Cabinet Knobs and More

Airborne Antics & Antiques

For several years, we lived above a crawl space - not a good idea for us!  We were accustomed to developing bad sinus infections in the springtime, when the weather would bring in moisture to be picked up by our forced air central air conditioning system.  Who knows what cultures we were growing unknowingly underfoot!  The solution?

The answer is twofold.  First, have the system cleaned professionally.  This was difficult for us because of the type of wall registers designed into the home.  The next part of the solution is to replace those registers and the branch ductwork with fixtures that are more accessible.  Floor registers just inside the perimeter of the home are best.  This location generally avoids foot traffic where debris can tumble into the path of the air we breathe.  It also is recommended by architects to promote an even indoor temperature.  Since registers are part of the living space statement of who you are, be sure to choose carefully.  The registers will be there a long time! 

See some of the tasteful selections you can have shown on this page.  They’re all available at Knobs, Hinges and More.

Add comment April 30th, 2007

Architectural Peaks

When a radio signal goes through an antenna and launches into the air, it’s the characteristics of the antenna (length, size and shape) that make it possible.  Without careful attention to its shape and construction, it won’t work.  In the same way, how do you terminate a long piece of architectural hardware so that its presence is tasteful and meaningful?  If, after paying so much attention to developing a piece of architectural hardware you come to the realization that it must come to an end somewhere, how do you abbreviate it?  The answer is . . .Wrapped up in the word, “finial.”  A finial is “an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed to decoratively emphasise the apex of a gable, or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure.”  (Wikipedia) 

Inside the home, finials are used at the ends of curtain rods and stair rods and on the tops of door hinges.  Their beauty launches an aesthetic ”radio signal” throughout the home, bringing a tasteful and meaningful end to long pieces of architecture.

Add comment April 27th, 2007

European Knobs of Elegance

I’ve seen a lot of cabinet knobs.  You’re supposed to grab them in normal use.  Every once in a while you happen upon a collection that grabs you and stops you in your tracks.  I’ve found such in the offerings from Top Knobs Cabinet Hardware. 

British, French and other decidedly European styles include designs named Brittannia, Chateau (Castle), Normandy, Nouveau (New), Somerset and Tuscany.  Elegance and class are captured in their essence - see samples on this page and others at Knobs, Hinges and More.  Whether calling to the glorious days of British dominance of the high seas or bringing back memories of France’s azure coasts (La Cote d’Azure), these knobs speak authoritatively.

Add comment April 25th, 2007

Footsteps and Doorstops

I’ve been to many meetings and have always been impressed with the rugged but attractive hardware that stops the sprung door from hitting the wall or closing when you want it to stay open.  I’ve always wondered where the architect and contractor managed to find such hardware. 

Well, it’s fair to say that the folks at Knobs, Hinges and More know where it can be found.  On this page, you’ll find some beautiful samples of the rugged hardware that will withstand the rigors of accelerating heavy doors.  Von Morris has worked out the bugs so you won’t have to.  (When you anchor these characters, be sure you use long fasteners to distribute the stresses the bumps will present.)  Roll your cursor over each to discover more details about their use and design.

Add comment April 23rd, 2007

Top Brass

Nothing but gold compares with polished brass for its yellow elegance.  For those of us who do not have an overabundance of discretionary funds, polished brass will do.  Europeans, especially the Italians and the French, have capitalized on its lustrous qualities and availability.

There are very few furniture and construction materials that do not contrast beautifully with polished brass.  (There’s just something, maybe beautiful sunsets, that naturally causes polished brass to call to us for its beauty.)  Cherry, oak, pine and even selected painted hues offer up an aura of elegance.

Knobs, Hinges and More has captured several manufacturers of such beauty in its listings.  One notable manufacturer is Brass Accents.  See some of their selections on this page.

Add comment April 20th, 2007

WYSIWYG

First impressions are often lasting ones.  For this reason, many in our culture are sure to take a quick glance at our appearance before going out the door to a public event.  Mirrors, the silvered servants of our society, stand in rapt attention, always waiting to “tell it like it is.” 

Some dollar-store varieties tell it like it is, but no more.  Others say, “Here’s who you are today” - while being framed in brass, chrome, polished nickel or other elegant frames.  If you’re about to leave for a cultured setting somewhere on the town, you may want such an elegant framework so as to get a preview of your presence out there in the culture.  Be sure to check out the offerings from Knobs, Hinges and More.  The good folks at KH&M have labored to find meaningful collections of mirror hardware to suit your needs.  A few of the selections pictured here come from Motiv, Ginger and Remcraft.

Add comment April 18th, 2007

Split Personality

“You can find it behind the left cabinet door.  Oh, I’m sorry . . . I meant the right cabinet door.”  Have you heard that before?  There are many handles to storage spaces in our homes and some of them would do well to be a matched pair.  A few of Knobs, Hinges and More’s merchants offer left-and-right paired cabinet knobs.  See a couple of samples on this page.

If symmetry is your “thing”, you’ll want to investigate the variety of animals and herbs that can decorate your cabinetry in matched pairs.  The mirrored presentation they make suggests order and authority.  Let your friends know who you are and that you care!

Add comment April 16th, 2007

Natural ‘Nobs

Streams in the wilds of Vermont in the middle of summer are so cold they make your ankles hurt.  But, your feet don’t hurt due to sharp stones, because there aren’t any!  It seems that Providence Artworks has realized this desirable quality and memorialized it in beautiful cabinet hardware - pulls and knobs.

Is there a nature lover in your home?  Is there someone who is always bringing the outdoors inside?  Well, memorialize him or her by affixing some of the outdoors to his or her living spaces.  Just look at the natural beauty they bring to your furnishings. 

Providence Artworks has been careful to make sure that a variety of metal casings surround and attach to these beautiful outdoor pieces, ensuring a likely match to your style and color schemes.

Add comment April 14th, 2007

A Hired Hand(le)

If you move into your new home during winter or during black fly season, you will need someone to hold open the door and close it after you enter with an armload of “stuff”.  For most families, this would be a young person.  In our case, we were two adults and two teens who were all capable of carrying full loads with both arms.  Who would open the door for us?

Fortunately, I had replaced the conventional round doorknobs and locksets with locksets with handles.  I’m so glad I did.  With arms full, we were able to open the door simply by pressing on the handle.  We didn’t need a fifth person each time we made a trip to our new home.