Studio Timeless makes four brass electrical outlets: a standard duplex, a GFCI, a dual USB-C, and a USB-A + USB-C combination. All four ship as one-piece assemblies with the solid brass plate already paired to the receptacle, in seven finishes, with a black or white insert, in 15 A or 20 A, from $60.
In short
- Four modules, one plate family. Duplex, GFCI, dual USB-C and USB-A + USB-C all use the same solid brass front plate, so a wall of mixed outlets still reads as one run.
- Prices run $60 to $70 per single-gang outlet, depending on module, amperage and finish.
- Seven plate finishes plus three accent combinations on the outlet modules. Six are lacquered; Unlacquered Antique Brass is made to order and not returnable.
- Insert color is a separate choice from finish. Black inserts disappear against brass; white inserts read lighter and match white trim.
- 15 A covers most rooms. Specify 20 A where the circuit and the appliance call for it, chiefly kitchen countertops and laundry.
Studio Timeless makes four brass outlet modules, and they share one plate
The range is deliberately narrow: a duplex receptacle, a GFCI receptacle, a dual USB-C charging module, and a USB-A + USB-C charging module. Each one is sold as a finished assembly on the brass electrical outlets collection, and each one uses the same solid brass front plate you see on the rest of the range.
That shared plate is the whole point. In a kitchen you might want a GFCI over the counter, a USB-C outlet at the coffee station and a plain duplex behind the island stools. Three different functions, three different internal modules, one continuous visual language along the backsplash. Nothing announces which is which except the face of the device itself.
The four modules break down like this:
- Solid Brass Duplex Outlet — a UL-listed tamper-resistant duplex receptacle behind a brass plate. The default outlet for every room that does not require GFCI protection.
- Brass GFCI Electrical Outlet — a UL-listed GFCI tamper-resistant receptacle, for the locations where code requires ground-fault protection.
- Solid Brass Dual USB-C Outlet — two USB-C ports and no NEMA sockets, for bedsides and desks where the wall plug is the wart you are trying to eliminate.
- Solid Brass USB-A + USB-C Charging Outlet — one of each connector, for households still carrying older cables.
A Studio Timeless outlet is one integrated unit, not a plate plus a device
This is the single most important thing to understand before you order, and it runs against American habit. In the United States you normally buy a receptacle at one counter and a cover plate at another, then marry them at the wall box. Studio Timeless outlets do not work that way: the plate and the receptacle arrive as one integrated unit, matched at the factory, and they are installed as one piece.
The practical consequences are worth spelling out.
You do not order a plate for these. The plate is already there. The separate plates in the wall plates and outlet covers collection exist for a different job: covering a device you already own and intend to keep. If you are buying a Studio Timeless outlet, you are buying the finished assembly, and adding a plate to the order is a duplicate.
You also cannot mix and match after the fact. A duplex assembly does not convert into a GFCI assembly by swapping the receptacle behind it, because the opening and the module are specified together. Decide the function at the point of order, not at the point of installation. Our service desk sees this correction more than any other, and it is nearly always caught after the box has shipped.
Finally, the screws. Two screws per gang, not two per plate. A single-gang outlet takes two; a four-gang plate takes eight. Spare and longer screws live in brass screws and extensions if a deep box or a thick tile setting eats the thread length.
Duplex, GFCI and USB-C compared on the points that decide an order
The three decisions that actually change what lands in your cart are function, amperage and insert color. Finish is a fourth, and it is covered further down.
| Module | Price from | Amperage options | Insert colors | Sockets on the face | Typical placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duplex | $60 | 15 A, 20 A | Black, White | Two NEMA 5-15R or 5-20R | Living rooms, bedrooms, offices, hallways |
| GFCI | $60 | 15 A, 20 A | Black, White | Two, plus TEST and RESET buttons | Kitchens, baths, laundry, garage, outdoors, basements |
| Dual USB-C | $70 | 15 A, 20 A | Black, White | Two USB-C, no NEMA sockets | Bedsides, desks, kitchen charging shelf |
| USB-A + USB-C | $60 | 15 A, 20 A | Black, White | One USB-A, one USB-C | Guest rooms, family kitchens, mixed-device households |
Two observations from the order book. First, the duplex is not the most-specified module in whole-house projects; the GFCI is, because the 2023 National Electrical Code expanded the list of rooms that require ground-fault protection and a designer specifying a kitchen and two baths at once is already ordering several. Second, USB modules cluster in twos. People who buy one buy two, on opposite sides of a bed.
Choose 15 A or 20 A from the circuit, not from the room
Amperage is a property of the branch circuit, and the receptacle has to suit it. A 15 A receptacle is permitted on a 20 A branch circuit when the circuit serves two or more receptacles, which describes most household wiring. A single receptacle alone on its own branch circuit must carry a rating not less than the circuit itself. Those rules come from NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, and your local amendments may be stricter.
In practice, ordering goes like this. If the wall in question is on a general-purpose 15 A circuit, specify 15 A. If it is a kitchen countertop served by a 20 A small-appliance branch circuit, or a laundry receptacle, specify 20 A. If you are not sure what is behind the wall, ask the electrician who will make the connection before you place the order, because the amperage is fixed at the time of manufacture.
The visible difference on the face is the neutral slot. A 20 A receptacle carries a T-shaped neutral that accepts a 20 A plug; a 15 A receptacle does not. At arm's length nobody notices. At eighteen inches on a kitchen backsplash, a designer will.
Insert color is a separate decision, and it changes the look more than the finish does
Every Studio Timeless outlet is ordered with a black or a white insert, independently of the plate finish. This is the choice people underestimate.
Black inserts recede. Against Antique Brass or Aged Bronze they read as a shadow, and from a few feet away the outlet reads as a brass rectangle with a dark slot in it. This is the specification for period rooms, for dark cabinetry, and for anywhere you want the hardware to read as an object rather than as an appliance.
White inserts read lighter and pick up white trim, white subway tile and painted millwork. They are also easier to find in the dark, which matters on a hallway outlet more than anyone admits. A white insert behind a brass plate is a deliberately transitional look and it suits kitchens with white uppers extremely well.
There is no right answer, but there is a consistency rule: pick one insert color per room and hold it. A run of three outlets along a counter with two black inserts and one white will be the only thing anyone sees.
Seven finishes, six of them lacquered and in stock
The outlet plates come in the same seven finishes as the rest of the range: Antique Brass (hand-brushed), Aged Bronze (hand-brushed), Satin Brass, Stainless Steel, Matte Black, White, and Unlacquered Antique Brass (hand-brushed). The outlet modules add three accent combinations on top of that: Black with Brass Accents, White with Brass Accents, and Black with Stainless Accents.
Six of the seven are lacquered and stocked. Unlacquered Antique Brass is the exception in every sense: it is made to order, it carries a longer lead time, and it is not returnable. It is also the only finish that will change in your house rather than stay as delivered. If that is what you want, it is worth the constraints, and we wrote a full account of what happens to it over the first year in unlacquered brass switches and outlets. If you are furnishing a rental or a project that needs a return path, choose Antique Brass instead: it is the closest lacquered match.
Ordering a Finish Sample Set before committing a whole house is $50 well spent. Brass photographs badly and looks different under 2700 K and 4000 K lamps.
What a room actually costs in brass outlets
Brass outlets are a per-opening cost, so the honest way to budget is by counting openings on the plan rather than guessing a whole-house figure.
| Room | Typical outlet count | Typical mix | Indicative cost at list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary bedroom | 4 to 6 | Duplex, plus two USB modules at the bed | $260 to $400 |
| Kitchen (mid-size) | 6 to 10 | GFCI on the counters, duplex elsewhere | $380 to $650 |
| Full bath | 1 to 2 | GFCI only | $60 to $130 |
| Home office | 4 to 6 | Duplex, one USB-C module at the desk | $260 to $400 |
| Living room | 5 to 8 | Duplex throughout | $300 to $560 |
These figures are arithmetic on list prices, not quotes, and they exclude switches, dimmers and any labor. A whole-house specification usually runs switches and outlets together, and for that the trade program exists.
Where each outlet belongs, room by room
The room decides the module more reliably than the budget does, because ground-fault protection is a code requirement rather than a preference.
| Location | Module to specify | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen countertop | GFCI, 20 A | Countertop receptacles are in the GFCI list and sit on 20 A small-appliance circuits |
| Bathroom | GFCI | Required, and the only receptacle type most baths need |
| Laundry and garage | GFCI, 20 A where the circuit allows | Required, and appliance loads favor 20 A |
| Bedroom, bedside | Dual USB-C or USB-A + USB-C | Removes the adapter from the nightstand |
| Living room, hallway, office | Duplex, 15 A | General-purpose circuits, no GFCI requirement |
| Island with no adjacent wall | Depends on the cabinetry solution | Island receptacle rules changed recently; confirm with your inspector |
The wiring side of all of this is covered elsewhere: the step-by-step is in how to replace an electrical outlet safely, and the code detail on where ground-fault protection is required, along with LINE and LOAD, is in how to install a GFCI outlet. This page is about what to order, not how to wire it.
USB-C outlets: what they charge, and what they do not
A USB module in a wall replaces the small plug-in adapter, not the whole power strip. That is the honest framing. The USB Implementers Forum defines Power Delivery up to 240 W at 48 V in its Revision 3.1 specification, but no in-wall residential charging module reaches anywhere near that ceiling, and you should not specify a wall USB module expecting to run a workstation laptop at full draw from it.
What a wall USB module does well is phones, tablets, earbuds, e-readers and watches, at the bedside and on a kitchen shelf, without a white brick hanging out of a brass plate. The dual USB-C module is the right specification for a household that has finished the transition; the USB-A + USB-C module is the right one for a guest room, where visitors arrive with whatever cable they own.
One trade-off to weigh before ordering. The dual USB-C module has no NEMA sockets on its face. It is a charging point, not an outlet. If the position is the only receptacle on that wall, specify a duplex and put the USB module at a second position instead. We have taken this return conversation often enough to raise it here.
Tamper-resistant is standard here, and it is standard in code too
Both the duplex and the GFCI modules use tamper-resistant receptacles. That is not a premium option, it is what the code expects: NFPA 70 requires tamper-resistant 15 and 20 ampere, 125 and 250 volt non-locking receptacles in dwelling units and a long list of other occupancies including hotel guest rooms, child care facilities and dormitories. The shutters inside the device stay closed unless both blades are inserted together, and the receptacles themselves are listed by UL Solutions.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has published on receptacle-related injuries to young children for years, and tamper-resistant receptacles are the reason that specification exists. It is a good thing to be unable to opt out of.
When you want a plate instead of a complete outlet
There is one case where the integrated assembly is the wrong purchase: you have a receptacle you are keeping. A new GFCI installed last year, a smart outlet, a specialty device. You want the brass face, not the device.
That is what the brass outlet plates collection is for, and the sizing rules for it, including gang counts and cutouts, are in brass switch plates and outlet covers: sizing and gangs. Decorator-style openings fit rocker devices and GFCI faces; duplex openings fit the classic figure-eight receptacle. The two are not interchangeable, so measure the device you already own before ordering the cover.
If a position is no longer in use, a blank brass wall plate closes it without breaking the run of finishes along the wall.
Combination plates put an outlet and a switch behind one brass face
Where a box holds a switch and a receptacle side by side, the cleanest result is one plate spanning both. The brass combination plates and the combo switches and outlets collections cover those configurations: the 2-gang toggle plus outlet plate and the 2-gang dimmer plus outlet plate are the two most-ordered.
The sequence matters. Openings on a combination plate are cut in a fixed order, so state which function sits at which position when you order, reading left to right as you face the wall. Getting this backwards is not fixable at the wall.
The five ordering mistakes we correct most often
Every one of these is caught at the service desk rather than at the wall, and every one is avoidable at the cart.
- Adding a plate to an outlet order. The assembly already includes the plate. This is the most common duplicate line on an order.
- Specifying 20 A everywhere. It is not an upgrade, it is a match to the circuit. Most household circuits are 15 A.
- Mixing insert colors in one room. Decide once, apply throughout, note it on the plan.
- Ordering Unlacquered Antique Brass for a project that may need returns. It is made to order and not returnable. Antique Brass is the returnable near-match.
- Buying a dual USB-C module as a room's only receptacle. It has no NEMA sockets.
When any of this is uncertain, the installation and compatibility guide is the reference, and the contact page reaches a person who can check a configuration against a plan before it is manufactured.
How brass outlets sit alongside the rest of the range
An outlet is rarely specified on its own. The wall it lives on usually also carries a switch, and the finish has to agree across both. Studio Timeless builds the matching devices as integrated units too: brass toggle light switches, brass dimmer switches, and fan speed controls.
The buying logic for switches is different enough to deserve its own page, and it is in solid brass light switches: a complete buyer's guide. The one rule that carries across both: order every device in a room in the same finish and the same insert color, at the same time, from the same batch.
Frequently asked questions
Are brass electrical outlets safe?
Yes. The brass is the plate, not the conductive path. The receptacle behind it is a UL-listed tamper-resistant device, and the plate is grounded through the device's mounting strap and the box in the normal way. Installation still has to follow NFPA 70 and your local code.
Do brass outlets come with the receptacle, or just the cover?
With the receptacle. Studio Timeless outlets are integrated one-piece assemblies: plate and device together. Covers on their own are a separate product line, in the brass outlet plates collection.
What is the difference between a duplex outlet and a GFCI outlet?
A duplex outlet is two ordinary receptacles on one strap. A GFCI outlet adds ground-fault circuit interrupter electronics that cut power when current leaks to ground, plus TEST and RESET buttons on the face. Code requires GFCI protection in specific locations; a duplex is what goes everywhere else.
What are the four types of electrical outlets in this range?
Duplex, GFCI, dual USB-C, and USB-A + USB-C. Each is available in 15 A and 20 A, with a black or white insert, in seven plate finishes.
Can I get a brass outlet in 20 amp?
Yes. All four modules offer a 20 A option. Specify it when the branch circuit is 20 A and the position calls for it, typically kitchen countertops and laundry.
How much do brass electrical outlets cost?
List prices run from $60 to $70 for a single-gang assembly, depending on module, amperage and finish. A mid-size kitchen with six to ten openings runs roughly $380 to $650 at list.
Do USB-C wall outlets charge a laptop?
A wall USB module is sized for phones, tablets and small devices. USB Power Delivery as a specification reaches 240 W, but in-wall residential modules do not, and specifying one as a laptop charger will disappoint. Use a duplex outlet and the laptop's own adapter.
Can I mix black and white inserts in the same house?
Between rooms, yes, and it can be deliberate: white inserts in the white kitchen, black in the paneled study. Within a single room or a single run of outlets, no. The inconsistency is the first thing the eye finds.
Are Studio Timeless outlets tamper-resistant?
Yes. The duplex and GFCI modules use tamper-resistant receptacles, which is what NFPA 70 requires in dwelling units and many other occupancies.
Which finish should I choose for a kitchen?
Antique Brass and Satin Brass are the two most-specified for kitchens, because both are lacquered and shrug off cleaning products. Unlacquered Antique Brass will change color fastest exactly where hands and steam are, which some people want and others regret. It is also made to order and not returnable.
Can I replace only the receptacle later and keep the brass plate?
Not on the integrated assemblies, because the plate and module are specified as a pair. Where a device does need replacing, the replacement parts collection carries modules for the ranges that accept them.
Do I need an electrician to install these?
Many jurisdictions allow a homeowner to replace a receptacle in their own dwelling, and many do not, and some require a permit and an inspection either way. New circuits and anything beyond a like-for-like swap generally require a licensed electrician. Confirm with your local authority having jurisdiction before you start, and always cut the breaker and verify the circuit is dead before touching a conductor.
Specifying in the right order
Function first, from the room and the code. Then amperage, from the circuit. Then insert color and finish, from the design. Then count the openings and order once, so every device in a room comes from the same production batch. The brass electrical outlets collection is where all four modules live.
Last updated: September 23, 2026
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