bold or overpowering.

Matching Kitchen and Bathroom Tapware

One of the easiest ways to create a consistent look throughout your home is to coordinate your kitchen and bathroom tapware.

For Nicolette, the kitchen mixer was the starting point. After choosing a brushed brass gold finish for her kitchen, she wanted to carry the same look through to her bathroom.

She selected a matching bathroom basin mixer and basin waste, helping connect the two spaces through a shared finish.

"So the brushed brass gold in the bathroom helps with those accents and keeps everything continuous throughout the home."

While kitchens and bathrooms serve very different purposes, coordinating smaller details such as tapware can help them feel like part of the same home.

Pictured: Alma Mira Brushed Brass Basin Mixer

Do Your Kitchen and Bathroom Taps Need to Match?

Not necessarily, but it's worth thinking about how the finishes will work together. At Buildmat, we often help customers compare kitchen tapware and bathroom mixers when they're renovating multiple spaces.

You don't need to choose identical designs. A curved gooseneck mixer might work beautifully in the kitchen, while a short basin mixer could be better suited to the bathroom.

However, choosing similar finishes can help create a sense of continuity, particularly in apartments and open-plan homes where different spaces are visually connected.

One thing we always recommend checking is the exact colour and finish. Brushed brass, brushed gold and champagne tapware can look similar online, but the undertones may vary between brands.

If you're planning to match fixtures across several rooms, choosing products from the same brand or coordinating collection can make the process easier.

How to Style Brushed Brass Tapware in Your Home

One of the reasons brushed brass is such a popular choice is its versatility. While it works beautifully in warm, traditional interiors, it can also complement contemporary kitchens and bathrooms.

We often see customers pairing brushed brass with timber cabinetry, bathroom vanities, white basins and natural stone surfaces.

The combination of warm metallic fixtures and neutral materials can create a welcoming look without needing to introduce too many different colours or finishes.

If you're planning to use brushed brass throughout your home, we'd recommend considering a few things.

1. Start with your existing materials. Look at the undertones in your flooring, tiles, benchtops and cabinetry. Warm timber and cream or beige surfaces often pair naturally with brushed brass.
2. Choose your main fixtures first. Your kitchen mixer, basin mixer and shower fittings are good starting points, as they're some of the most visible and frequently used fixtures in the home.
3. Consider the smaller details. Matching basin wastes, towel rails and other bathroom accessories can help complete the look.
4. Compare finishes in person where possible. Different brands can have noticeably different interpretations of brushed brass, so it's worth checking samples before making your final decision.

Nicolette's apartment is a great example of how these details can work together. By taking inspiration from the home's original flooring, she's created a colour palette that feels consistent without losing the apartment's character.

Refreshing a Bathroom Without a Full Renovation

While Nicolette wanted her bathroom to complement her kitchen, she was also looking for a way to update the space without completely changing it.

"I wanted to update and upgrade my bathroom. I think the best way to achieve that is to just change over those taps and mixers where you can, and the shower head."

It's something we regularly help customers with at Buildmat. Not every bathroom needs a complete renovation, particularly if the existing layout, tiles and vanity are still in good condition.

Sometimes, replacing older fixtures with more contemporary designs can make a noticeable difference. For Nicolette, updating her basin mixer, matching waste and shower fittings helped refresh the bathroom while keeping the warm tones she loved throughout the apartment.

Pictured: Alma Cora Cross Handles, Alma Solara Basin, Alma Mira Wall Spout

Which Bathroom Fixtures Should You Upgrade?

If you're happy with your existing bathroom layout, there are several fixtures worth considering.

• Basin mixers: Replacing an older mixer can update the appearance of your vanity and give you an opportunity to choose a design that better suits your basin.

• Basin wastes: A matching pop-up waste is a small detail that can help coordinate your basin and tapware. Check whether your basin requires an overflow or non-overflow waste.

• Shower heads: A new shower head can change both the appearance of your shower and the way it feels to use.

• Shower mixers: Updating visible shower tapware can help carry your chosen finish throughout the bathroom, provided the replacement is compatible with your existing plumbing.

Before purchasing replacement fixtures, we recommend checking your existing installation and discussing compatibility with a licensed plumber. Some fittings may be relatively straightforward to replace, while others can require changes to plumbing or surrounding surfaces.

Why Nicolette Loves Her Multi-Function Shower Head

Beyond the appearance of her bathroom, Nicolette also wanted fixtures that would improve her everyday routine. One of the features that surprised her most was the range of spray settings available on her shower head.

"Sometimes you might have a thicker product in your hair and you need, I guess, more force from the water to be coming down," she explains.

She also enjoys having the option of a massage-style spray or a gentler rainfall setting when she wants a more relaxing shower.

"I love that there is those different options. I didn't know that they existed at first."

It's a good reminder that choosing shower fittings isn't just about finding a finish that matches your bathroom.

Pictured: Alma Mira Round Handheld Shower

What to Look for in a Multi-Function Shower Head

When customers are comparing shower heads, we encourage them to think about how they use their shower every day.

Some people prefer a large overhead shower with a gentle rainfall-style flow, while others want the flexibility of a handheld shower or multiple spray settings.

A multi-function shower head can offer different spray patterns, allowing you to adjust the flow depending on your preference.

Before choosing, consider the available spray settings, the size and configuration of the shower head, its WELS water efficiency rating and whether it's compatible with your existing fittings.

If you're updating several bathroom fixtures at once, it's also worth checking whether your preferred shower head is available in the same finish as your basin mixer and other tapware.

 

Creating a Cohesive Home, One Detail at a Time

What we love about Nicolette's approach is that she's worked with the character of her apartment rather than trying to change everything.

Her original 1960s flooring helped guide her choice of brushed brass gold, which she's carried from the kitchen mixer through to her bathroom tapware and shower fittings.

The result is a home where the finishes feel connected, even though each room has its own purpose.

It's something we encourage customers to think about when choosing fixtures for a renovation. You don't necessarily need every room to look the same, but considering how your materials, colours and tapware finishes work together can help create a more cohesive result.

And as Nicolette's bathroom shows, sometimes updating a few key fixtures is enough to make a space feel refreshed.

Shop Nicolette's Kitchen and Bathroom

Inspired by Nicolette's home? Explore the Buildmat collections featured throughout her apartment:

• Brushed brass kitchen mixers: Warm metallic tapware that can complement timber cabinetry, stone benchtops and other kitchen finishes.

• Brushed brass basin mixers: Coordinating bathroom tapware to carry the same finish through to your vanity.

• Basin wastes: Matching finishes for a more consistent look around your basin.

• Shower heads and fittings: Explore different shower configurations, finishes and spray functions.

• Brushed brass tapware and accessories: Browse coordinating fixtures for your kitchen, bathroom and laundry.

Let Buildmat Help Guide Your Renovation

If you're planning a renovation and want help choosing tapware finishes that work together, our team is here to help.

You can  in Hughesdale to compare products and finishes in person. 

If you're outside Melbourne, you can still get help choosing the right products. Call our team on 1300 123 122 or email [email protected] for advice.

Related reads: 

• Buildmat's Guide to Tapware Finishes 

• Antique Brass vs Brushed Brass vs Aged Brass vs Bronze 

• The Complete Bathroom Renovation Guide