Cabinet Hardware

A quick way to spruce up your house is to change your cabinet hardware to update your living environment. Take a look at your kitchen, bath or home office - there are thousands of unique handles, knobs, pulls and drop pulls, catches, latches and flush pulls that could give your cabinets a new lease on life.

Perhaps you're interested in matching colors - or creating a contrasting color for a decorator touch. Look at the hundreds of color choices in ceramic, porcelain or plastic, imported glass, hand blown or Italian glass. Lead crystal can add a nostalgic touch of elegance. Natural or finished wood cabinet knobs can highlight the natural glow of fine wood cabinetry.

Metals - hammered, polished or dull, antiqued, flat or finishes in multiple or varied patinas - are durable and almost unlimited in styles and materials. Choose from stainless steel, brass (polished, antique, weathered and many other finishes), pewter, zinc, chrome, copper, bronze, wrought or aged iron. Consider a mixture of materials - metal and wood, two-tone metals, glass and metal, and other appealing designer combinations.

Sophisticated or novelty knobs and pulls are available in a number of sizes and shapes. Art deco, Chippendale, Macintosh or Arts & Crafts, Victorian, Medieval, Classical, English and American Cottage, Asian, Italian periods, French, American, Country, Eclectic, Georgian, Grecian Revival, Mission, Bungalow, Rustic, Southwestern, Traditional, vintage or antique styles are readily available from manufacturers.

Another upgrade to consider is visible or invisible hinges. Consider hinge bumpers to muffle the sound for cabinets - and drawers - also available in a variety of matching colors.

If replacing your cabinet hardware isn't quite enough, consider cabinet refacing - still less expensive than replacing your existing cabinets. Professional remodelers can update your cabinets, swapping cabinet door and drawer fronts in a few days for a reasonable cost.