Twofer - The Beauty of Diversity
Many cabinet knob manufacturers pour brass or pewter into molds of varying shapes and put them on distributors’ shelves as the Classic Collection or some other catchy line moniker. While many beautiful and stylish cabinet pulls can be prepared this way, there is yet another level of beauty that will not be reached using this limited approach to manufacturing.
Consider the beauty of juxtaposing two dissimilar materials - such as brass and colored glass, or nickel and ceramic. Fortunately, there are some manufacturers out there who have undertaken the rigors of handling two or more material types to offer 
eye-catching artistic solutions. A few I’ve found include Colombo Design, Topex, Allied Brass, Te Ma Cabinet Hardware, Brass Elegans (Finials), Lew’s Hardware, Cal Crystal, Megna Hot Glass and Carol Beach. The colorful and rugged contrasts that can be 
presented using more than one material type demonstrate a cooperation of physical characteristics that is unrivaled and noteworthy. Be sure to see some of these matings at www.knobshingesandmore.com. 
Add comment February 28th, 2007
and several can be had for a dollar at your local hardware store. What it does is actually dig into the drawer face, mounting bolt or nut and the backside of the drawer pull. Because of the raised “crown,” the teeth of the crown digs into the material, preventing abutting pieces from turning when pressure is applied (when the bolt or nut is tightened).
Exterior decorators are constantly playing with their color wheels to achieve what they’ve come to recognize as tasteful combinations of colors that yield pleasing contrasts. In other words, where it comes to house color that doesn’t change from year to year, they want to get it right the first time. Fortunately, manufacturers of house accessories realize this continuing struggle and have come up with a slate of solutions in metal accessories that will satisfy the need for eye-pleasing contrast.
I’ve seen several offerings of this type at the site of the friendly folks who run 
Well, maybe second impressions! When visitors come calling, the first impression they get is the overall character and theme of your home. The second impression is the door. And what will they see at eye level when they walk up to the door? Will it be a door knocker? What impression will you give them? 
and unexpected guests. When I went looking for door knockers, I was (no, I won’t say “Knocked off my ….”) really impressed! You can find pieces of art at 
can find every one and more at 
How do you manufacture a product that is eye-catching, functional, smartly configured and able to stay that way in a harsh environment? That is the challenge facing makers of bathroom fixtures, especially those that dispense and drain the water. The homeowner’s plea might be summed up in, “Please, please, give me a faucet that doesn’t turn color, that doesn’t stop working or get too hard to turn on, that puts the water where I want it, that keeps doing it for years and that doesn’t require me to use a magnifying glass or wrench to get exactly the temperature and flow I need.” Hmmm. I suppose there are some rather expensive spigots with integrated electronics that will get it right every time, but for most of us who live in reality, that just won’t do.
Most bathroom hardware is made of brass. You can’t escape it. Brass is plentiful, hard and lends well to machining. Unfortunately, it also corrodes to unsightly colors of green, aqua green and brown. Ugh! So, manufacturers “cover” the brass with either metal (plating, which is a good atom-to-atom bond), enamel (coloring) or a transparent lacquer or synthetic patina. This is how they get bathroom fixtures to match your color scheme. (
realize pizza is American, not Italian.)
“lowly” door lever. Have you ever tried to open a doorknob with your hands full? It simply doesn’t work many times. But, if that door has a lever, well, then you can simply push down whatever you’re carrying on the lever and you’re there. What a difference! There are many times I’ve been grateful we chose a lever instead of a knob for access to our living spaces.
Now, imagine, too, if that lever had the Italian artistic design. The lever would say to all that approach it, “I am here to serve you with a flair!” You will find such artistry at 
In the ’60s, art began taking a fluidic, organic form, ostensibly a result of the influence of an emerging unusual cultural. These influences elevated the random, the organic and the fluidic parts of nature. I suppose that the classic paisley form represents this style as an icon.
Today, metal castings can present similar fluidic and organic forms, while retaining the rugged and utilitarian nature intrinsic to such manufactures. I don’t know how manufacturers of this class of drawer pulls and cabinet knobs, such as 
gunmetal, old world copper, pewter and warm pewter. With these materials, you 
can find quite an array of rugged shapes, images, styles and themes. You can also find less durable but nonetheless appealing enameled objects. You can choose a Western motif, things from the garden or workshop, shapes that children would recognize, or a wide variety of natural shapes and objects.
Do you recognize the logos here? Would you think that they came from official websites of sports teams? How about from a collection of official
frisbees? Or, maybe these are bottlecaps? Nope on all counts. These are . . . (drumroll please . . .) 
Now, I can imagine that if you had a mail-order business selling official NFL, MLB, NHL, College or NBA souveniers and mementos, you might want several of these to help you find the particular drawer where your merchandise for a specific order might be found. But, I’m barking up the wrong tree, here. Some folks are bit hard enough that they splash everything about their team on the 
walls, floors, ceiling, etc., in their den or welcome room. Why not complete it with a collection of knobs from 
When I’m carrying in a load of firewood, beware anything that’s in my path! If a box or cord or plaything is left on the floor in my path, its “structural integrity” is not my concern. I can’t see the floor and what I’m carrying is more important at the moment. (Reminds me of rule #1 of highway protocol - the ‘rule of gross tonnage’ often determines who has the right of way!)
It’s this very attitude and perspective that often accompanies the farmers and cowboys who herd cattle. Moving objects weighing hundreds of pounds is the norm for them. So, cabinet and door hardware was designed early in our country’s history that would allow such brutal handling. Today, you can find the style at 
maintaining it. Besides, it creates a restaurant-like atmosphere because so many upscale restaurants have adopted its style.