Artistic, high-end hardware adds a beautiful finishing touch to kitchens and bathrooms. Burnished bronze knobs dress up solid wood cabinets. Oversized pulls of hammered copper look right at home in an Old World-style kitchen. Crystal knobs brighten bathroom drawers. Matching switch plates, towel bars and bath tissue holders wrought of antique brass, verdigris, pewter or blacksmith iron bring elegance to a bathroom.
These days, hardware isn’t just attractive: It also can be whimsical, allowing you to flaunt facets of your personality. Love the tropical lifestyle? Show it with knobs shaped like palm trees or sand dollars. Are you a sports fanatic? Have fun with hardware depicting footballs and baseballs. Interested in astronomy? Deck out a bathroom with knobs and towel rings in celestial moon, sun and star designs. If you’re fond of antiques you could select designs that are rustic reproductions of classic hardware salvaged from old homes.
Raising the bar
Sleek new designs like this set by Smedbo are brining new polish to bathrooms.
The hardware industry used to be maybe one or two companies. Now, there are probably 40 or 50 companies throughout the United States specializing in kitchen and bath hardware, and they are getting into custom-designed pieces.
Much of the increased demand for fashionable hardware stems from the building boom of luxury homes. Naples Florida Real Estate owners who are spending big bucks on their dream homes are paying attention to every detail.
For the kitchen, the hottest-selling hardware comes in stylish designs wrought of weathered-looking metals like aged bronze, antique brass, burnished copper and verdigris that complement high-end wood cabinets. In place of chrome, the rustic look has become popular again. People have grown a little tired of the flashy look, and are going back to the traditional feeling. For a while, kitchens were white and bright. Now, we’re seeing kitchens with beautiful wainscoting and custom cabinet doors with attractive metal knobs. Matching burnished-metal switch plates and dishtowel rings add even more elegance to the room.
Knobs Galore
On kitchen cabinets and drawers, knobs have nearly replaced pulls. We’re using probably 90 percent knobs now, instead of pulls and retro handles. One type of pull has made a comeback, however-old-fashioned cup pulls of hammered metal shaped like half-moons.
Naples homeowners who want to infuse fun touches into their kitchens and baths can select hardware that reflects their personalities and hobbies. Cooking aficionados may get a kick out of kitchen cabinet knobs shaped like forks and spoons; beach lovers can deck out a pool bath with a set of matching towel bars, bath tissue holders and cabinet knobs shaped like sand dollars. Avid gardeners can display hardware shaped like gardening tools. Such themed hardware is used more frequently in bathrooms than in kitchens.
Metal versus Wood
When it comes to materials, metal hardware is preferred over wood. Metal products hold up much better than wood, because the oils on your hands will eventually deteriorate the wood finish. Wood does look nice, but for longevity and durability, metal is best.
