Posts filed under 'Decorating with Knobs'
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. 
February 28th, 2007
I am not naturally organized. My wife is. I have to be careful when I put an important piece of information down on my desk that I don’t leave it there for long. It will be categorized and filed into oblivion, never again to be retrieved!
Imagine the daunting complexity facing our youngest children filing their socks, shirts and other clothing in the right dresser drawers!
Well, OK, I am exaggerating a bit here, but you can see how if specific drawers were assigned to categories, we might even succeed in getting our young ones to put the right things in the right places. (Oh, you don’t have your children take part in putting washed clothes away?! If not, you’re missing out on a time and temper saver here!)
Consider using graphic door and cabinet pulls to create some sense of organization in your living spaces. Children who cannot yet read can figure out that a picture of a pair of socks means to put socks in this drawer. If you forget which drawer contains the paper clips, use a hot glue gun to stick one on a drawer or drawer pull. If you don’t know which drawer has the herb you’re looking for, or which has the garden tool you need, find a graphic 
drawer pull at http://www.knobshingesandmore.com and attach it to your drawer or cabinet. (All the drawer and cabinet pulls shown on this page can be found in the atlas homewares collection at www.knobshingesandmore.com.)
After you install that drawer pull with the picture of the socks on it, pull 
your three-year-old aside and give him or her a quiz: “OK, now, into which drawer do I want you to put your socks?” For the big test and for a lot more fun, pull your husband aside and give him the quiz: “OK, now, where does the set of shears go?”
Oh, and be sure to include your little ones in the washday activities. They’re a lot smarter than we give them credit for and you don’t want them to be trained to avoid constructive responsibility in later years, like some people you know!
January 31st, 2007
Feeling the urge to redecorate my kitchen and add a boost to my dull bathroom, I found myself surfing the net for ideas. Coming home exhausted from work, I am able to scrape together only enough energy to get to my computer. “If I can not do this online,” I think to myself, “it just won’t get done.” Throwing out catch phrases, I come across a distinctive site pleasant to the eye. “Looks like a woman created it!” was my first thought. Not far off, it is a female-owned business made for women like me; busy women interested in finding the exotic, without leaving their computer screen. All this within my budget and tailored to my scant computer skills. I fall in love with the “Isabella” cabinet knob and jump from brass to crystal trying to decide the actual mood I am trying to capture. Do I strive for Arabian oasis or Roman bathhouse? I can even Fen Shui my kitchen and bath from this site. Oh, didnt I mention the name? www.knobshingesandmore.com - another world only a computer click away.
Columbo Designs
Straight lines, colorful accents; Italian design all describe the Columbo hardware found at www.knobshingesandmore.com . The hardware uses only the top of the line metals, such as brass and chromall, and couples this with avant-guard design for door handles and windows. Accessories such as soap dishes and cup holders add an inspiring touch to the modern bath. Accessorize and modernize the European way without leaving your living room.
Anne At Home
Country design and elegance meet with the pewter designs of Anne At Home hardware. From the delicate three roses cabinet pull to the Jack Russell knob - Anne at home captures every taste and appeal. Express your nautical self with the conch shell cabinet pull or delight the children with dolphin pulls. Express your moods and your style available at www.knobshingesandmore.com
Pullware
The most unique design with the most understated name brings the look of hammered metal and artwork to the bath and kitchen. Employing designs that can also add character to bedroom cabinetry, Pullware expresses the inner artist in all of us. Naming their designs from Boston to South Beach, Pullware captures the simple themes of each venue, adding sophistication and bold lines to any room in the house.
Wood Ventures
Here you find floor registers with unique design and unparalleled quality. Baseboard and toe kick grills add not only distinction, but character to any renovation or room project. Detail and quality workmanship are the hallmark of this company that strives to bring affordable products to the general public without sacrificing attention to customer satisfaction.
October 7th, 2006
Catch the fever for NICKEL, COPPER, STAINLESS STEEL and BRONZE.
NICKEL Nickel is a smooth, sophisticated alternative to chrome, usually not as shiny, and offering more visual heft. Though often subtle and subdued, nickel is still eye-catching.
Brushed or polished, the staple of five-cent pieces looks like a million bucks in the kitchen and bath.
If only we had a nickel for every time we have seen this finish lately in a kitchen or bath. Nickel was the household metal of choice in the late 1800s and early 1900s before giving way to chrome. Now its silvery sheen is making a comeback, especially in sinks, faucets and hardware. With its bluish cast, nickel is considered a cool metal. It can be polished to a chrome like sheen or brushed to a satiny matte finish similar to stainless steel. Brushed nickel is a good choice for high-use areas, as it helps hide fingerprints, scratches and water spots.
COPPER With distinctive color cues, the natural conductor is orchestrating a rapidly spreading warming trend.
It is fitting that the word copper is an old slang term for a police officer, given the reddish to orangeish metal’s arresting appearance. As an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, copper has long been a part of kitchens, most visibly in cookware. But in recent years, copper’s warmth has been spreading from cook tops to sinks, faucets, vent hoods, countertops, backsplashes and appliances. A copper surface can be polished to maintain a shiny finish, though more often it is signature dark, greenish, character-rich patina.
Some say copper may succeed stainless steel as a finish for large appliances.
STAINLESS STEEL The always sharp-looking surface of surgeons and chefs can go cutting edge or hone a classic scheme.
The development of stainless steel in the early 1900s had a big impact on kitchens, leading to easy-care cutlery that was virtually immune to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel shook up kitchens again in the late 1900s by bringing commercial style to appliances and work surfaces. Today, the alloy of steel and chromium is the ally of those who seek a clean, contemporary look in the kitchen or bath. Like nickel, stainless steel is a cool metal that can be buffed to a highly reflective sheen or brushed for a more subdued, satiny look.
Stainless steel conjures images of sharp-edged and straight lines, but the rigid metal is malleable, too - perfectly capable of taking unexpected curves.
BRONZE Archaeologists say the Bronze Age ended long ago. We say a new one is dawning in the kitchen and bath.
In Olympic venues, bronze symbolized a third-place finish. But in the kitchen and bath area, bronze is a winning finish. The earthy-brown alloy’s gravitas and sculptural quality commend respect and convey permanence. Between its more common kitchen and bath incarnations, bronze is cast into sink basins, tiles and hardware, and applied as a coating to appliances, faucets and light fixtures. Oil-rubbed bronze, an especially hot look, reads almost black. Oil rubbing, based on ancient practices, creates a living finish - one that changes over time.
Bronze often adorns small items, but it can cover large areas, too.
Visit www.KnobsHingesandMore.com
October 3rd, 2006
Nimbly running her fingers across the keyboard she glides the mouse and searches the net for the site. Never had she imaged shopping could be as simple as the click of the mouse. The sound of the coach outside urging her along with the displeasure of the prince in the stairwell are blocked from her mind as she searches. Then as if she has entered a city of its own, the cite opens itself to reveal the treasures it behold..
Knobs, Hinges and More. the fairytale continues.
May 24th, 2006
Once upon a time there was lovely princess named Cinderella; Cindi for short. Cindi loved to clean and dance around her palatial home. Once she cleaned while listening to her step mother scold: “Cinderella, clean the floors, polish the cabinets..” Now she polishes the cabinets to Puccini, watching the hardware sparkle like her favorite opera. Since re-doing her kitchen Cindi glides around her home enchanted by her new fixtures. Who would have thought she could customize each room to express her every desire. Sparkling gemstones to adorn the cupboards, knobs and faucets that shine like the brightest star, closing her eyes as the aria begins she is suddenly stopped short by the gong of the Grandfather clock. Flying passed the open bathroom door she gasps at the door knob now in the palm of her hand…are the stores all closed she panics..the net…she remembers ..a website she recalls hearing….Knobs, Hinges and More..will she be able to replace the knob? “The ball”, beckons the prince from the staircase, “We will be late” he urges; “Come quickly.” Let them all wait..the fairytale has just begun .
May 14th, 2006
Bold stainless steel rods. Ornate brass pulls. Delicate porcelain knobs. If you are looking to add some personality to your cabinets, the options in hardware are endless. Decisions…Decisions…Decisions… The first step is to look for styles and patterns you like. Look through home improvement stores, kitchen, bathroom and plumbing supply stores and specialty web sites. Then decide how to blend it all together. Think about the overall style of the room and the other materials you will be using. A few suggestions:
Stainless steel and nickel hardware go well with stainless steel appliances and light wood cabinets. A satin nickel handle, for example, has a matte, brushed finish and warm color tone. It blends well with light colored cabinets, such as ash or maple.
Consider the type of appliances, countertop and floor are you selecting.
Also consider your sink. Brushed chrome hardware will coordinate with a stainless steel sink, as the textures are similar. White ceramic hardware will tie into a white cast iron sink. Finishes…Finishes…Finishes Hardware is made from a variety of metals and materials — brass, chrome, nickel, pewter, plastic, porcelain, copper and stainless steel. There also are several finishes, such as “antique,” which has a dull finish and “distressed,” which looks cracked or otherwise worn from age. Hardware also is made by combining materials. Some handles have brass near the two ends that are secured to the cabinet and porcelain on the main section used to pull open the door or drawer. This style allows you to soften the look of metal or blend the porcelain with the other kitchen finishes. The cost? Prices range from $2 each for more traditional styles found at home improvement and hardware stores to $22 each for hand made decorative styles. What if you just can’t decide? Confused by all the options? Forego hardware all together or wait until you have lived with the cabinets for a few months. Many cabinet styles are designed to be opened without hardware. A few words of caution:
Think about the wear and tear on the doors from fingernail scratches, fingerprints and food particles.
If you plan to add hardware later, consider having the contractor add the holes. This will force you to decide whether you want knobs or handles, however. Changing your hardware is an inexpensive way to update your kitchen. This Evolutions hardware design by Amerock combines an Oriental feel with the linear patterns of a Prairie style design.
Try sleek metal rods instead of more traditional round knobs on cabinetry. The look is current and blends well with stainless steel in the kitchen.
Visit: www.knobshingesandmore.com
March 17th, 2006
If you’re remodeling or decorating your kitchen or bathroom, you’ll find that selecting your cabinet and drawer handles and knobs is lots of fun. It’s almost like picking out the perfect jewelry for your dress or suit. Cabinet hardware provides the finishing touch to cabinets and drawers, and can also add a spark of color and style.
With so many online sites available for browsing and buying, the homeowner is not limited to what is offered at the local hardware store or home remodeling center.
Handles, knobs, and pulls are available in a huge array of colors, shapes, styles, and designs.
Whether your style is traditional or eclectic, modern or classic, you’ll find that there is something for everyone. Choose crystal, brushed nickel, polished chrome, hammered iron, cut glass, rock or tile.
You can use your knobs and drawer pulls to continue your decorating theme. Handle styles come in all shapes and sizes, from leaves, silverware, buttons, dominos, airplanes and boats, and lots more.
Coral Nafie
If you browse through www.KnobsHingesandMore.com you’re sure to find just the right “jewelry” for your cabinets and drawers.
March 16th, 2006
See us in the new issue of Renovation Style or visit us at www.knobshingesandmore.com
October 12th, 2005
Hardware is like jewelry for your cabinets–it can really finish the look of the kitchen. There are endless choices in styles, materials and finishes these days. The hardware should be considered from the very beginning of the design process , so it can be integrated into material selection of other elements in the kitchen .
The trend in hardware is toward sleek, simple shapes. The creative touch comes from playing with the size, proportion and finish.
Dull finishes, like brushed nickel and satin, and oiled rubbed bronze are very popular.
Other materials for hardware include ceramic, glass, aluminum and metals.
The hardware options include more than just pulls and knobs. Now one can find door stops, hinges, switch plates, curtain rods, even refrigerator pulls that coordinate with cabinet hardware.
Function is just as important as the look. Consider how the hardware will be used (push, pull, open small drawers or large doors) and where it will be placed . It is important to choose the right size for the job.
When choosing a design, the more contrast the hardware has with the cabinetry , the more dramatic the look.
June 15th, 2005
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