Cabinet Knobs Hinges and More

Give Your Home a New Look With Door Hardware

By J Richardson

We spend hours a day fixing ourselves – from showering, shaving, putting on makeup, adding gel to your hair – you name it! Isn’t it about time you gave your home a makeover? The great thing about some home renovations is that they are even easier and less time consuming than it takes to make ourselves look presentable. One of the easiest ways to update your home quickly and efficiently on a low or small budget is to replace your existing door hardware.

Make a Statement
Just like the 80′s are associated with big hair and leg warmers, your home should make a statement-both indoors and out. Set the tone and style of your home by adding a sophisticated, decorative outside door knob. Outdoor door hardware typically includes a door knocker and knob, so choose wisely. Be sure to opt for a finish that can withstand all the elements – from harsh winters to blistering hot summers (unless you live in a fair-weathered area). Backdoor door hardware can be less decorative and more relaxed, especially if the door will be opened and slammed shut (usually by children). When considering back door pieces, choose a metal material that is sturdy and will not crack under serious use. Additionally, if you have any sliding doors that allow entry from the interior to the exterior, be sure that the hardware matches to the room it is opening toward; outdoor door handles probably will look out of place and awkward in a family room or kitchen.

Choose a Style
Not all door knobs and levers are made alike. Before purchasing sets of door handles, consider the function of the door that you are renovating. Decorative doors should not be equipped with a thumb-pad locking mechanism, nor should bathroom doors feature a false door knob or a lever without a lock. For all doors, however, consider what level of privacy you’d like. Bathrooms and bedrooms should be equipped with keyless locking knobs or levers. For medicine cabinets and certain closets, key entry door accessories might be appropriate especially to help keep children safe.
For interior sliding doors or shelves, drawer pulls are idea. Be sure to purchase a size that allows for quick and easy access; try to be aware of the size of the drawer pull you are purchasing. Smaller finger wells make access somewhat harder and tedious. Finally, for rarely used areas, a matching dead bolt lock might be suitable in places such as basements, rarely used closets and attics.

Get the Accessories
When renovating your home, you might overlook the smaller details that go with door hardware. These accessories include door hinges, screws, latches, keys, floor registers and door jams. Be sure to coordinate styles, materials and finishes to help create a cohesive, designer look. Materials typically used for door handle sets and their accessories include chrome, nickel, copper, stainless steel, glass (clear or colored) or iron. Finishes generally used outdoors are weathered, burnished or tinted. Indoor finishes most used are satin or polished. If you aren’t sure what you like, try out a few “test” knobs with their matching accessories to see what will best suit the needs of each of your rooms.

Touch of Elegance
If you have a particularly flexible budget, you might want to consider newer, more stylish forms of door hardware. Newly designed door knob sets include keyless entry with either digital or mechanical entry options. No matter what style, these forms of door hardware are ultra secure and are idea for safe boxes, vaults and other guarded or potentially dangerous areas. The keypad itself features numeric values that you can “punch” in to obtain entry. For maximum security, some of these handle sets also feature a keyed entry so that no one person can enter without the code or the key.

Cabinet Knobs Can Invigorate Your Space in a Flash

Are you tired of your plain, dull design in your bathroom, bedrooms or kitchen? With the continually downward slump of the economy, you probably think you cannot possibly afford a home renovation project. But what many homeowners do not realize is that – yes – a home renovation project can be affordable and spice up the design of your room instantly! Don’t believe it? By simply updating your old, worn cabinet knobs, you can transform any design from boring to beautiful.

Gather Your Tools
Unlike most home hardware installations, replacing your knobs and pulls in any room does not require the help of an experienced professional. Count that as money well saved already! Plus, this project requires minimal tools and minimal effort – it is so easy, even your children can help you. Prior to beginning your new project, be sure to have the following tools on hand:

  - Tape measure
- Pencils
- Cabinet pulls, knobs, or handles
- Matching screws and hinges
- Screwdriver

Get Rid of the Old Stuff
With these tools on hand, you are now ready to remove your old hardware. Be sure to unscrew each cabinet knob entirely before removing so that you do not cause accidental or unnecessary damage to the wood or plastic cabinet front piece. Before you throw these items into the trash, however, consider donating them to another home (if they are in good condition, of course). If you are not prepared to host a yard sale, auction them off online on eBay.com or even craigslist.org; your home renovation project just might inspire another family to update their cabinets with your trash-turned-treasure.

Shop Around for Sizes
Now is your chance to update the out-dated décor with new bathroom cabinet knobs (or any room, really). Consider what size handles, knobs and pulls you already have in your bathroom. Are some drawers harder to open, certain cabinet handles harder to grasp? Changing the size of your cabinet hardware might make life easier. But before you purchase tons of hardware in one size, you should buy a few various sizes to test out just in case. Larger sized cabinet handles in close proximity with one another could end up just cluttering an area and not making it any easier, such as in your kitchen.

Create a Colorful Effect
Once you have decided on what sizes work best for which locations, you should also consider changing the color or finish of your kitchen cabinet knobs. Traditional cabinet knobs are available in a variety of finishes such as oil rubbed, satin, matte, weathered and polished. Additionally, each knob can be of a different metal such as chrome, brass, iron, pewter, nickel, bronze and copper. For the bold homeowner, try mixing and matching to create a unique look in your home.

Try a New Style Combination
Replacing your cabinet knobs does not just include removing and installing fresh, new knobs but rather creating a new look and feel. One contemporary renovation style includes mixing cabinet knobs according to the layout of the room. Cabinets and drawers below the waist are adorned with darkest finishes-such as matte nickels or bronzes. Next, mid to waist level drawers feature a lighter shade of handles like a copper or brass with a weathered finish. Finally, the highest shelving units and cabinets should feature the lightest colored finishes and metals. Creating this layered look keeps the eye moving upwards; if the look was reversed, the eyes would lock in on the dark finishes at the ceilings and never even glance at the floor-level handles. Remember to purchase corresponding hinges and screws so that your newly renovated area is complete, without mismatching accessories. The easiest way to avoid this decorating disaster is to write down a count of how many cabinets you have, what finishes and what metals; you’ll stay organized and create the flawless look of your cabinetry in any room in your home.

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