It’s easy to get caught up in decisions when building a new home or renovating your existing home, however your project isn’t truly complete until you’ve selected cabinet hardware, or what Johnson Brothers affectionately refers to as ‘jewelry for your home or cabinets.’ As the final decorative touch, cabinet jewelry is what pulls your project together; it’s essentially, the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
Think about it, we wear jewelry to enhance our appearance, which is just what cabinet jewelry does for your home. And like jewelry, cabinet hardware comes in all different shapes, sizes, styles, materials and finishes. Here, we’ll help you find the perfect match for your home while creating a flawless balance between form and function.
What is Cabinet Jewelry
Cabinet jewelry are the knobs, pulls and hinges attached to the cabinets and drawers inside a home. Typically, knobs are used for doors, while pulls are used for drawers. Before there was a variety of hardware available, knobs were dominant in older homes, but are becoming popular in newer homes. Pulls tend to have a more contemporary look and are big in modern homes. Really there are no rules set in stone, so never hesitate to mix and match where you like.
Materials and Finishes
You can choose from a variety of materials for your hardware, ranging from brass, bronze, stainless steel, nickel or even crystal or ceramic. Depending on the material you select, cabinet hardware looks best when finish is applied, which quickly adds contrast to a room. A few popular finishes include polished, brushed, satin, matte, burnished, oil-rubbed, antique, weathered or painted.
Style
Along with material and finish, cabinet hardware comes in any style you could possibly imagine. If your home is on the traditional side, go with more decorative hardware. If it’s contemporary make sure to choose hardware with long simple lines. Transitional homes look great with simple hardware and bright colors. Lastly, rustic homes look fantastic with dark finishes and materials like copper, black or bronze. The material, finish and style you select should reflect your personality, like the necklace you wear around your neck or the bracelet around your wrist.
Choose the Right Size
You wouldn’t think about it, but the size of your cabinet hardware is also important in establishing your space’s aesthetic. For smaller drawers, anything around 12” or less work well with pulls between 3” to 4” long or a knob 1” in diameter. Medium drawers around 12” to 30” work with pulls between 4” to 8” or a knob between 1” to 1.5” in diameter. Larger drawers around 30” to 48” usually require a pull longer than 8” or a knob 1” in diameter or longer.
In the end, the best way to decide on cabinet hardware is to experiment with different styles, sizes and finishes, just as if you were trying on pieces of jewelry. Before you buy, do your research, order samples and see how your look changes with each unique design.
At Johnson Brothers we carry cabinet hardware from suppliers including Top Knobs, Amerock, and Emtek. Visit our Idaho Falls or Boise Showroom today for information on your home improvement inquiries.