Hardware is the jewellery of a kitchen. It is the part you physically touch every day, it is a small fraction of the budget, and it changes the character of a room more than clients expect. We carry Top Knobs, Schaub, Emtek, Atlas and Jeffrey Alexander in the showroom for exactly this reason.
Unlacquered brass keeps going
Warm metals have not slowed down, and unlacquered brass in particular continues to sell because it ages. It patinas with handling, which some clients love and others find alarming. If you want the warmth without the change, ask for a lacquered or satin brass instead.
Mixed metals, done deliberately
Mixing finishes is now normal rather than a mistake, but it works best when there is a rule behind it. A common approach is one metal for cabinet hardware and a second for plumbing and lighting. What does not work is three metals with no logic, which just reads as things bought at different times.
Longer pulls and edge pulls
Pull lengths have grown. Long bar pulls on wide drawers look correct in a way that a small centred pull does not, particularly on the deep drawers that have replaced base cabinet doors. At the other extreme, edge and finger pulls continue to suit handleless contemporary kitchens.
Try before you commit
Hold the actual hardware in your hand before ordering. Weight, edge comfort and how a pull feels when your hands are wet are things no photograph conveys, and you will use these several thousand times a year.
