Functional Hardware: Fusing Utility & Style
A Trend Report from Hickory Hardware
Using decorative hardware in new and imaginative ways throughout
the home is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to express
your style. Now you can turn the style meter up a notch by using
functional hardware creatively.
Architectural hardware manufacturer
Hickory Hardware™ (www.hickoryhardware.com)reports on functional hardware trends that fuse utility and style for the homeowner who wants it all.
Trend
1:
Hardware That Pulls Its Weight
Today’s larger cabinets and drawers require larger pulls and
beefed-up functional components. When selecting new cabinets, be
sure to choose hinges, slides, and other functional elements with
sufficient capacity. And while you’re at it, make sure the
functional hardware coordinates with the finish of your decorative
knobs and pulls.
The high-res photo associated with this trend is available at the
following link:
http://www.hickoryhardware.com/press/americandinerpull.jpg
Trend
2:
Dress Up Your Kitchen Style
Adding hinges with decorative finials can infuse a strong dose of
style into tired kitchen décor. When it comes to finishes,
your options range from popular sleek finishes, such as satin nickel
and stainless steel, to warmer, darker finishes, like oil-rubbed
bronze or Venetian bronze, which are gaining popularity among fashion-forward
homeowners.
The high-res photo associated with this trend is available at the
following link:
http://www.hickoryhardware.com/press/decorativefinial.jpg
Trend
3:
Reduce Wear and Tear
Soft-closing or self-closing drawer slides and hinges make cabinet
doors and drawers close quietly and help reduce wear on wood components.
If replacing the hinges and slides on your cabinets isn’t practical,
install felt pads on the inside of drawers and cabinet doors to
achieve a soft-closing effect.
The high-res photo associated with this trend is available at the
following link:
http://www.hickoryhardware.com/press/feltaccabinets.jpg
Trend
4:
A Leveraged Investment
Replacing interior and exterior door handles with levers
not only adds style, it also pays important functional dividends.
Levers enhance ease of entry for homeowners with arthritis, children,
or those who have their hands full — and they’re available
in a range of styles and finishes to complement your home’s
decorative hardware. For greater flexibility, choose non-handed
levers, which work on both left- and right-hinged doors.
The high-res photo associated with this trend is available at the
following link:
http://www.hickoryhardware.com/press/kingstonlever.jpg