Why you should think beyond stainless steel.

Nothing against stainless steel, but its days as the default finish for modern kitchens are numbered. Enter matte black: Smooth, slick and awesomely onyx, the finish has the austerity of metallic steel, but with a little less shine and a little more warmth. On a faucet—one that leans contemporary, like Trinsic, or one that can swing transitional, like Essa—the finish almost begs to be touched, and it adds some unexpected visual interest to the sink. Almost every modern kitchen looks good in an LBD (that’s little black Delta); here are six reasons to use one: 

1. To highlight charcoal ribbons in a natural stone countertop

2. To starkly contrast a light backsplash/counter/sink combo

3. To make a hard stone backsplash look even tougher (while adding a little curve!)

4. To add some edge to cool-hued, organic-shaped tile

5. To create a focal point in a busy kitchen

6. To emphasize a patterned wall’s curvy print