Hardware 101: Choosing Styles, Shapes, and Finishes / January 11, 2022 by Margaret Chambers

Always a classic choice for traditional architecture, brass hardware is trendy right now. For this Colleyville remodel, we used brass hardware to bring it up-to-date.

Hardware is often described as the “jewelry of the home,” but it’s more than just an accessory to your interior design. Hardware is something that you’ll be looking at and putting your hands on every day, so it needs to be both stylish and comfortable to use.

However, finding the right hardware isn’t always easy. There are many different shapes, styles, and finishes to choose from, and not all of them will look flattering in your home. Here are some things I as a designer consider when I’m helping a client choose their hardware for a new house or remodel.

Brass hardware and white-painted cabinetry are an appealing combination.

1. Make a List of Everything You Need

To begin, go through and count how many new handles, knobs, pulls, hinges, and faucets you will need in total. Determine your budget and how large you want the new hardware to be. Don’t forget to stop and think about how you want the hardware to feel, too. Whenever possible, try out samples at the hardware store so you can see how they fit your hand. It doesn’t matter how beautiful the hardware is if it’s cumbersome to use.

2. Learn About the Different Kinds of Hardware Available

If you’re updating your interior door handles, your two main choices are levers and knobs. Levers are usually used in contemporary homes, while knobs are great in traditional and transitional style homes. Keep in mind that knobs are more difficult to handle for those with mobility issues, the elderly, and young children. Knobs, unlike levers, can be easily child-proofed.

You should also make a note of which doors will need locks. Passage knobs are for doors that don’t need to be locked. Privacy knobs lock on one side, while keyed entry knobs lock from both sides. Dummy knobs don’t have any moving parts, meaning they don’t turn and click. They’re usually used for closet doors and pantries.

We chose hardware with a satin brass finish (seen here) for this Dallas remodel, as well as a satin nickel finish for the faucets in the main kitchen. This project was designed in collaboration with Helene's Luxury Kitchens.
*Photo courtesy of First Showing Photography*

As far as style goes, traditional homes usually look best with hardware that has rounded curves and intricate details instead of sharp angles. Meanwhile, simple, angular hardware is suited for contemporary interior design. These days, I see modern kitchens using very long drawer handles. Pot fillers have been a fad the last five years, but I try to steer my clients away from them. They distract from the cooktop and backsplash, so I think they’re a fad that won’t last.

3. Pick Up to Four Finishes to Use Throughout the Home

Believe it or not, it’s perfectly acceptable to mix finishes. The ideal range is three to four finishes in a home, with no more than two different finishes per room. If your heart is set on a door handle finish that looks good in one room but not the next, look into getting a “split finish,” in which the handle has a different finish on either side.

Your hardware finish choices should reflect your home’s style of architecture. For example, I would use oil-rubbed bronze in an Italian home, brass in a French, English, or Federal home, and either satin nickel or chrome in a contemporary home. Brass, by the way, is having a huge comeback. Another trendy finish that designers have been using the last few years is matte black.

To choose a complementary finish for your doors and cabinets, focus on color temperature. If your doors are painted a warm white, you should choose doorknobs with a warm finish, such as brass, polished nickel, or oil-rubbed bronze. If your doors are painted a cool color, like cool gray, I recommend hardware with a cool finish, like chrome. Remember that your hardware should also complement your light fixtures, especially your sconces.

This kitchen is an example of how to combine mixed metals effectively. The hardware is polished nickel, the pendant chandeliers are brass, and the vent hood is made of steel and brass.

Since hardware is situated at the front and center of all your doors and cabinetry, when in doubt, pick a style that is simple and timeless. If this is your first time choosing your own hardware, you may want to reach out to a designer like myself. With almost every job, I have to select and place the hardware, so I have a lot of experience mixing different styles and finishes in a single home. If you're interested in working with me and my design firm, call our Dallas office at 214-232-9501 or send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com.

Don’t Let Your Kitchen Backsplash Be a Missed Opportunity / November 22, 2021 by Margaret Chambers

This backsplash around the window in this catering kitchen is made of the same marble that we used for the countertops.

Although kitchen backsplashes have a functional purpose—protecting walls from water, grease stains, mold, and mildew—these days, they are also treated as an important design element. After all, the backsplash is right on the wall, so a visitor’s eyes naturally rest there. Despite the fact that backsplashes can make great focal points, many Dallas homeowners save picking their backsplash tiles for last.

Your kitchen design will look more impressive if you pick your backsplash tile early on and design around it. For those of you who are designing a new home or planning on remodeling your current kitchen, you should find the following tips useful.

A backsplash should cover the wall space between the countertop and upper cabinets above your range. Lately, I’ve noticed that the newest trend is to have the backsplash continue up beyond the upper cabinets, sometimes even up behind the vent hood. To figure out how much square footage of tile you’ll need, multiply the width of your wall by the height. Then, increase that number by ten percent just to make absolutely sure you’ll have enough.

When possible, we like to continue the backsplash behind the vent hood, like in this example from a Dallas kitchen.

Ceramic, stainless steel, porcelain, and stone backsplashes are great against oil and grease. Glass tile is perfectly water-resistant, so if you create a lot of steam when you cook, that’s something to consider. You should also think about how much maintenance you’re willing to accept for your backsplash. Ceramic tile doesn’t need to be resealed, but natural stone will.

Even if you’re saving money on your tile choice, don’t cut corners with your grout choice. You need a high-quality grout to make sure the tiles stay on the wall over time. Most tile backsplashes have a grout joint size of one-eighth of an inch, but sizes of up to a quarter inch are also possible.

Since replacing tile is expensive, you can never be too careful making your choice. Purchase a lot of different tile samples to take home (it’s cheaper than buying a lot of the wrong tile), then tape them to your wall and leave them up for a while. You can see how the color shifts as the lighting changes through the day.

Subway tile, like the gray tile we used in this bar area, is a classic choice for kitchen backsplashes.

Recently, my design firm has been using the same material for both the countertop and kitchen backsplash. Whether you use the same material or not, try not to create too much contrast between the two surfaces. For example, if your countertops are a cool gray, your backsplash should also be in a cool color.

The gray and terracotta colors in this mosaic tile backsplash match other colors we used in this Kessler Park home.

Mosaic tile patterns often incorporate multiple colors, allowing you to pick up on some of the other accent colors you’re using in the kitchen. If you have countertops with a unique pattern or color running through them, it’s a good idea to pick a neutral backsplash tile so you don’t draw attention away from your countertops. Of course, if your countertops are understated, you have more room to be creative and showy in your backsplash tile choice.

Choosing a timeless backsplash is important if you’re planning on selling your house. White subway tile is one option, but also consider penny tiles, picket tiles, square tiles, or hexagon tiles. White subway tile is also perfect for kitchens that have a lot going on, visually. Although it’s normally laid out in a brick pattern, a newer trend is to lay the tiles diagonally or vertically. Another thing to keep in mind is that larger tiles tend to look more contemporary, while smaller tiles feel more traditional.

Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution to finding the perfect backsplash, some tile choices will work in your kitchen better than others. By taking into account your budget, your lifestyle, and the rest of your kitchen’s aesthetic, you can easily narrow down your selections.

We used this fireplace screen with animal figures as a kitchen backsplash. It helps to complete the farmhouse theme.

Designers like myself also have established relationships with showrooms which gives us more leeway to request a tile and then return it on short notice. A designer can be a great resource whether you are just beginning your kitchen design project or nearing the end. If you'd like to work with us, you can reach us by calling our Dallas office at 214-232-9501 or sending an email to info@chambersinteriors.com.