Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
As homeowners continue to look for ways to update their homes, cabinet hardware remains an easy way to make a big impact without breaking the bank. Stocking a variety of cabinet hardware styles and colors, including trending options, as part of your builders hardware category provides your customers with plenty of options and makes your operation a go-to spot for kitchen renovations. Houzz associate editor Bryan Anthony shares insights with Hardware Retailing on what’s trending now in cabinet hardware and what your customers want to buy to easily update their kitchens.
The Golden Touch
This year, antique brass and gold cabinet knobs and pulls continue to be a popular choice. Anthony recommends homeowners choose rounded antique brass pulls in a standard size for cabinet drawers and round or square antique brass knobs for cabinet doors for a classic, traditional look that won’t go out of style quickly.
“Antique brass is a warm metal that looks great with stained or painted wood. They’re less shiny than a polished or chrome metal but offer a little more bling than an oil-rubbed bronze or matte black finish,” Anthony says. “Houzz designers pair them with colored cabinets, especially blue or green, but they also look nice with dark stained cabinets, like walnut.”
The Custom Look
Anthony says knobs with texture, such as those with embossed or knurled patterns, are popular and add character and subtle interest to a kitchen. Homeowners are also hiding kitchen appliances behind cabinet doors and using custom pulls to add character. Other materials beyond metal are also making a splash this year.
“While metal is still the most common material used for kitchen cabinet hardware, designers and remodelers note that other materials, like leather, glass and acrylic, are starting to gain attention,” Anthony says.
Finding the Right Match
When customers come to HIS Warehouse in Knoxville, Tennessee, shopping for antique bronze, brass or gold cabinet hardware, owners Bob Weir and Matt Batey encourage them to bring in their faucet as well.
“There are many shades of these finishes, so to get the best match and a more cohesive look, it helps to have all the pieces of the design,” Weir says.
