CUSTOM CABINET HARDWARE | Saddle Horn Custom Homes

Cabinet hardware may seem like a small consideration within the grand scheme of home design, but you might be surprised to see how greatly it impacts the overall aesthetics! These relatively small objects are often referred to as the “crown jewelry” or “adornment” of your cabinetry. They can make or break, the look and feel of a room. Poor choice or cheap quality is like wearing a cheap necklace with designer clothes. This does not mean you have to go out and buy super expensive knobs, pulls, or latches, but choosing the right hardware goes a long way to finishing the space. Great deals can be found on quality, artistic pieces if you search in the right places! Fortunately, we also live in an age where it is in vogue to find repurposed, vintage, factory outlet designer brands, or overstock items in a variety of places! Etsy shops also offer unique designs at affordable prices.

You can choose different hardware for different spaces in your home OR keep it simple and easy and use the same throughout! There are no right or wrong ways to design, although, in my shopping experience and research with each home we have built, I have found a list of five considerations that go into choosing hardware:

Style (my absolute favorite!!)
Finish
Size
Functionality and Durability
Installation (my builder’s job😉)

Hopefully, this will give you a guide. My inclination is often to run out and choose based on unique style, but then (embarrassingly enough), go back to my “builder” only to find out the knob or pull was too big, too small, over-budget for the number needed, not functional for the intended use (although very attractive!), etc. My domain is design–Buck’s is numbers and reality. He is also artistic, but reins in unsuitable choices! Read on for thoughts on each category! I truly wish someone would have given me this checklist at the very beginning!!

I will add that if you want to keep it as absolutely easy and simple as possible, you can use the same hardware everywhere. You still will want to keep these guide points in mind.

Be sure to set yourself up with a list of the number, sizes, and styles of hardware pieces you will need when heading out to shop. We do this by room – kitchen: 25 knobs, 21 pulls, 25 backplates, etc. And you can group types of drawers and doors together. Photos of your cabinet layout are also useful for visualizing how different types of hardware will look.

If you special order, make sure you determine the delivery timeline in order to stay on track with your construction schedule.

Final note - cabinet hardware also includes hinges, backplates, latches, straps, ring and ball, cup handles, etc. These are another way to dress up your room.

1. STYLE

Pretty obvious first step…Design is in the details and what many people might think are the most basic aspects of a room, can have a serious visual impact. I am sure this is not an all-inclusive list, but styles can include contemporary, transitional, rustic, traditional, geometric, nautical, and whimsical.

Contemporary style embraces minimalistic elements and an edited aesthetic. Contemporary hardware is simplistic, with smooth surfaces, and hard edges. Mixed metals ie. gold or brass with silver or chrome are common. The finish is darker, for example, matte black, and the shapes are geometric such as rectangular with square knobs and pulls. Contemporary hardware is versatile and can also complement other design styles such as traditional or modern.
Transitional style is a harmonious blend of modern and traditional styles, creating warmth, sophistication, and a touch of timelessness. It encompasses everything from deep and rich tones of bronze, rust, and black to chrome, nikel, and silver. Transitional style offers a diverse range of options.
Rustic hardware includes, but is not limited to bronze, nickel, pewter, iron, copper, antler, wood, black, and even ceramic finishes. Animal shapes, antique, matte, distressed finishes, and textures are often featured.
Traditional hardware is typically more ornate with classic shapes and decorative detailing. Often characterized by finishes like brass and oil-rubbed bronze – it is truly timeless.
Geometric – Adds a modern, bold style to your room. As you can imagine, it includes square, round, rectangular, octagonal, oval, etc. This hardware is highly functional with clean lines, simplicity, elegance, and minimalistic profiles which align with Contemporary style.
Nautical or coastal design translates the sea, sand, and sky into a calming minimalistic look. For that sense of calm unique to the water, you will want to keep in mind the color and design elements that evoke this tone. Often gold-toned hardware reflects the light and warmth of a beach, brass and enamel knobs or pulls in blue or green are beautiful choices! Simplicity is often called for to create that relaxing space. Pulls that imitate the lines on ships, boat cleat pulls, scalloped shell design knobs, knobs with a compass theme, sailboat knobs, whale tail pulls, and enamel knobs with nautical prints are just a small sampling of the huge world of Nautical cabinet hardware. Even though we are in Montana, Nautical is still in! Lake and river homes often feature this style.
Whimsical design is inspired by nature, theme, playfulness, nostalgia, imagination, and creativity. When we went with “theme rooms” in our home, we created a log cabin room and its bathroom is a “bear” bathroom. The cabinet knobs are bear paws, however, I also considered antlers, bears themselves, trees, and pinecones. I’ve seen children’s rooms with bunny heads, butterflies, sea creatures (turtles, mermaids, starfish, even octopus pulls!). We had a home that had all Texas star hardware (now I look back and wonder how I didn’t get more creative!). You are pretty much limited only by your imagination, but the options are limitless. You can express the theme, mood, or feeling of a room with the help of cabinet hardware. You can go in-depth or as simple as you desire, but my point is that there are SO MANY amazing options!!

Backplates are another way to make a statement - they help to keep your cabinet face clean by protecting your surfaces from the oil on your hands when you reach for the knob or handle. These often overlooked small bits of hardware can create whole new looks and dramatically alter styles.

Cabinet hardware may seem like a small consideration within the grand scheme of home design, but you might be surprised to see how greatly it impacts the overall aesthetics! These relatively small objects are often referred to as the “crown jewelry” or “adornment” of your cabinetry. They can make or break, the look and feel of a room. Poor choice or cheap quality is like wearing a cheap necklace with designer clothes. This does not mean you have to go out and buy super expensive knobs, pulls, or latches, but choosing the right hardware goes a long way to finishing the space. Great deals can be found on quality, artistic pieces if you search in the right places! Fortunately, we also live in an age where it is in vogue to find repurposed, vintage, factory outlet designer brands, or overstock items in a variety of places! Etsy shops also offer unique designs at affordable prices.

You can choose different hardware for different spaces in your home OR keep it simple and easy and use the same throughout! There are no right or wrong ways to design, although, in my shopping experience and research with each home we have built, I have found a list of five considerations that go into choosing hardware:

Style (my absolute favorite!!)
Finish
Size
Functionality and Durability
Installation (my builder’s job😉)

Hopefully, this will give you a guide. My inclination is often to run out and choose based on unique style, but then (embarrassingly enough), go back to my “builder” only to find out the knob or pull was too big, too small, over-budget for the number needed, not functional for the intended use (although very attractive!), etc. My domain is design–Buck’s is numbers and reality. He is also artistic, but reins in unsuitable choices! Read on for thoughts on each category! I truly wish someone would have given me this checklist at the very beginning!!

I will add that if you want to keep it as absolutely easy and simple as possible, you can use the same hardware everywhere. You still will want to keep these guide points in mind.

Be sure to set yourself up with a list of the number, sizes, and styles of hardware pieces you will need when heading out to shop. We do this by room – kitchen: 25 knobs, 21 pulls, 25 backplates, etc. And you can group types of drawers and doors together. Photos of your cabinet layout are also useful for visualizing how different types of hardware will look.

If you special order, make sure you determine the delivery timeline in order to stay on track with your construction schedule.

Final note - cabinet hardware also includes hinges, backplates, latches, straps, ring and ball, cup handles, etc. These are another way to dress up your room.

1. STYLE

Pretty obvious first step…Design is in the details and what many people might think are the most basic aspects of a room, can have a serious visual impact. I am sure this is not an all-inclusive list, but styles can include contemporary, transitional, rustic, traditional, geometric, nautical, and whimsical.

Contemporary style embraces minimalistic elements and an edited aesthetic. Contemporary hardware is simplistic, with smooth surfaces, and hard edges. Mixed metals ie. gold or brass with silver or chrome are common. The finish is darker, for example, matte black, and the shapes are geometric such as rectangular with square knobs and pulls. Contemporary hardware is versatile and can also complement other design styles such as traditional or modern.
Transitional style is a harmonious blend of modern and traditional styles, creating warmth, sophistication, and a touch of timelessness. It encompasses everything from deep and rich tones of bronze, rust, and black to chrome, nikel, and silver. Transitional style offers a diverse range of options.
Rustic hardware includes, but is not limited to bronze, nickel, pewter, iron, copper, antler, wood, black, and even ceramic finishes. Animal shapes, antique, matte, distressed finishes, and textures are often featured.
Traditional hardware is typically more ornate with classic shapes and decorative detailing. Often characterized by finishes like brass and oil-rubbed bronze – it is truly timeless.
Geometric – Adds a modern, bold style to your room. As you can imagine, it includes square, round, rectangular, octagonal, oval, etc. This hardware is highly functional with clean lines, simplicity, elegance, and minimalistic profiles which align with Contemporary style.
Nautical or coastal design translates the sea, sand, and sky into a calming minimalistic look. For that sense of calm unique to the water, you will want to keep in mind the color and design elements that evoke this tone. Often gold-toned hardware reflects the light and warmth of a beach, brass and enamel knobs or pulls in blue or green are beautiful choices! Simplicity is often called for to create that relaxing space. Pulls that imitate the lines on ships, boat cleat pulls, scalloped shell design knobs, knobs with a compass theme, sailboat knobs, whale tail pulls, and enamel knobs with nautical prints are just a small sampling of the huge world of Nautical cabinet hardware. Even though we are in Montana, Nautical is still in! Lake and river homes often feature this style.
Whimsical design is inspired by nature, theme, playfulness, nostalgia, imagination, and creativity. When we went with “theme rooms” in our home, we created a log cabin room and its bathroom is a “bear” bathroom. The cabinet knobs are bear paws, however, I also considered antlers, bears themselves, trees, and pinecones. I’ve seen children’s rooms with bunny heads, butterflies, sea creatures (turtles, mermaids, starfish, even octopus pulls!). We had a home that had all Texas star hardware (now I look back and wonder how I didn’t get more creative!). You are pretty much limited only by your imagination, but the options are limitless. You can express the theme, mood, or feeling of a room with the help of cabinet hardware. You can go in-depth or as simple as you desire, but my point is that there are SO MANY amazing options!!

Backplates are another way to make a statement - they help to keep your cabinet face clean by protecting your surfaces from the oil on your hands when you reach for the knob or handle. These often overlooked small bits of hardware can create whole new looks and dramatically alter styles.