Confused? Cabinet Hardware Types Explained

You have a lot of different options in cabinet hardware. Not only are there a huge selection of cabinet knobs to choose from, but many different kinds of cabinet pulls. It all depends on how you want your kitchen or bathroom to look, and the general function of the cabinets and drawers.

There are so many different kinds, that many people have questions about the differences between them. What is a cup pull, and why should I get that instead of drop bail pulls? Much of it has to do with your personal preferences. Here are some helpful descriptions and images of the different types of cabinet hardware.

Cup Pulls

 

Cup pulls lay flush with the surface of the cabinet door or drawer on the top edge, as well as the left and right edges. The rest of it is raised up so that you can "cup" your fingers under the bottom and pull. Some people find this to be a comfortable way to open cabinets and drawers, while others don't. Some are rounded, but they can be virtually in any shape.

Drop Bail Pulls

Drop bail pulls have a "bail" that hangs from the base of the pull. You would just grab the hanging bail and pull. These are a nice alternative to regular pulls and knobs, as long as you don't mind grabbing onto the bail before you can open the drawer or cabinet. They can have a nice vintage or antique vibe, and can come in many different shapes and styles.

Ring Pulls

Ring pulls always come in a complete ring shape, but can be different shapes that deviate from a circle or oval. They can hang from the base of the pull like a drop bail, or stick out straight. They also come in all different styles, so you can find one that will go great with the rest of your kitchen or bathroom.

Euro Bar Pulls

These pulls are always long and sleek and stay true to the sturdy bar shape. Euro bars often double as towel bars on the cabinets of many kitchens, and can be installed horizontal or vertical depending on your needs and taste. Sometimes it's necessary to combine euro bars with matching knobs. For example, euro bars on the cabinets and matching knobs from the same collection on shorter drawers.

Backplates

Backplates are often used as the base of the cabinet knob for added decoration. When using one, choose them from the same collection as the knobs you'll be using them with. They are very versatile and come in many different styles and finishes.

Escutcheon Plates

These are used to cover key holes and the bases of knobs, so the unattractive inner workings of a lock and door knob aren't showing. These come in many different styles and finishes, from plain and modern, to whimsical and classic. The name comes from the French word "scutum", which means "shield".

Rosettes

A "rosette" usually refers to a round, flat design that radiates from the middle, much like the petals of a rose. The rosettes we're talking about here are used as backplates, but are in a category of their own because of their shape and design. Match the rosettes with the knobs in the same collection, if you choose to use rosettes.

DIY Ideas for Custom Furniture with Home Hardware

Is the inside of your home looking a little "blah" to you these days? Maybe you have a specific idea in mind for how you want it to look, but you can seem to find it anywhere in stores. The furniture in your home isn't going along with the general vibe you're going for.

For example, the decor in your bedroom has a cool, relaxed ocean or beach theme. Your dresser or armoire is plain and just doesn't fit in with the rest of the room, and it sticks out like a sore thumb.

You have a few options for what you can do to customize furniture to make them look exactly the way you want, and even make them more convenient and functional for your individual needs!

Option 1: You can paint or refinish your existing furniture, as well as add new knobs, pulls or even decorative hooks (depending on how it's built).

Option 2: You can look for a chest of drawers, vanity, armoire or dresser in thrift stores, garage sales or even online on sites like Craigslist or Facebook (your local buy/sell/trade pages) for a bargain on one that you like, so you can further customize it.

Dress an old armoire up with new pulls, knobs or even hooks.

First, jot down some ideas for what you want it to look like. To go with the aquatic or beach theme example, you might want the wood to look natural and distressed, almost like driftwood. You might even decide to make it look distressed, but painted a color like blue or a sandy color.

Next, you will need to hunt down your materials that go with the theme you have in mind. Check out some beach themed knobs and pulls for your drawers or the doors on an armoire. You will have TONS of options, so bookmark the ones you like so you can narrow down your search later. Some very popular beachy motifs are seahorses, shells, and sea stars.

After you're done painting, distressing or refinishing the surfaces of the furniture, you can install the home hardware you've chosen. One great idea for making it even more useful, is to install decorative hooks on the sides of the dresser or armoire.

Check out the tutorial for installing new home hardware.

You can hang your robe or jacket from it for quick access (you don't have to get into your closet), or you can use them to hang belts and purses. Extra hooks on a vanity can be a place to hang your favorite jewelry. If you don't want to put hooks on your furniture, you can install them in the wall next to it, to keep your stuff together in one spot.

Home Hardware Q and A: All About Oil Rubbed Bronze

Do you love the rich and warm chocolatey color of oil rubbed bronze home hardware? There are a few things you should know about this beautiful finish that can have quite a bit of variety.

Q: I used to have some oil rubbed bronze sink faucets and knobs in my old house and I loved them. I recently started shopping for some oil rubbed bronze home hardware, and some of it looks so much different than the ones I had before. Are there different kinds of oil rubbed bronze?

A: The look of certain finishes can be very different from one brand to another. Oil rubbed bronze is a great example of this, especially because there are several different methods for achieving the look of oil rubbed bronze. Most oil rubbed bronze pieces you find today are made simply by coating the outer surface with a rich, dark brown paint. A manufacturer might also used a chemical to darken the outermost layer of hardware.

If the house you lived in before was old, it might be that the oil rubbed bronze there was also old, and achieved the aged or worn look in some spots naturally, over time. This look is very hard to replicate, and it's true that oil rubbed bronze will look a little different from piece to piece, even if they're all from the same brand!

Natural or authentic oil rubbed bronze, also referred to as a "living" finish, is slowly and constantly being changed with use and wear. The more it's touched over the years, the more it will achieve the lighter, rubbed off spots to show the copper underneath. Most manufacturers use a non-living finish to get the oil rubbed bronze look, which means it won't rub off with time, or there are spots that are already worn to make it look as if the door knob or faucet knob has been used for many years.

My advice is to stick with the oil rubbed bronze home hardware from one brand. If you are using oil rubbed bronze cabinet knobs from RKI and you want to use backplates with them, you will need to use the oil rubbed bronze back plates from RKI If you don't, you could risk the backplates being a much darker or lighter shade, and it won't look right at all.

The same goes if you're trying to match the oil rubbed bronze faucets and knobs with the cabinet hardware and towel bars. You should definitely purchase them from the same brand. The brands Hickory Hardware, RKI and Amerock are just a few of them many brands that have extensive oil rubbed bronze collections.

How to Clean Home Hardware Finishes

Home hardware adds style, color and luster to our homes, and just like the hardwood floors and the upholstery, we have to take care of them and keep them clean. The best thing about cleaning home hardware, is the materials that work for each type of finish are probably already in your kitchen cabinets!

Not all metals and finishes can be treated the same way, so we've broken down the different common finishes for cabinet knobs, pulls, hooks, faucets and everything else, so you can keep your home hardware looking beautiful for many years to come.

Here is a list of the things you will need:

• Lint-free cloths.
• Vinegar
• Dawn dish soap, or another similar soap.
• Glass cleaner
• Ketchup

Bronze

Bronze cabinet knobs and pulls can be wiped free of grime weekly or every few weeks with a damp, lint-free cloth. As for sink faucets and other things that come in contact a lot with water and corrosive substances like tooth paste, bleach and other chemicals, you will need to wipe them down every couple of days. This will help them retain their original finish.

Chrome

Chrome will last for many years, but it will start to look dull and dirty after a while due to corrosion. First, try gently scrubbing it with a dish soap like Dawn and a soft wash cloth. If that doesn't do the trick, vinegar will. You want to start as mild as possible because you want to stay shiny and free of scratches. Dry and polish with a micro fiber cloth .

Brass

The hot soapy water and cloth should also work to get rid of regular old grime build up. For tougher dirt, the gentle acid found in ketchup or tomato paste with a micro fiber cloth and some elbow grease will get the job done. Don't forget to dry and polish.

Nickel

Try wiping off dirt with a dry soft cloth. If that doesn't work, use the soap and hot water and scrub in circular motions. For a quick cleaning, spray your nickel cabinet knobs with a regular glass cleaner, and polish it off to make sure no spots or streaks are left behind. As a general rule, don't use any harsh cleaners such as oven cleaners.

Stainless Steel

Use a wash cloth and vinegar water to scrub it clean. Vinegar is effective in getting rid of dirt as well as bacteria and molds. Don't scrub across the grain of the steel, always scrub along with it. Polish it dry with a clean dry lint-free cloth.