MyKnobs.com Blog Decorative cabinet hardware and more

A simple way to change the look of existing cabinets and drawers is to add decorative knobs and handles. With the wide assortment of materials, designs and sizes available, it is an easy task to find the appropriate hardware that not only adds functionality to the storage area, but will add complement the décor of the room and reflect personal style. Often the proper choice of hardware can be used to pull several elements together to give the impression of a professionally decorated room.

Choosing the right knobs and handles is not the only area where personal style is displayed. Determining the placement can also be a big part not only of functionality, but of design.

Pulls and handles can be mounted either horizontally or vertically. Some people choose to install a handle or pull horizontally on drawers and place the same hardware fixture vertically on the cabinet.

New hardware on drawers can also be mounted singularly, in the center of the drawer, or a pair of pulls or knobs can be installed on a wider drawer. Let your choice be made governed by stability and personal appeal.

Once you have decided on the orientation of the new hardware installation, the ideal location of the handle will have to be determined. Make sure that it is within the comfortable reach of the user. Check to make sure there will be proper clearance of nearby appliances when the drawer or cabinet is open, so as not to cause damage.

Before drilling the first hole, picture the symmetry of the finished design. Many rooms have different sizes of cabinets, drawers and doors, and it’s possible that the visual effect of the new hardware will be distracting and unbalanced if it is placement is determined by the door dimension rather that the overall flow. For example, cabinets above the stove and over the refrigerator are quite high, and a door pull placed one third way from the bottom will not only be unpractical for functionality, but can be an eyesore because of it’s placement.

A narrow drawer will look odd with two handles, even thought a wider drawer in the same room may require a double handle for stability.

Luckily, quality cabinet hardware offers the ability to choose a pattern and style that is available in handles, pulls and knobs in a wide range of sizes. Mixing and matching until the perfect combination is found will make mounting placement work for you.

When a piece of hardware on a cherished piece of furniture breaks the first thought is to try to replace it with a matching piece of hardware that will be consistent with the wear of the remaining hardware. Many people have luck locating the perfect piece of hardware through collectors, but it is a time consuming process.

Attempting to replace all of the hardware on the piece of furniture can also cause a problem if the hardware is discontinued. With luck and perseverance, the replacement for the original hardware can be located through the original seller or manufacturer, but it cannot be expected that they have ample storage space to stock discontinued items.

Luckily, the availability of new hardware that will compliment the discontinued piece of furniture can be found because of the popularity of reproduction hardware. This makes it easy to match the new hardware design with the manufacture era of the piece of furniture.

When looking for a replacement for the discontinued furniture hardware, examine the furniture surface that hardware removal has exposed. Any signs of aging can be covered up by choosing the new hardware in approximately the same shape and size as the original. You don’t want new hardware installed with a ring of darker or lighter furniture showing around it. That would ruin the entire look.

Some furniture hardware is attached to the piece of furniture by screws inserted from the back. When replacing the hardware, you’ll have to use screws that go through the width of the wood and into the new piece of hardware. This enables the hardware to attach with no visible screws or nails, leaving a clean, sleek look that is not hampered by messy installations.

Others are attached by tiny nails or screws from the front of the piece of hardware. These screws or nails will be shorter as they will not go all the way through the wood. Once the type of hardware and size is identified, make sure the centers for handles and pulls match. This is the length between the centers of the two screws that hold the piece of hardware in place. You must carefully measure the distance between the centers of the two screws so that the same holes can be used for the replacement hardware.  This will eliminate causing further damage to the piece of furniture by the need of drilling additional holes.

When looking for an elegant way to dress up wooden doors, drawers or cabinets, explore the possibilities offered with glass and crystal knobs, and handles.

Crystal quality is usually determined by the amount of lead that is used in the manufacture of the handle, knob or pull. Crystal is described as full lead crystal if it consists of 23% lead. The light that comes through makes it glisten and picks up color from the light refraction.

Lead crystal with lower lead content doesn’t refract the light in the same way, so the colors and sparkle of the sunlight are diminished slightly, though still beautiful.

High lead crystal is easier to cut than lower lead crystal because it is softer. The high lead content crystal is also easier to decorate. If crystal is manufactured with less than 23% lead, it is considered a standard crystal.

Glass manufactured with minute lead content is really not considered a crystal product as it is just glass, although designers often use the term crystal when talking about the material.

No matter what the lead content of the glass or crystal, the material offers a wide variety of choices for knobs, and pulls when dressing up furniture and cabinetry. From newly manufactured pieces to collectables, putting the finishing touches to a room can easily be done by choosing the right glass or crystal hardware.

Modern Glass Knobs

There is almost no limit to the color availability in a modern knob made of glass. The styles are also almost limitless. From sleek modern styles, to homey comfortable styles and even a faux antique look using modern glass knobs you can outfit your cabinetry to suit your style. The advances made in the world of decorating and manufacturing has led to many different styles and shapes, colors and designs in modern glass knobs.

You may find as you shop for glass knobs that you have a great deal more options than you expected. From faceted cut glass to blown glass in almost every color, the ability to spruce up your cabinetry and lend a stylish look to your décor is as easy as choosing which glass knobs you like best.

Because décor is such a personal choice, there are no rules, you can use crystal, you can use glass, and you can use stainless steel or whatever material you enjoy to open your cabinets.

The purchase of large appliances or other major furniture acquisitions is a big step that takes time and planning. Once the new pieces have been delivered and arranged in the home, it’s often the case that something doesn’t seem quite right.

The discord may be simply that existing hardware doesn’t match the new décor. Luckily, this is an easy problem that can easily be remedied by changing out the existing hardware.

Kitchen cabinet hardware is available in a variety of materials, colors and finishes to complete the look that new appliances give a room. If the existing cabinet hardware doesn’t complement the new stainless steel appliances, simply change them out. You don’t have to choose stainless steel hardware in the same finish, although that would be perfectly suitable. Instead, you can choose a material or design that draws from the overall theme of the kitchen because the stainless steel appliances are neutral.

Shapes, sizes, colors and finishes of cabinet hardware can be found to blend into any theme and layout of the kitchen with proper thought. A decorator with a good eye can even find cabinet hardware that will pick up the new feel in a room from a fresh coat of paint or design of wallpaper.

Countertops can also be used as a guide for choosing cabinet hardware. Or, choose a marble or granite knob or handle that matches the material in the backsplash.

The same decorating concept goes for any room in the house.

Choose a romantic glass or crystal doorknob to give a finishing touch to a room newly decorated in shabby chic. Consider wood or wrought iron hardware for rooms with a rustic theme.  Repeat the pattern with corresponding hardware for dressers, armoires, closet doors and nightstand drawers. The options are limitless and are an inexpensive way to bring the whole decorating scheme together.

When changing out the knobs, and handles on the cabinets, drawers and doors don’t overlook door hinges. Buy matching hinges at the same time the other hardware is purchased. Make sure to pick up the appropriate screws, as even such a tiny element can throw the overall look out of kilter.

While shopping for cabinet hardware to coordinate the décor, don’t overlook the switchplates. This is often an inexpensive way to brighten and refresh a room. Switchplates can be easily removed and new ones installed, making it a real value option.

Many people who are doing large renovations or building projects with multiple pieces of the exact same hardware are often surprised to see a slight difference in color or finish when the pieces are unwrapped and placed side by side. The differences in color are usually not enough to be noticeable once the hardware is installed over a wider area as they are when they are in such close proximity.

In fact, in most cases the differences are so slight that no one but the handy man ever notices. But to a perfectionist, once the differentiation is observed, it presents a distraction that soon can lead to overall dissatisfaction with the result of the entire project.

The best way to avoid this is to make sure that all of the hardware is purchased at the same time from the same supplier. But, it doesn’t end there. Make sure that all of the hardware has been manufactured in the same place and at the same time.

Leading manufactures have standards that they comply with to provide consistency to their customers. But, in the manufacturing industry, many factors contribute to the final product. Even with the strictest of quality procedures, a slight variance will occur from the beginning of the manufacturing run to the end.

The quality assurance policy of the manufacturer takes these variances into consideration when testing their product. This allows for a slight difference from what we’d like to think of as perfectly consistent. Making sure that you get the highest quality rating will help you know that your hardware is as close to consistent as possible. The lower the quality assurance rating of a product the more likely that you will notice color inconsistencies.

If a slight difference in color is found in the same manufacturing run, it is only reasonable that the differences in color will be slightly greater from run to run because of outside factors like environmental changes and perhaps different sources of materials. The provider of the raw materials will also have quality standards allowing for deviations that can influence the color from lot to lot.

Make sure that all of the hardware you purchase for a project is from the same collection, the same manufacturer and same lot for the best color match and enjoy the way the newly installed hardware enhances your home.

Door knobs and levers are chosen for specific applications and for functionality. With the options available on the market today, décor, safety and functionality can all be combined in the perfect choice.

If you haven’t heard of pocket door hardware, this may interest you. This hardware allows the door to slide into the wall rather than open front to back. This is ideal for smaller rooms or hallways that would be cramped by a swinging door. When installed properly these doors are very unobtrusive and appear to simply be part of the wall when closed.

A single dummy door lever can be used on any door that simply pulls open and pushes shut from one side of the door. It has no movable parts and is attached to the outside of the door. A full dummy door lever also has no movable parts, but is installed on both sides of the door, allowing the door to be opened and closed no matter what side of the door you find yourself on. Use a full dummy door lever on a door that has a predrilled hole for a door knob. A double dummy door lever would serve the same function as the full dummy, but is attached to the door that has no predrilled door knob hole.

Dummy door levers are used when no latch is needed to keep them secure. They are simply a decorative handle with no moving parts and no locking features.

A passage door knob or lever is used when a door must stay securely closed but does not need to be locked. This type of fixture has moveable parts that allows walk in closets, children’s rooms and other doorways that do not need a lock to be opened and closed.

A privacy door knob or lever incorporates a locking device which is activated with a thumb switch from one side of the door. This type of door handle is usually used on a bedroom or bathroom door. A safety release is found on the other side of the door. These levers allow the person inside the room to be assured that their privacy will be respected.

A keyed door knob is used for more security. The lock is set from one side of the door, and a key is needed to open the door from the other side. This type of door knob or lever doesn’t have an emergency release available. Anyone on the keyed entry side of the door needs the key to unlatch the door.

When you want to add a touch of style to your kitchen or bathroom, installing decorative cabinet hardware can really make a difference. From polished brass or stainless steel to crystal and glass handles and knobs, it is quite easy to give the whole room a fresh, decorative look by incorporating different cabinet hardware.

Imagine a kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The stainless steel can cause even rich wood cabinets and drawers to feel cold and stark. But when you add elegant rich gold tone cabinet handles and knobs you are adding a touch of warmth and richness to the room.  The same can be done in a modern black kitchen. Black cabinets look wonderful with stainless steel handles, intricate antiqued knobs and other stylish touches that you can add, and are sure to make a statement.

Bathrooms are another place in the home where cabinet hardware can make a huge difference in the feel of the room. For example if you have a pastel colored bathroom with light airy colors you can easily find simple decorative pull handles for your drawers and cabinets.  If you have an opulent luxurious bathroom with rich colors like burgundy and gold, you can also find gold toned or brushed brass cabinet hardware to complete the look. The bathroom also offers many other decorative hardware options including towel racks and shower door handles. It is easy to add a touch of class to any color scheme or design by using decorative cabinet hardware.

These small touches can carry over to outlet and switch plates, lighting fixtures, faucets and other areas where a simple change of color or style will help bring the room together. Throughout your home you will find several places where you can interject your personality into the room by simply changing a small piece of decorative hardware. There’s no need to settle for plain white walls and there’s no reason why you can’t have funky, artsy, or even antique classic styled decorative hardware. Make the décor of your home reflect your sense of style and class by introducing beautiful personal touches in the way of decorative hardware.  No longer will a cabinet be simply functional, now it will also be a focal point, and an accent to your home’s decorating scheme.

When you are ready to shop for decorative hardware it is important to seek a seller that has a large variety of cabinet hardware, door hardware, bathroom accessories, lighting and more. This will enable you to simply shop from one line of products for each room once you’ve decided on the style you want.

Replacing switchplates is one of the easiest ways to brighten up a room and is often overlooked. The plate covering the electrical switch or outlet is often never even noticed as you reach out to turn a light on or off or plug in an appliance. They are also rarely remembered during daily cleaning routines. No wonder they accumulate dust, dirt and grime of everyday living.

There is no reason to limit yourself to a plain switchplate. An artistic, personal and decorative element can be brought into the area simply by choosing a switchplate that reflects your personal taste and style.

When looking for a replacement switchplate, keep in mind that they are also called wall plates and outlet covers.

Although a switchplate is used to give a pleasing appearance to the room by covering the electrical switches and wiring, don’t forget that the main purpose of the switchplate is to protect the electrical materials. Keep this in mind as you replace the cover so that an unfortunate mishap doesn’t occur.

Before attempting to remove the switchplate, turn off the switch and the power supply to the switch. Many people use rubber gloves as added protection.

The existing switchplate can be removed by unscrewing it from the wall. Most switchplates are held in place by only two screws, but many have more, depending on size, style and function.

Examine the wiring to the switch or outlet to make sure the replacement switchplate can be installed without touching any wiring. Pay special attention to the area behind the screw holes. Damaged wiring can cause an electrical short. This could lead to an electrical shock, fire or even an explosion.

Once you are confident that all is well within the cavity, place the new switchplate over the opening to make sure the switchplate is the proper size and design for the intended function. Then, adjust it so that the screw holes are aligned. Insert the screws just deep enough to hold the new lightswitch in place until all the screws have been inserted. Then, go back and tighten the screws. The screws don’t have to be too tight, as their only job is to keep the lightswitch in place.

As long as proper safety measures are taken, replacing a switchplate is an easy do it yourself project, that you can manage in a short amount of time, but that will give a whole new look to the room.

It’s less than a week into the New Year and most are going strong on their resolutions. Whether you are hitting the gym for the first time in months, redirecting your life down a new road or finishing something you once started – it is easy to get discouraged when you do not see immediate results. Let’s face it; this is why most resolutions fail. After working hard for a few weeks and having those skinny jeans still not button or feeling stuck after putting all your effort towards change can be really discouraging and it is easy to just give up. Instead of giving up, keep moving. Let’s create a plan now on what we want to achieve and do it.

Now, for all you do-it-yourselfers who have had the curio with the broken door, the handle missing from your island, the light in the hall that just doesn’t work or any other project that has been swept under the rug; it is time to get the ball rolling!

First, it is important to make a list of all the projects that have not been completed around the home. Take a walk into each room in your home and see what needs to be done. Is your faucet dripping? Are your knobs spinning? Are there patches that need repair? Write everything down. While it may seem daunting to have a list that could be pages long in front of you, it will give you an idea of where you stand.

Now that you know what has to be done, it is time to crunch some numbers. It is important to understand what you can and can not afford. Creating a budget at the beginning of a project will help guide you through your project until it has been completed. Many times when we do not allocate ourselves enough money we can find ourselves in the same position when we started. Having a budget will also help us decide what we can and can not accomplish on our list. Realizing you have a small budget, you may not be able to do your kitchen renovation this year but you may be able to spruce up the furniture throughout your dining room for an updated look.

Take time to finish each project before starting a new one. It is always encouraging to see something complete before you start something else. This will help give you a boost to undertake something that you may not have thought you can do. Don’t give up, you’ll be happy that you didn’t. Wishing you much luck in the New Year!

Towel bars, clothes hooks, and even bathroom shelves are available in various sizes, materials and degrees of sturdiness. The choice of visual appeal is wide. But, unfortunately, visual appeal is not the only consideration when purchasing hardware for the bathroom.

While a dainty rack to hold a lace guest towel can look lovely near the sink, the reality is that sooner or later it will be expected to support the weight of wet towels and even a heavy bag of personal bath products. Even if the rack survives the weight, it’s possible that the wall that is supporting it won’t.

Bathroom shelves often accumulate cosmetics, hair styling equipment, and even books and magazines in addition to the decorative candles and figurines that were visualized when the bathroom was designed.

Excess weight on the towel bar or other bathroom fixtures can not only cause the bar to bend or break, but the pressure can also pull the screws out of the wall and cause damage. And, let’s face it. A towel rack is the perfect place to hang anything that may need to be off the floor during a shower, bath or quick cleanup. Unfortunately, many people use towel racks and other bath fixtures to help them keep their balance while bathing. While the fixture was never meant to be so abused, knowing it’s bound to happen should be enough incentive to install the fixture with that end result in mind.

Locate the studs in the bathroom. The studs will offer the most sturdiness for the fixture and can be located with a stud finder.  If both ends of the fixture can be secured into studs, install the fixture using wood screws.

If the fixture is being installed into drywall with no support behind it, hang the fixture using a molly bolt or hollow wall anchor. This is a type of fastener that has a flare that opens on the back side of the drywall to keep the screw from easily pulling out. Drill a hole using a drill bit the same size as the anchor, place the bracket, and insert the anchor bolt.

Use the same precautions and mounting techniques for anything that is installed on the bathroom wall, from the hook to hold a bathrobe to the toilet paper roll holder to keep the occasional misuse of the fixture from causing major damage to the wall.