Thats cool! Your right i think it looks like a after thought to. Imade some Hi-Way bars for the wifes Legend and painted them black, I think it looks better than chrome on the legend.
I used a spay can called Rock Guard. Apllied directly over the chrome, once dry you would swear that it is done at the same time as the engine. Same color, same finish.
Easy to remove with paint remover if you want to go back. I did the the cow bell and the chain guard like that.
My brother is a professional powder coat applicator on a paint line at a local factory. Sweet! It's done right over what ever finish thats on it. He did a great job.
Since in live in the great north (Canada), you do not have the store that sells it. It is from Canadian Tire stores but I did see in a NAPA auto part stores a product that looked identical.
Basically, it is used as an undercoat that will not chip away if hit by road gravel and dirt. In the Canadian Tire stores it is called rock guard and I think that the name was similar in the NAPA store.