Upscale your Kitchen with Hardware

It's true - granite countertops, industrial sized appliances and stainless steel range hoods are luxury kitchen options that make a dramatic visual statement. However, if you have a smaller budget there are some relatively inexpensive ways that you can update your kitchen. It's all about the hardware these days. Let's take a look at some great ways that kitchen hardware, like handles, knobs and pulls can make your kitchen look and feel more posh.

Knobs: There are so many knob options out there to jazz up your kitchen! Different designs are available in stainless steel, chrome, glass, bronze, iron, wood, porcelain, and brass. Browse magazines, shop online, and look in hardware and building supply stores to get a feel for what you like. Changing your cabinet knobs can make a huge difference in your kitchen! Handles and Pulls: Look for pulls or handles the complement the design of your kitchen, that are practical, and ones that will enable you to easily pull open drawers and long cabinets doors. Make sure you pick out kitchen hardware that reflects your personal style. Individualize your kitchen! If your are about to sell your home choose a design that is sleek and contemporary, like stainless steel pulls.

You do have a little more freedom when you are picking out hardware for your own kitchen. Just remember not to get too eclectic if you would like to sell your home. Below are some general rules that will guide you along as you discover what kind of hardware best suits your kitchen. Mixing and Matching Try to stay within one line or style of hardware. Manufacturers often include knobs that coordinate with handles and pulls in one hardware line. The picture above shows one handle style being used horizontally for drawers and vertically for cabinet doors. The smaller top drawer sports an accent knob in the same line and finish.
Count and Measure Calculate the total number of knobs and pulls that you will need for your cabinets. Being one or two handles short can be a pain, especially when there is limited stock available in the hardware line that you want for your kitchen drawers and doors. When replacing handles in your existing kitchen, make sure you measure the distance between the borings (the space between the centers of the screw holes). Purchase pulls or handles that will use the same borings or you will find yourself needing to fill in the old holes and drill new ones.
Color The color of the knobs you choose should blend with or accent your kitchen cabinets. The rich brown, textured metal knobs in this kitchen pick up the darker tones in the wood grain. (Picture on right.) Although these round knobs are small in size, their strong color commands attention. Stainless steel is a great neutral that will go with most kitchens and can be used to accentuate your kitchen appliances. When your fridge and stove are not stainless steel you can still pick this accent up with smaller appliances like a toaster and a coffee maker.
Match the Proportions Make sure that the size and weight of your hardware will correspond with the proportions of your kitchen cabinets. You don't, for example, want dainty knobs on imposing cabinetry. The strong rectangular lines of these pulls reflect and balance the size and style the drawers in this kitchen. (See picture on right.) A larger door or heavy drawer will likely need a bigger handle or pull. The pull should be able to handle the weight of the drawer, allowing it to open and close freely.

Length of Screws: Drawers usually require longer screws than doors do. This is in order to clear both the drawer's box and its face. These may need to be 1 ½ inches in length. 1" screws are generally long enough for cabinet doors. Make sure you buy or order enough of the right screws for your kitchen cabinetry. For information on hinges for the kitchen see article: Kitchens that Hinge on Luxury.

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