Photos courtesy of manufacturers listed
The difference that good hardware makes is proof that design really is in the details. Take a look around your home, and you’ll find these often-overlooked fixtures are a part of your everyday life — from your front door to your kitchen cabinets to the light switches throughout. Why not give them the attention to detail they deserve? With so many innovative, artistic and downright one-of-a-kind options on the market today, it’s time to make a statement with your hardware. Here’s what’s caught our eye lately.
Marvelous Marble
Who says marble is just for floors and counters? A new debut from hardware heavyweight Emtek, green marble knobs and levers give doors and drawers the VIP treatment. As part of Emtek’s “SELECT” program, you get to customize each and every part of the hardware, from the handle to the stem to the rosette.
Get the Wood Look
Available in 2- to 18-inch center-to-center sizes, Rocky Mountain Hardware’s Edge Bar Cabinet Pull in “Wood” sports a unique texture that would be right at home in a log or timber frame home. (Be sure to check out the other texture options as well — “moonscape,” “tide” and “wire” all make for equally interesting textural statements.) The finish “white bronze dark” is pictured here, but other options, from light to dark and cool to warm, are available.
Smart Home … But with Style
Ditch the space-age look of modern smart-home devices with decorative video doorbell covers from Michael Healy. Take for example the honeycomb cover, which adds sophisticated whimsy and easily mounts on the doorbell’s existing faceplate. Made of solid brass with a protective coating, the cover is weather-resistant and is available in a variety of finishes so you can match it to your existing hardware.
Switch It Up
The Invisible Lightswitch from Forbes & Lomax is inspired by glass switches from the1930s, allowing you to showcase more of your logs, wallpaper, paint or paneling — and no unsightly plastic or screws. The invisible plate can be paired with toggle switches, dimmer knobs and push buttons in brass, nickel, silver, stainless steel or antique bronze. And don’t miss the matching Invisible outlet — it’s easy to do.
Passport to Italy
This is hardware that’s going to be hard to find elsewhere. The Venezia by Venini collection from Italian manufacturer Fantini showcases the art and craft of Murano glassmaking. Available in two-tone combinations, (aquamarine and green, amethyst and amber [shown below] or red and amber), the knobs can be paired with six different metal finishes to create a truly artistic scheme for your sink.
Hardware Hot Tips
When looking for hardware, fun features often steer one’s shopping cart. But they're more than mere accessories for your home. These pieces are actually quite hardworking, so it’s important to keep a few key considerations in mind when making your selections.
Pulls vs. Knobs
On cabinetry, both pulls and knobs can get the job done, but pulls do boast the advantage of long-term user-friendliness (aka universal design). U-shaped pulls require no gripping or pinching, something to keep in mind if you are building a forever home as your dexterity may change over time.
Single or Double
For drawers 24 inches and wider, you’ll either need one large pull (8 inches or more) or two smaller pulls or knobs. You may also want to consider double pulls and knobs for drawers where you’ll be storing heavy items, like pots and pans.
Backplate Benefits
Not only do backplates add a stately, polished look (literally and figuratively!), they can be a clever way to hide holes or damage from previous hardware if you’re updating your currently-in-use cabinetry and doors.
