Here's a question we get every week: "I've chosen brushed brass taps. Should the mirror frame match, and will a gold frame look like my brass?" It's a fair question, because the mirror is the biggest piece of metal-edged anything on the vanity wall, and it sits right above the tap.
This guide answers it with photos, not adjectives. We sell framed LED mirrors and tapware, so we've put our frames next to our six tapware finishes and said plainly which ones match, which only come close, and which pairings we'd avoid. It also covers the old question of framed or frameless, and how the light from the mirror changes what you see.
Updated 14 October 2026. Frame finishes and materials come from our product pages. Pairings are judged from our product photos, side by side.
Why Trust InVogue Mirrors & Bathware? InVogue is a mirror and bathware brand trusted in over 20,000 homes, specialising in LED bathroom mirrors and mirror cabinets. The recommendations in this guide come from bathroom design principles — proportion, balance and light — rather than passing trends.
Quick Answer
Your mirror frame doesn't have to match your tapware, but it should either match it exactly or contrast with it clearly. Close-but-different is what looks wrong.
- Exact finish match: the Capri and Valencia frames come in Antique Brass, Brushed Brass, Brushed Nickel and Matte Black, the same finish names as our taps.
- Closest pairing: on the Framed Positano, Rivera and Amalfi, Gold sits closest to Brushed Brass, Silver to Chrome or Brushed Nickel, and Black to Matte Black. They're named differently and aren't sold as a match.
- Brushed Gunmetal and Chrome taps: no frame comes in either finish name. Pair them with Matte Black or Brushed Nickel instead.
- Contrast: a Matte Black frame with brass taps is the easiest contrast to get right.
- Finish the set: all 24 of our tapware, accessory, waste and hardware models come in all six finishes.
Match, Complement or Contrast?
There are three ways to pair a frame with your taps, and all three can work. What doesn't work is landing between them by accident.
- Match: the frame and the taps are the same finish. It looks calm and tailored, and it's the safest choice in a small room where everything is seen at once.
- Complement: two finishes from the same family, such as Brushed Nickel and Chrome, or Brushed Brass with Antique Brass kept apart. It reads as relaxed, as long as the difference is obvious enough to look chosen.
- Contrast: a deliberate opposite, usually Matte Black against brass or nickel. It gives the mirror a strong outline and lets the taps stand out.
The pairing that goes wrong is the near miss: a frame that's almost the same as the taps but not quite. Under the vanity light your eye goes straight to the difference. If you can't get an exact match, step further away and make it a clear contrast.
Which of Our Mirrors Come in Which Frame Finish
Two of our framed ranges are named in tapware finishes, and three are named in their own colours. That difference is the whole story of this guide.
| Mirror | Shape and size | Frame | Frame finishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capri | 800 mm round | Pencil-thin stainless steel | Antique Brass, Brushed Brass, Brushed Nickel, Matte Black |
| Valencia | 600 × 900 mm oval | Pencil-thin stainless steel | Antique Brass, Brushed Brass, Brushed Nickel, Matte Black |
| Framed Positano | 600 × 900 mm arch | Brushed aluminium | Gold, Silver, Black, Gunmetal |
| Framed Rivera | 600 × 900 mm oval | Brushed aluminium | Gold, Silver, Black, Gunmetal |
| Framed Amalfi | 800 mm round | Brushed aluminium | Gold, Silver, Black |
From our product pages, 14 October 2026. Each framed model comes in the one size shown.
The Capri and Valencia frames are a pencil-thin line of stainless steel, so the finish shows as a fine outline around a backlit mirror. The Framed Positano, Rivera and Amalfi have a deeper brushed aluminium frame, and their colour names (Gold, Silver, Black, Gunmetal) are not our tapware finish names.
The Six Tapware Finishes Side by Side
Before pairing anything, it helps to see our six finishes on one tap, in the same light. This is the Vienna Tall basin mixer in each.
Antique Brass is the darkest and brownest of the warm finishes, with a soft aged look. Brushed Brass is a lighter, yellower gold. Brushed Gunmetal is a dark grey, clearly lighter than Matte Black. Brushed Nickel is a soft, slightly warm silver. Chrome is the only mirror-bright finish. Our finishes guide covers how each one lives day to day.
The Pairing Grid: Mirror Frame to Tapware
Here's every frame finish we sell against the tapware finish it pairs with. "Exact finish match" means the finish name is the same and the photos agree. "Closest pairing" means the nearest of our finishes, not a guaranteed match.
| Mirror frame | Tapware finish | Verdict | The effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capri or Valencia, Antique Brass | Antique Brass | Exact finish match | Warm and aged. The frame reads as a fine bronze line |
| Capri or Valencia, Brushed Brass | Brushed Brass | Exact finish match | Light gold with a soft sheen |
| Capri or Valencia, Brushed Nickel | Brushed Nickel | Exact finish match | Quiet and soft silver. Works with warm or cool tiles |
| Capri or Valencia, Matte Black | Matte Black | Exact finish match | Graphic outline, crisp against pale walls |
| Capri or Valencia, Brushed Nickel | Chrome | Complementary | Two silvers. The chrome tap looks brighter than the frame |
| Capri or Valencia, Matte Black | Brushed Gunmetal | Complementary | Two darks. The gunmetal reads as a softer grey |
| Capri or Valencia, Matte Black | Any brass | Complementary (contrast) | The classic black-and-brass contrast |
| Capri or Valencia, Antique Brass | Brushed Brass | Use with care | Two brasses a shade apart can look like a mistake side by side |
| Positano, Rivera or Amalfi, Gold | Brushed Brass | Closest pairing | The frame is a brighter, yellower gold than the tap |
| Positano, Rivera or Amalfi, Gold | Antique Brass | Use with care | Clearly different: bright gold against a dark aged brass |
| Positano, Rivera or Amalfi, Silver | Chrome | Closest pairing | A bright silver frame beside a mirror-bright tap |
| Positano, Rivera or Amalfi, Silver | Brushed Nickel | Closest pairing | Also close. The nickel tap is softer and slightly warmer |
| Positano, Rivera or Amalfi, Black | Matte Black | Closest pairing | Both black. The frame shows a fine brushed grain up close |
| Positano or Rivera, Gunmetal | Brushed Gunmetal | Not yet compared | Same family by name. Ask us for a photo before you order |
Judged from our product photos, side by side, below. Screen colour varies, so for a close call ask us for a photo of the actual pieces.
Capri and Valencia: the four exact matches
These are the frames to choose if you want the mirror and the taps to be the same finish. The frame finish names are the same as our tapware, and side by side in our product photos the thin frame and the tap read as the same finish. The frame close-ups are lit by the mirror's own warm backlight, which makes the brass frames look a touch warmer than the studio-lit taps.
Positano, Rivera and Amalfi: the closest pairings
The aluminium frames are named Gold, Silver, Black and Gunmetal, and we don't sell them as a match for any tapware finish. Here's how they compare in our photos. The Gold frame is brighter and more yellow than Brushed Brass but plainly from the same family, and nowhere near Antique Brass. The Silver frame is bright, close to Chrome, and sits comfortably with Brushed Nickel too. The Black frame is close to Matte Black from a normal distance, with a fine brushed grain up close.
We haven't yet photographed the Gunmetal frame beside our Brushed Gunmetal tapware, so we won't call that one. If it matters to your choice, ask us and we'll send you a photo of the two together before you order.
How the Mirror Light Changes Finishes
Choose the pairing under the light you'll actually use. Our Capri and Valencia mirrors adjust between warm, neutral and cool light, and the setting changes how every metal in front of the mirror looks.
Warm light makes brass look richer and yellower, and pulls Brushed Nickel slightly towards champagne. Cool light makes brass look paler and Brushed Nickel greyer. Black barely changes. So a frame and tap that look a close match on a bright screen can drift apart under a warm evening setting, and the reverse can happen too.
Designer Insight: before you commit, open the product photos on your phone in the bathroom itself, at night, with the lights you'll use. It's not perfect, but it's closer to real life than a desk screen at noon.
Framed or Frameless?
Go framed when you want the mirror to repeat a metal from the taps, or to stand out against a busy tile. Go frameless when you want the glass and the light to disappear into the wall, or when you need a size the framed range doesn't come in.
That last point is practical, not just a style choice. Each framed model comes in one size: 800 mm round for the Capri and Framed Amalfi, and 600 × 900 mm for the Valencia, Framed Positano and Framed Rivera. Our frameless range comes in many more widths. Go as wide as your vanity allows, up to its full width but never wider, so if your vanity calls for a wider mirror than the framed range offers, frameless is the honest answer. Our mirror size guide walks through it.
Framed or frameless, our LED mirrors are hardwired and must be installed by a licensed electrical worker. Do LED mirrors need an electrician? explains what that means for your renovation.
Accessories, Wastes and Hardware: Finishing the Set
The mirror and the tap are two pieces. The towel rail, roll holder, waste and shower screen hardware are the rest of the set, and they're where a scheme either holds together or falls apart.
All 24 of our tapware, accessory, waste and hardware models come in all six finishes, so you can carry one finish right through. If you've chosen an exact match, keep everything in that finish. If you've chosen a contrast, give each metal a role: for example a Matte Black frame and accessories, with Brushed Brass taps and waste. Shop by finish: Antique Brass, Brushed Brass, Brushed Gunmetal, Matte Black, Brushed Nickel and Chrome.
One more thing that differs between the two: warranty. Our mirrors carry a 2-year warranty. Our tapware carries a parts warranty of 15 years on the tap body, 7 years on cartridges, valves and aerators, and 3 years on the surface finish. Clean both with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Our tapware care guide has the full list of what to avoid.
Our Picks
- For an exact brass match: the Valencia in Brushed Brass or Capri in Antique Brass, with the Vienna Tall in Brushed Brass or Antique Brass.
- For a soft silver scheme: the Valencia in Brushed Nickel with Brushed Nickel tapware.
- For a black outline: the Capri in Matte Black, with Matte Black or brass taps.
- For an arch or a deeper frame: the Framed Positano in Gold with Brushed Brass taps, or in Black with Matte Black.
- See every framed model in our Framed Mirrors range.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming "Gold" means Brushed Brass. It's the closest of our finishes, but it's a different, brighter gold. Choose it as a pairing, not a match.
- Putting Antique Brass and Brushed Brass side by side. Two brasses a shade apart look like an ordering error. Keep them apart or pick one.
- Judging finishes on a desk screen. Check under the light you'll use, at the setting you'll use it.
- Matching the mirror, forgetting the rest. A matched frame and tap with an odd towel rail and waste undoes the effect.
- Choosing a framed mirror that's too small for the vanity. The framed range comes in one size per model. If you need wider, go frameless.
- Mixing three metals in a small room. Two is a scheme. Three usually looks accidental.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Invogue mirrors come in the same finish as your tapware?
The Capri (800 mm round) and the Valencia (600 × 900 mm oval). Their thin stainless steel frames come in Antique Brass, Brushed Brass, Brushed Nickel and Matte Black, the same finish names as four of our six tapware finishes. There's no Chrome or Brushed Gunmetal version of either frame.
What finishes do the Framed Positano, Rivera and Amalfi come in?
The Framed Positano and Framed Rivera come in Gold, Silver, Black and Gunmetal. The Framed Amalfi comes in Gold, Silver and Black. All three have brushed aluminium frames. These are named differently from our tapware finishes, so treat them as close pairings rather than exact matches.
Is the Gold frame the same as Brushed Brass tapware?
No, it isn't sold as a match. In our photos the Gold frame is a brighter, more yellow gold than Brushed Brass, but it's the closest of our tapware finishes to it and the two sit well together. It is clearly different from Antique Brass, which is darker and browner.
Should your mirror frame match your tapware?
It doesn't have to, but it should look deliberate. An exact match gives a calm, tailored look. A clear contrast, like a black frame with brass taps, also works. What tends to look like a mistake is two finishes that are close but not the same, such as two different brasses side by side.
Can you mix black and brass in a bathroom?
Yes, and it's one of the easiest contrasts to get right. Keep each metal to a job: black for the mirror frame and accessories, brass for the taps and waste, or the other way round. Repeat each one at least twice in the room so neither looks like an odd one out.
Do your bathroom accessories come in the same finishes as your taps?
Yes. All 24 of our tapware, accessory, waste and hardware models come in the same six finishes: Antique Brass, Brushed Brass, Brushed Gunmetal, Matte Black, Brushed Nickel and Chrome. That includes towel rails, roll holders, wastes, shower screen hardware and door hardware.
Designer's Cheat Sheet
Designer's Cheat Sheet
- ✔ Exact match? → Capri or Valencia, in Antique Brass, Brushed Brass, Brushed Nickel or Matte Black
- ✔ Gold frame? → Closest to Brushed Brass. Not a match for Antique Brass
- ✔ Silver frame? → Closest to Chrome, also fine with Brushed Nickel
- ✔ Black frame? → Closest to Matte Black, or contrast with brass
- ✔ Gunmetal or Chrome taps? → No same-name frame. Pair with Matte Black or Brushed Nickel
- ✔ The rest? → All 24 accessory, waste and hardware models come in all six finishes
Conclusion
If you want the frame and the taps to be the same finish, the Capri and Valencia are the mirrors to look at. If you love the shape of the Positano, Rivera or Amalfi, choose the frame colour as the closest pairing, or make it a clear contrast. Either way, avoid the near miss, and carry your choice through to the towel rail and the waste.
Not sure about a pairing? Send us a photo of your taps or tiles and we'll send you photos of the frames beside them.
Where To Next?
- Related guides: Bathroom Tapware Finishes Explained, How to Clean and Care for Tapware Finishes, How to Choose the Perfect Bathroom Mirror Style and Changing Chrome Taps to Brass, Black or Gunmetal
- Mirrors: the Capri, Valencia and Framed Positano, or the full Framed Mirrors range
- Tapware: the Basin and Wall Mixers range, and our Which tap fits my basin? tool. In the kitchen? See How to Choose a Kitchen Mixer
Need help? Ask us with a photo.
Send a photo of your wall, vanity or plans and we will tell you what fits, or email info@invoguemirrors.co.nz.
