If you are interested in having new kitchen or bathroom cabinets installed, it is important that along with style, design, and material of the cabinets themselves, that you consider cabinet door hardware. Unfortunately, some people will spend $8,000 and more for beautiful cabinets when remodeling a home but overlook the value that hardware offers. Remember, hardware is an essential part of the overall cabinet design! To help you get started, we wanted to offer some suggestions on what to look for so your new cabinets look stunning.
Keep in mind that for all the different types of cabinet door hardware, multiple options regarding material, finish, style, and design exist. Therefore, if trying to achieve a certain look, you could. For instance, if you wanted a Tuscan style kitchen, one with Italian charm, then hardware made from brushed copper or brushed nickel would be gorgeous. However, if you were restoring and old Victorian home back to its original splendor, going with antique or reproduction hardware would be perfect.
The type of cabinet door hardware that is given the most attention simply because it is the most visible is cabinet knobs. These come in a variety of materials to include metals, glass, porcelain, wood, and more. It is important to remember that while you want the knobs to enhance the look of the cabinets, you also want to purchase something of quality to handle daily and long-term use.
The next type of cabinet door hardware that is most visible is the hinges. Just as with shopping for the right knobs, cabinet hinges also come in a huge selection. Hinges come in several types such as flush, concealed, inset, overlay, self-closing, free-swinging, wrap, etc. The goal when purchasing new hinges is to choose the same material and finish to coordinate with the knobs. However, the hinges are going to be a key element for opening and closing the cabinet doors so these too must be of high quality to provide years of smooth service.
Pulls are another type of cabinet door hardware, which are similar to knobs. The only difference is that while knobs are typically round, oval, or circular in some way, pulls are long, measuring anywhere from two to six inches generally. Another difference between knobs and pulls has to do with installation. For pulls, these can be installed horizontally or vertically, depending on the style of pull but also the aesthetics you want to achieve.
Next, there are different types of catches and latches. With these, when a cabinet door is closed, it would close tightly so the doors are flush to the cabinet face. Without using catches and latches, cabinet doors would have a gap of several inches. The most popular type of cabinet door hardware for this category is the magnetic catch. For instance, magnetic spring loaded catches are extremely popular in that once the cabinet door is closed it remains closed.
You would also need to look at backplates when shopping for new cabinet door hardware. Backplates are typically used with pulls as a decorative piece that enhances the overall look. If wanted, you could go with a simple pull but create a gorgeous look by choosing a more decorative backplate or vice versa. The bottom line is that by making the right decisions for cabinets but also cabinet door hardware, the entire room would be transformed.
