You make a lot of big purchase decisions when remodeling your kitchen: cabinets, countertops, flooring, and appliances to name a few. But, for being such a small part of your St. Louis kitchen design, hardware is the important detail that adds the crowning touch. The knobs and pulls you choose may be a micro design element, but they have a macro impact on your kitchen’s finished look.
How to Pick Kitchen Hardware
Simple or elegant, kitchen hardware is highly practical but adds a lot of visual appeal. Which style you choose can instantly change the mood of your kitchen. There are hundreds of available options to mix and match, but don’t let that fluster you! Our designers will show you how to select the ones that complement your kitchen in every way.
A Matter of Functionality
Kitchen hardware adds a beautiful touch, but how you use the space influences the choices you make. Keep in mind that the size and shape of a handle or knob can affect other things – even the flow of traffic! If someone has limited use of their hands due to arthritis or another physical problem, choose handles that are easier for them to grab and pull. Here are a few other considerations to keep in mind:
- If your kitchen is spacious, your options are infinite. But if you have limited space, choose hardware for base cabinets that doesn’t extend too far beyond the countertop.
- The larger and/or heavier a door or drawer, the larger a handle should be. Most designs come in multiple sizes, including ones that work best on paneled appliances.
- When deciding between handles, cup pulls, or knobs, think about how convenient each would be for opening frequently used cabinets and drawers.
What’s Your Hardware Style?
The fun thing about kitchen hardware is you don’t have to stick to one style. Even within a defined kitchen theme like traditional or modern, you can mix things up and get a subtle, unique look. Whatever your overall kitchen design preferences may be, these three common decorating styles are the foundation for all creative themes.
- Classic/traditional designs like country, cottage, or old-world work well with timeless, coordinated touches that use natural colors and materials to create a space of balance. The most popular cabinets in a traditional kitchen are shaker style, which work well with round knob, cup, or bin pulls. Inset cabinets often have exposed hinges and many people choose a combination of pulls and knobs to match.
- Contemporary/modern schemes typically have flat-panel cabinets and incorporate straight or curved sleek lined hardware, including rectangular and tubular options. Another attractive modern choice is to use hardware for lower cabinets and drawers, but leave the upper cabinets hardware-free.
- Transitional designs blend modern and traditional elements that create a cozy, classic space. Rope design handles and pulls, for example, can add just the right amount of decorative interest across a broad range of styles. Long or short tubular bar pulls modernize a traditional kitchen with shaker cabinets while flat bars offer a contemporary look.
Ultimately, the hardware you choose should reflect your personal style and preference.
Kitchen Hardware Finishes
Like most home products, kitchen hardware quality depends on the materials used and the manufacturing process. From forged European bronze to solid brass and stainless steel, the weight and strength of the hardware you choose will determine how long it retains its beauty and function.
There are plenty of attractive finishes to choose from and it helps to start with looking at the other fixtures in your kitchen like faucets, lighting, and lighting. While the hardware does not have to match, it should complement those elements so not to detract from the overall style you’re trying to achieve.
Chrome nicely blends with polished nickel, and black looks beautiful when paired with silver satin. Painted cabinets look great with colorful finishes like old antique, polished brass, copper, or Venetian bronze. Oil rubbed bronze and more traditional pulls beautifully complement cherry cabinets. Gold and chrome are terrific choices for grey/greige cabinets, as is brushed nickel and black hardware, which give it a modern look.
Another fresh look is to mix up different styles but keep the same finish. For modern kitchens, try contrasting finishes that work well together: iron with stainless steel appliances for example, is visually appealing and brings a unique feel to your kitchen.
Learn More
If you’re still trying to figure out how to pick kitchen hardware, our kitchen remodeling process includes selection shopping with one of our in-house designers. If you’re ready to move forward with a kitchen remodeling project for your Greater St. Louis area home, get in touch with us today. We look forward to meeting with you.
