Cabinet Knobs Can Invigorate Your Space in a Flash

By J Richardson

 

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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Cabinet Knobs – Innovative Design For Your Home

       Cabinet Knobs – Innovative Design For Your Home

     By Benedict Perez

Wherever you stay you should get a feel of living at your own space. You might be living at a rented or your own apartment and there ways by which you can make it more lively place to stay. Planning for getting major changes or entirely redoing the place is impractical. The best solution is to be creative and think about smaller things. Changing cabinet hardware or Cabinet Knobs is a very good option to give the place your own feel.

Be creative in planning to buy a new set of knobs which matches the design and style of your room. Having knobs on the cabinets as per your choice and taste will make you feel like living in a place which is completely yours. You can even plan and create your own knob designs and styles for your rooms. No heavy tools and efforts are required to change the knobs of the cabinet and it is a simple and easy task.

Many stores offer all the hardware and tools that are required to make the necessary changes. Think of the design, its placement and make a list of all the items that you will need. For selecting the right knobs plan for the design, style and size of the knob that will match the complete look of your room as well as matches the theme of your apartment.

You can start with making a list of things that will be required for the change. Try to think about which style, color and design of the knob you desire before going to the market. By selecting hardware and knobs of incomparable design and superior quality you can surely make your home more beautiful. There are even customized and handmade knobs available in the market today. You can even get your designs hand painted or colored to fill your room with the beauty.

Check the size which perfectly fits the cabinet screw holes. Carry your old knobs along when you go for buying the new ones. This will help you to buy the right size of knob that will fit your cabinet.

 Once the older knobs have been taken out you should keep them with screws at a store place. These old knobs can be used on any cabinets in future and can even be put back in case you are living in a rented apartment. Changing the cabinet knobs will surely make you feel having a new place to live in.

After having bought all the required hardware and knobs start taking out the older knobs. However make it a point to keep the old knobs, screws and the hardware together at a place so they can be put back in case you are having a rented apartment. Be careful not to put any scratches or dents in the cabinet while changing the knobs. By changing the cabinet knobs you will feel like having a new cabinet and a beautiful place to live in.

You can also avail the discount prices being offered by various online stores and have the knobs delivered at your doorstep. Browse though the various designs option and find the one which is perfect cabinet knobs for your room helping in making the place look new.

There is a way to enhance the appearance of your cabinets and you can do that with wonderful designs of kitchen cabinet knobs. These designs are lovely and  durable as well. You certainly find elegance and style in these items. 

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Cabinet Hardware Explained – From Decorative to Functional

 

Today’s cabinets vary as much in style as they do in functionality. Although styles can range wildly from simple big-box manufactured face frame cabinets with slab panel doors to intricately crafted custom cabinets hewn from the hands of generations of craftsmen, some things just never change. The cabinet hardware that makes these cabinets both functional and decorative is virtually universal throughout.

Yes, there are minor differences in cabinet hardware from one style of cabinet to another, however, the major types of hardware can be found in any style or construction of cabinet. The two main types of hardware are decorative and functional.

DECORATIVE CABINET HARDWARE

Decorative hardware, sometimes referred to as surface hardware, consists of the pieces that are mounted to the outside surface of your cabinet doors and drawer fronts. They not only provide the means with which to open your cabinet doors, they also give your cabinetry that finishing touch. The various types are:

*handle pulls

*cup pulls

*knobs

*backplates

*ring, bail and pendant pulls

Handle and cup pulls are rigid and require two mounting screws to attach to the cabinet door or drawer front. Bail pulls also require two mounting screws, however, they can be rigid or swinging type bails. Knobs are just simple post-pulls that require one mounting screw. Ring and pendant pulls can be rigid or swinging and normally require one mounting screw although some may require two with a small center-to-center measurement.

The mounting hole spacing measurement is the most important measurement of a cabinet handle pull if you are replacing existing hardware. This measurement is taken from the center of one mounting hole to the center of the other, thus it is called the center-to-center measurement (abbreviations include: C-C, C/C, CTC). Obviously if you are replacing existing cabinet pulls, you will need to match your new hardware center-to-center measurement with that of the holes already drilled into your cabinet doors. Common measurements are 3″, 3-1/2″, 96mm and 4″, however there are many more than just those four.

FUNCTIONAL CABINET HARDWARE

Functional hardware consists of the hardware pieces that make your cabinets do what they are suppose to do. Doors open and close, drawers slide out and back in, giving you access to the items you have inside. Basically, if your cabinets didn’t have any of this type of hardware in and on them, they would be pretty useless. These types include:

*door hinges

*drawer slides

Door hinges are simply the hinges that connect your cabinet doors to the actual cabinet but as simple as their function is, the types, sizes and options abound. The three main distinguishing types of cabinet hinges are concealed, semi-concealed and non-concealed. These all can come in a variety of opening angles, swing types (free-swinging vs. self-closing), overlay sizes, insets as well as finishes.

Drawer slides are the pieces of hardware that allow your drawers to slide in and out. They are sometimes referred to by other names such as drawer guides, drawer glides, drawer runners and drawer tracks. The three main types used on cabinets are: side-mount, side/under-mount and under-mount. These types can be further classified by the distance they allow a drawer to be opened such as 3/4 extension, full-extension or over-travel extension.

Cabinet hardware is not very complicated on the surface. It is the many options that these basic pieces come in that gets a little more in-depth, too in-depth for this simple primer on cabinet hardware.

 

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Cleaning Solutions for Cabinet Hardware

Classic Brass Hyde Park Collection Cabinet Knobs & Pulls

by EHow contributer

Cabinet hardware is to cabinets what jewelry is to an outfit, greatly enhancing the overall look of your cabinets. Over time, however, moisture, dirt and grease take a toll on your cabinet hardware. A few simple cleaning solutions for cabinet hardware and some elbow grease make cleaning a snap and will even extend its useful life.

 

Prepare

1. It is important to remove the hardware from the cabinets before you clean it. This is necessary not only to do an effective  job but also because the cleaning products, polish and motion of scrubbing may damage the cabinets. Unscrew and remove all of the cabinet knobs and drawer pulls. Unscrew the hinges and take down the cabinet doors.

Soak

2. Pour some lukewarm water into a bucket and add some mild soap. Soak the cabinet hardware in the soapy water for 30 minutes to an hour. Lightly scrub each individual piece of hardware using a soft bristled brush such as an old toothbrush. Rinse them in warm water and then set them aside to dry. Screw the cabinet hardware back in place and rehang the cabinet doors.

Sealant

3. Today, most cabinet hardware is produced with a coating of protective sealant to prevent abrasion and corrosion. For this reason, you should avoid using harsh metal cleaners or polishes on your cabinet hardware, since it can damage this coating. Provide some extra protection to the metal surface of the hardware by applying the appropriate polish after cleaning hardware, such as brass cleaner for brass knobs.

Copper

4. Over time, copper cabinet hardware will tarnish (oxidize), particularly in moist environments such as bathrooms. In addition to cleaning it as described above, you can restore it to a bright, shiny finish with a few kitchen ingredients. Dissolve 1 tsp. salt in 1/2 cup vinegar, and then stir in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour to form a paste. You can add more flour to thicken the paste. Use a soft, clean cloth to rub the paste on the copper hardware. Rinse it off with warm water and allow the hardware to dry. You can protect the copper surface by applying a commercial copper polish or a lacquer spray.

Maintenance

5. After cleaning cabinet hardware, wipe it on a regular basis using a dry, soft cloth. This prevents the dirt and dust from accumulating, saving you some cleaning time and effort later on. Consistency makes for easy cleaning and maintenance.

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